Department profile
McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence

Canada Guide 2027 : Ontario


McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by McCarthy Tétrault LLP

McCarthy Tétrault’s M&A team brings the right combination of expertise and experience to our clients’ most important and sophisticated cross-border and domestic transactions. By drawing on our top-ranked strength in Tax, Competition/Antitrust & Foreign Investment, and Banking & Financial Services, combined with industry-specific insights, we deliver practical solutions and ensure deals are executed seamlessly and successfully.

Market-leading M&A practice

  • Knowledge and expertise in every type of M&A transaction
  • Have played a principal role acting for every type of transaction participant
  • Often the first call for domestic and cross-border transactions that involve complex or novel issues
  • Expensive experience in both large-cap and mid-market transactions
  • Trusted by multinational corporations, financial sponsors, boards of directors, financial advisors and emerging companies

Reputation for excellence

  • Borderless service from our offices across Canada’s major commercial centres and in New York and London
  • Canada’s most developed industry group expertise, aligned with the country’s most critical industries, including infrastructure, power, mining, oil and gas, and technology
  • Top-tier rankings across the practices that drive complex transactions, and a consistent position at the top of Canadian M&A league tables

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence - Ontario

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For

McCarthy Tétrault is highly regarded for commercial energy and financial services sector transactions. The law firm's Toronto corporate team acts for issuers and underwriters on capital markets matters, including IPOs, as well as undertaking a large number of M&A deals. It is also well equipped to represent major private equity sponsors; its enviable client list includes significant Canadian companies as well as major multinationals. The lawyers offer additional expertise in reorganisations, divestitures and joint ventures. Their industry expertise encompasses telecommunications and entertainment, retail and hospitality.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • McCarthy Tétrault acted for a Blackstone-led consortium on its CAD7 billion equity investment in a Canadian subsidiary of Rogers Communications.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • I find the McCarthy team to be very commercially practical in getting deals done. They are incredibly responsive and very technically skilled, yet able to distil complex matters into plain English.

    Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
  • McCarthy Tétrault stands out for the depth of its specialist bench and the practicality of its advice.

    Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
  • The team at McCarthy Tétrault provides excellent advice. They are subject matter experts and demonstrate exceptional knowledge of the intricacies of a corporate takeover.

    Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
  • McCarthy Tétrault provides practical and commercial advice, is very responsive and has a great understanding of the market.

    Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
  • The team at McCarthy Tétrault has an incredible work ethic. They are very creative under difficult circumstances and highly solutions-oriented.

    Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Senior StatespeopleDavid E Woollcombe
    Senior StatespeopleDavid E Woollcombe

    David E Woollcombe

    Toronto-based David Woollcombe operates a longstanding transactional practice spanning a number of industries, including media and energy.

    • David Woollcombe is a great lawyer.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
  • Band 1Jennifer Longhurst
    Band 1Jennifer Longhurst

    Jennifer Longhurst

    Jennifer Longhurst has an active transactional practice and also co-leads the firm's shareholder activism group, offering notable experience in acting for corporates, senior directors and boards in handling activism and special situations.

    • Jennifer is an excellent lawyer.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • Jennifer is a trusted adviser. Her knowledge and ability to tailor her advice practically are exceptionally strong.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • Jennifer Longhurst will fight hard for you. She is exceptionally smart and very creative, with an intense work ethic.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • Jennifer is a great advocate for her clients. She is very passionate about what she does and is really respected in the community.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • Jennifer offers a very high level of service and she is always available and proactive.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
  • Band 2Jonathan See
    Band 2Jonathan See

    Jonathan See

    Toronto-based Jonathan See offers expertise in M&A transactions, capital markets and private equity matters, and serves as co-head of the firm’s national M&A and private equity group.
    • Jon is a trusted adviser to us. He is active in the market and gets deals done.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • Jon is very experienced and continually provides advice with a keen sense of commercial awareness.
      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • Jonathan's level of commercial awareness and sophistication is unique as a lawyer in Canada. This leads him to assemble the right teams, tailor the advice appropriately to the business need and ensure it is delivered in a timely manner.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
  • Band 2Shane D'Souza
    Band 2Shane D'Souza

    Shane D'Souza

    Shane D'Souza is co-head of McCarthy Tétrault’s securities litigation and shareholder activism groups, advising clients on complex securities, shareholder, M&A, governance, regulatory and cross-border disputes.

    • Shane has an incredible ability to understand our needs and translate them into outcomes. He's resourceful, knowledgeable and acts with a high degree of urgency and confidence.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • Shane is very thoughtful and thinks about different tactics and strategies.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • I cannot say enough good things about Shane. He makes me feel so confident, and the value he provides is truly extraordinary.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • I would recommend Shane to any other client looking for legal support.
      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
  • Band 3Robert O Hansen
    Band 3Robert O Hansen

    Robert O Hansen

    Robert Hansen is a Toronto-based lawyer who handles corporate transactions on behalf of clients in the technology, private equity and financial services sectors.
    • Robert knows the law and has a very pleasant manner when communicating with the parties involved.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • Robert Hansen is smart, pragmatic, solutions-oriented and an excellent collaborator.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
  • Band 3Shea Small
    Band 3Shea Small

    Shea Small

    Shea Small acts as co-head of the mergers and acquisitions team at McCarthy Tétrault, while also practising out of the firm’s Toronto and London offices. He is well placed to assist clients from the mining sector with M&A transactions.

    • Shea's experience is second to none, and his ability to consider situations creatively and pragmatically is very valuable.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
  • Band 5Deandra Schubert
    Band 5Deandra Schubert

    Deandra Schubert

    Deandra Schubert is a partner in the business law group of McCarthy Tétrault's Toronto office. She regularly acts for both public and private clients on a range of corporate matters, including acquisitions.

  • Band 5Heidi Gordon
    Band 5Heidi Gordon

    Heidi Gordon

    Heidi Gordon is co-head of McCarthy Tétrault’s national M&A group, advising Canadian and international businesses on complex public and private M&A transactions.

    • Heidi is my most trusted legal adviser. Her depth of understanding of our business and her commitment to the highest level of service are unparalleled.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • Heidi is a trusted partner.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
    • Heidi understands how to give advice at the right level. She is sophisticated enough to identify the legal and market practice points that matter, but commercial and concise enough to help us make decisions quickly. She is proactive, practical and well calibrated.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada
  • Up and ComingClaire Lehan
    Up and ComingClaire Lehan

    Claire Lehan

    Claire Lehan is an adept adviser on a variety of capital market deals, particularly in the mining and natural resources sectors.

    • Claire Lehan is practical and solutions-oriented.

      Corporate/Commercial: Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defence respondentCanada

Ranked Individuals at McCarthy Tétrault LLP (10)

Ontario

Members

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