Investment Funds: Fund Formation
Canada Guide 2025 : Nationwide - Canada
Band 1
Email address
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+1 416 362 2111About
Provided by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Osler’s top-tier Investment Funds and Asset Management lawyers have unparalleled expertise in advising clients on all aspects of investment fund and asset management activities. Osler has broad experience advising on the formation, distribution and management of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), private pooled funds and alternative funds, as well as related fund reorganization and M&A transactions involving industry participants. Osler advises on the securities law registration issues associated with the investment fund and asset management industry, including assisting clients to develop and implement compliance systems and to communicate effectively with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities when applying for registration, SRO memberships or exemptions, navigating through regulatory audits or considering the impact of proposed legislative changes. In addition, Osler advises both investment managers and institutional investors establishing investment management relationships through managed accounts, fund investments or more complex structures.
The team includes experts in securities regulation, tax, pensions and corporate law who provide highly specialized services to meet the needs of sophisticated clients. This means Osler can offer Canadian and non-Canadian clients of all sizes the guidance they require to achieve their business objectives while meeting their regulatory obligations.
Chambers Review
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt enjoys a strong presence in the ETF space as well as representing fund managers in formations, launches and downstream transactional work. The investment funds and asset management team advises on significant mutual funds mandates, including assisting with public disclosure, compliance and regulatory filings. It demonstrates considerable expertise in pooled and closed-end funds, and frequently assists clients located in the USA and further afield with their investment activities in Canada, benefiting from its well-established New York office. The firm also regularly acts for pension funds and Canadian banks on domestic and international mandates.
Work Highlights
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt advised RBC Global Asset Management on the formation and launch of its private infrastructure fund.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Osler delivers a very high-quality product. It has a lot of the top funds attorneys in the country, so the breadth of expertise is great. Its size means it can handle the biggest matters."
"Osler are highly responsive, proactive and dedicated to the client experience. The team balances top-tier substantive legal knowledge with client-centred practicality."
"Osler has a depth of experience and is one of the top firms in Canada. It has a strong corporate securities law group and the ability to leverage broader expertise in areas like tax."
"The lawyers have a great lens on how the market operates."
"Osler delivers a very high-quality product. It has a lot of the top funds attorneys in the country, so the breadth of expertise is great. Its size means it can handle the biggest matters."
"Osler are highly responsive, proactive and dedicated to the client experience. The team balances top-tier substantive legal knowledge with client-centred practicality."
"Osler has a depth of experience and is one of the top firms in Canada. It has a strong corporate securities law group and the ability to leverage broader expertise in areas like tax."
"The lawyers have a great lens on how the market operates."
Notable Practitioners
Andrew Aziz is hailed for his longstanding experience in the formation and restructuring of private equity funds. He co-chairs the firm's investment funds and asset management practice in Toronto.
John Black is a Toronto-based lawyer with deep experience in fund launches and regulatory matters, in addition to M&A mandates and securities issuances.
"John's reputation is outstanding. He has seen a lot of funds so he can really advise on what should be done in a business sense."
"His reputation speaks for itself; he just knows all there is to know about asset management."
John Groenewegenenjoys strong recognition for his funds expertise. Based in Toronto, he assists with the drafting and negotiation of investments and partnership agreements.
"John Groenewegen is really experienced and puts together outstanding work products."
Shawn Cymbalisty is a Toronto-based partner who is noted for his capabilities in matters relating to custodial agreements, ETFs and compliance matters, among others.
"Shawn is very responsive. He is also super strong in his analysis of regulations and he's able to provide really strong insight."
"He's very experienced on the technical side and can talk about market practice, having seen a lot of funds and how the market does things, so he can advise on business points, which is really helpful."
Ranked Lawyers at
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Nationwide - Canada
Members
Provided by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP