Aird & Berlis LLP

Managing Partner: Steven Zakem
Number of partners: 128
Number of other lawyers: 44
Languages:  English, French, Bosnian, Cantonese, Croatian, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Mandarin, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Serbian, Spanish

Firm Overview:
Aird & Berlis is a leading Canadian law firm serving clients across Canada and globally. The firm’s clients range from startups to multinational corporations. With strong national and international expertise, Aird & Berlis provides strategic legal advice in all principal areas of business law.

Industries:
Cannabis
Charities & Not-for-Profits
FinTech
Gaming
Indigenous
Mines & Minerals
Sports & Media
Telecommunications
Transportation

Main Areas of Practice:
Capital Markets
Construction
Corporate & Commercial
Energy
Environmental
Estates & Trusts Expropriation
Financial Services
Infrastructure
Intellectual Property
Investment Management & Registration
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Mergers & Acquisitions/Private Equity
Municipal & Land Use Planning
Procurement
Privacy & Data Security
Real Estate
Tax
Technology
Venture Finance
Workplace Law

Tax:
Aird & Berlis is highly regarded on a national and international basis for tax planning, structuring of domestic and international business transactions and tax dispute resolution. Depth of expertise includes mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, reorganisations, income trusts, mutual and hedge funds, private equity formation and structuring, partnerships, joint ventures, derivatives, executive compensation and relocation, foreign affiliate transactions, foreign investment entities, cross-border loans, transfer pricing and tax controversy.

Corporate/M&A:
Aird & Berlis possesses exceptional expertise in all aspects of domestic and international public and private debt and equity financings; fund formation; take-over bids; reorganisations; mergers, acquisitions and divestiture transactions, including leveraged buyouts, management buyouts and ‘going private’ transactions; securities regulatory compliance; independent committee representation; proxy battles; periodic and continuous disclosure and corporate governance.

Banking & Finance:
Aird & Berlis has extensive experience working with some of the largest and most prominent institutions, including Canada’s ‘Big Five’banks, many US banks, several non-traditional lenders and borrowers. The firm’s lawyers are also recognised for their expertise in complex financing matters and their practical, results-driven approach.

Restructuring & Insolvency:
Aird & Berlis is adept at navigating out-of-court restructurings, the purchase and sale of insolvent businesses and assets, the structuring and implementation of debt workout arrangements for senior and sub-ordinated lenders, borrowers and investors and assisting regulatory bodies with investigations and enforcement strategies. The firm also develops effective litigation strategies and successfully represent clients in bankruptcy and commercial courts.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution:
Aird & Berlis acts in all forms of dispute resolution — civil lawsuits, quasi-criminal proceedings, administrative proceedings, appeals, mediation, private arbitrations or other alternate dispute resolution. Litigation and dispute resolution lawyers have appeared at all levels of provincial and federal court, including the Supreme Court of Canada.

Intellectual Property:
Aird & Berlis provides a full range of services in intellectual property procurement, litigation, technology transfer and corporate transactions in connection with all forms of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs, trade secrets and domain names.

Employment & Labour:
Aird & Berlis advises employers on workplace law matters, including wrongful and constructive dismissals, employment contracts, accommodation, compensation and benefits, harassment in the workplace, privacy, human rights, workplace and business restructurings, collective bargaining, strikes and lockouts and occupational health and safety issues. Lawyers regularly appear before the courts and various labour and employment-related tribunals.

Real Estate:
Aird & Berlis offers advice on the purchase, sale and development of real property; leasing transactions; and infrastructure planning, financing and procurement. The firm also represents clients involved in the development, construction and management of office buildings, hotels, residential and commercial condominiums, residential rental projects, retirement homes and shopping centres.

Projects - PPP & Infrastructure:
Aird & Berlis provides innovative advice with respect to the structuring, procurement, financing, refinancing and divestiture of complex infrastructure projects across Canada and internationally, including public-private partnerships (P3s). Lawyers also advise both the public sector and a broad range of private sector participants.

Energy:
Aird & Berlis advises domestic and international clients on generation, cogeneration, district energy, nuclear, electricity and gas distribution, geo-thermal and geo-exchange, conservation and demand management, emissions trading, power transmission, smart meters, financing, corporate structures, joint ventures, outsourcing and mergers and acquisitions.

Telecoms, Media & Broadcasting:
Aird & Berlis provides strategic advice on competitive access to cable/telecom facilities and networks; merger clearance, including regulatory approval for transfers of ownership and control; wireless spectrum policy; Canadian content rules and regulations; funding of Canadian producers and content creators; and IP issues relating to the acquisition of content for online and digital platforms.