Department profile
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Capital Markets: Debt & Equity

Global Guide 2026 : Canada

Share profile

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Osler is consistently recognized as a leading capital markets firm. Clients include major Canadian corporations, well-known multinationals, entrepreneurial and growth oriented businesses and Canadian and global investment banks engaged in capital markets activities in Canada, the United States and internationally.

Osler advises on private placements, public offerings and alternative listing methods such as reverse takeovers and CPC transactions. The capital markets team has extensive experience with financing methods such as initial public offerings, conventional bought deals, overnight marketed offerings, multijurisdictional disclosure (MJDS) offerings, discrete shelf prospectus offerings of equity and debt and medium-term note (MTN) programs.

Osler’s debt practice covers a broad spectrum of products that includes investment-grade debt, commercial paper, high-yield debt, “Maple” bonds, securitized and asset-backed debt, covered bond programs, convertible debt and hybrid and novel products. They are also known for their expertise in regulatory matters relating to corporate finance transactions, including advising on trading, registration, settlement and compliance matters.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Capital Markets: Debt & Equity - Canada

What the Team is Known For

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt is a high-end corporate law firm with capital markets specialists in offices across Canada. Its team advises on a wide variety of transactions, including IPOs, bought deals and cross-border public offerings, with further recognition for its expertise in asset-backed debt, hybrid securities and covered bond programmes. The group represents a significant issuer client base and a range of domestic and international investment banks as well as corporations from sectors such as energy, gaming and utilities. The team offers capital markets expertise to clients ranging from start-ups and emerging businesses to long-established market stalwarts. The firm benefits from considerable geographical reach, with offices in Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Ottawa and Vancouver, in addition to a New York office that helps facilitate cross-border work.

View ranking table

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt represented the Royal Bank of Canada as Canadian counsel in its inaugural USD1 billion notes offering in the USA.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • They are by far the leader in the high yield space in Canada. They are able to tackle complex transactions, as well as adapt to evolving situations that offer added complexity.

    Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

  • Osler provides excellent and comprehensive client service, enabling them to give thorough, well-rounded and practical advice.

    Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

  • Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt are extremely responsive and provide excellent service. They go above and beyond for their clients and have extremely high technical knowledge of securities laws.

    Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

  • Osler prides itself on their people and their relationships. They are always friendly, helpful and responsive. Their partners are extremely knowledgeable and viewed across the street as a top firm.

    Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

  • The level of experience and expertise distinguishes Oslers, but it is the ability to combine practical sense with a thorough legal knowledge that allows transactions to get completed efficiently.

    Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Desmond Lee
    Desmond Lee

    Desmond Lee

    Desmond Lee is recognised for his market-leading practice representing issuers in significant offerings. Operating from Toronto, he has additional capabilities in REIT work.

    • He has a good current view on what kind of market practice is and perspective.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • He is a top-tier financing lawyer and very strong at dealing with financing institutions and growth companies.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • Desmond is the best contact at Osler and best on the street. He is extremely knowledgeable, always helpful, always responsive and always goes above and beyond.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • Desmond has been outstanding in every interaction.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • Des is my go-to at Osler. He is commercial, responsive, knowledgeable and provides great service.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal
    View profile
  • Michael Innes
    Michael Innes

    Michael Innes

    Michael Innes is the chair of the firm's corporate group and routinely acts for leading Canadian underwriters and companies on high-value debt offerings from the Toronto office.

    • Michael is a superstar. He is highly knowledgeable, experienced, super responsive and can always be relied upon to provide us with insightful, practical advice.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • He offers excellent client service and exceptional subject matter expertise.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • He is a top lawyer in debt capital markets.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • I'd say that Michael is hands-down the best capital markets lawyer in Canada. I have the upmost confidence in his advice, understanding and ability to deal with hard situations.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal
    View profile
  • Richard J Fullerton
    Richard J Fullerton

    Richard J Fullerton

    Toronto-based lawyer Richard Fullerton's practice sees him engaged in a range of high-value transactions involving asset-backed securities. He regularly acts for single and multi-seller securitisation conduits.

    • Rick's institutional knowledge is just that much more valuable because he has been doing it for so long. He is so responsive too.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • For a Canadian legal financing/lending matter, he is my first call.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal
    View profile
  • Dan Shea
    Dan Shea

    Dan Shea

    Dan Shea has a strong presence in the capital markets space, acting for underwriters on debt and equity offerings. He is based in Calgary.

    • Dan is very responsive and highly knowledgeable about his sector and subject matter.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • He is easy to work with, a smart guy and a very talented lawyer.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • Dan is an excellent high yield lawyer. He is very well respected.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • Dan is an incredible partner and adviser.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal
    View profile
  • Rosalind Hunter
    Rosalind Hunter

    Rosalind Hunter

    Rosalind Hunter is held in particularly high esteem for her representation of financial institutions, who turn to her for advice on a broad array of both debt and equity work and in M&A transactions.

    • Rosalind is highly knowledgeable and experienced. She is super responsive and can always be relied upon to provide us with insightful, practical advice, including with respect to market practice.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • Rosalind offers excellent client service and exceptional subject matter expertise.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • She is extremely knowledgeable on both securities law and our business and provides high quality advice succinctly. I have full confidence in her advice.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • Rosalind Hunter is a force. She is extremely responsive, highly intelligent and her depth of expertise in securities law is impressive. She is trustworthy, consistent and reliable.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • She is technically excellent, very practical and has a great understanding of the nuances of key issues we come across on large financing transactions.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal
    View profile
  • Amelia Miao
    Amelia Miao

    Amelia Miao

    Amelia Miao is partner in Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt's Toronto office, noted for her representation of major issuers in debt offerings.

    • Amelia is a superstar. She is highly knowledgeable and experienced. Her knowledge about our company as well as the broader market is a huge asset.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • Amelia is my first call for any legal questions, she is highly responsive and great to work with.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal
    View profile
  • James Brown
    James Brown

    James Brown

    James Brown has a diverse capital markets practice and is well placed to advise on IPOs, equity offerings and bond issuances. He is based in Toronto.

    • James is very excellent technically, very practical and business friendly. He is an excellent communicator too.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • James is extremely knowledgeable, always responsive and extremely helpful across a variety of matters.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • James is great to work with and very responsive to any issues. He also brings substantial knowledge and is able to provide us with the best advice.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal

    • He is a great partner.

      Capital Markets: Debt & Equity respondentGlobal
    View profile

Ranked Individuals at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (7)

Canada

Members

Provided by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP has rankings in the following guides

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership