Department profile

Corporate/M&A

Global Guide 2026 : Canada

Rankings

Ranked Individuals

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/M&A - Canada

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

McCarthy Tétrault houses a highly regarded national corporate law practice offering a wide range of industry specialities from its offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montréal and Québec City. The firm is especially strong in real estate, private equity and energy and is also well equipped to cover major deals in the telecoms, financial services, tech and retail sectors. The team advises on large M&A transactions as well as debt and equity securities offerings, and can regularly be seen acting for private equity sponsors and portfolio companies, as well as major Canadian and international investment banks.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

McCarthy Tétrault represented Innergex Renewable Energy in connection with its definitive agreement to be acquired by The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec for CAD10 billion.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

McCarthy Tétrault has an excellent bench of talent which enables it to provide seamless service to their clients.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
McCarthy Tétrault has deep expertise and experience, strong negotiations skills and excellent people skills. The firm is very responsive and committed to meeting very tight timelines.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
The team has industry knowledge that goes way above and beyond legal expertise. The specialised skill set that the lawyers offer is so unique.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
McCarthy Tétrault is the true definition of a full service firm. The team is always available on short notice and provides general strategic advice, alongside specific legal advice.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
The quality of McCarthy Tétrault's work is top notch. They are concise, to the point and very accessible.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Eminent Practitioners
Eminent Practitioners
Cameron Belsher KC
Cameron Belsher KC is a well-established corporate lawyer and co-head of McCarthy Tétrault's M&A group. He has notable experience advising clients on high-value M&A transactions and splits his time between Toronto and Vancouver.
Cameron has one of the strongest reputations of anyone in the country.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 2
Band 2
Clemens Mayr
Montréal-based Clemens Mayr has a wide-ranging practice that covers areas including M&A, securities law, and corporate finance. He handles both domestic and cross-border mandates.
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Band 2
Band 2
David E Woollcombe
Toronto-based David Woollcombe operates a long-standing transactional practice spanning a number of industries, including media and energy.
David is always very pragmatic and has a wealth of knowledge in market deals.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
David has seen it all and provides sophisticated and sound advice in a very calm manner.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 2
Band 2
Patrick Boucher
Montréal-based Patrick Boucher offers leading expertise in acquisition and equity issuance mandates and also co-heads the firm's national capital markets group.
Patrick's commercial awareness is particularly noteworthy, he integrates legal advice with business strategy.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 2
Band 2
Patrick M. Shea
Montréal-based Patrick Shea regularly assists private equity sponsors with high-value private equity buyouts. He is regularly mandated to act on behalf of some of the leading private equity names in Canada. He is also co-head of the firm's private equity group.
Patrick Shea is always bringing everything back to business, is super responsive and very efficient.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Patrick brings his impressive M&A knowledge and negotiating skills to transactions.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Patrick is knowledgeable about the market, is able to break things down for clients and can work with business professionals, not just lawyers.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 2
Band 2
Shevaun McGrath
Toronto-based Shevaun McGrath acts for a variety of clients, including institutional investors and target companies, on the full gamut of fund formation, investment management and buyout matters. She is noted for her capabilities on cross-border transactions involving the USA.
Shevaun is a pleasure to deal with. She is flexible, available and smart.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Shevaun McGrath is responsive, knowledgeable and business savvy.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Shevaun has outstanding negotiation skills, fantastic knowledge and understands M&A transactions like no one else.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 3
Band 3
Jonathan See
Jonathan See is a respected lawyer based in Toronto. He is especially noted for his handling of private equity transactions involving real estate assets.
Jonathan See understands the market and deal dynamics and is very much a people person.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Jonathan's market knowledge is priceless and he's an amazing resource for us.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Jonathan has a foundational understanding of the Canadian private equity space and he leverages that experience to better position us.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 3
Band 3
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 has strong technical and deal skills and is a good negotiator. He provides excellent client service, is accessible and is responsive.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Robert really takes the time to get to know the business and the risks. He gives practical advice very quickly and focuses on what matters. He is very solution-oriented in negotiations.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Robert is a thorough and clear communicator, an expert in his field and consistently delivers high-quality service in a timely manner.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 3
Band 3
Shea Small
Shea Small acts as the co-head of the mergers & acquisitions team at McCarthy Tétrault, while also practising out of the firms Toronto, Canada and London, UK offices. He is well placed to assist clients from the mining sector with M&A transactions.
Shea is a phenomenal lawyer. He is constantly generating unique insights and solutions to address complex problems and is relentless in his pursuit of delivering his clients objectives.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
Alyson Goldman
Alyson Goldman is an exceptionally strong lawyer with a grasp of both public and private transactions, including capital markets matters. She has additional expertise in matters concerning shareholder activism and corporate governance.
Alyson is exceptionally experienced, highly organised and offers creative solutions.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
I cannot recommend Alyson enough. She is extremely knowledgeable, smart and effective.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Alyson is knowledgeable and experienced in the commercial aspects of our business, providing timely and insightful guidance.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
Catherine Samuel
Catherine Samuel is a well-regarded transactional lawyer who frequently represents clients in mergers, acquisitions and private equity mandates.
We have been fortunate to have Catherine Samuel as a strong and invaluable partner who has worked tirelessly to understand and support our business.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
She is good at resolving issues and she's practical.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
It's a pleasure working with Cathy and her team.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
Heidi Gordon
Heidi Gordon of McCarthy Tétrault has a growing practice in private equity and M&A law, with a particular presence in the technology industry.
Heidi is one of the most intelligent lawyers I've ever encountered. She's readily available to provide guidance and is very proactive.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Heidi Gordon is extremely personable, easy to get on with and has wide knowledge.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Heidi is practical, professional and responsive. I would recommend her to anyone.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
Sven Milelli
Sven Milelli is well versed in handling M&A transactions in the energy, mining and construction spaces, among others.
Sven is one of the best relationship partners. He has a wide-ranging practice and is very client-focused.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
He is a great practitioner with a very broad practice and is extremely smart.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Canada, expertise based abroad in USA
Canada, expertise based abroad in USA
Matthew Cumming
Matthew Cumming runs the firm's New York office, from where he advises on a range of private equity and securities transactions.
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Canada, expertise based abroad in UK
Canada, expertise based abroad in UK
Robert Brant
Robert Brant regularly advises on M&A and corporate finance transactions across various sectors including oil and gas, cannabis and real estate. He also often advises Canadian companies on new stock exchange listings, including on the LSE.
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Canada, expertise based abroad in Canada
Canada, expertise based abroad in Canada
Shawn Doyle
Shawn Doyle is an experienced lawyer, proficient in international M&A and capital markets transactions. He is based in Santiago and serves as the leader of the firm's Latin America practice. Shawn is admitted to practice in both British Columbia and New York.
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