LAWYER PROFILE
Neill May

Neill May

Canada 2027

Chambers ranking badge
Chambers ranking badge

Ranked in 2 practice areas

Corporate/Commercial

Ontario

12 years ranked

About

Provided by Goodmans LLP

Canada

Practice Areas

Neill May is a partner, a member of the Executive Committee and a former co-chair of the Corporate Securities Group at Goodmans. His practice focuses on all aspects of securities law, with a particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. Neill has developed a reputation for expertise in securities law and for his ability to negotiate and complete complex and innovative transactions.

Neill has counselled participants in numerous public and private M&A transactions and has represented clients on both sides of friendly and hostile takeover bids. He has also structured and implemented a vast range of corporate reorganizations and financing transactions, including domestic and cross-border public offerings, and private strategic and venture capital financings.

Career

Neill is named 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” for Corporate Law and 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” for Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law by Best Lawyers in Canada, and “Global Elite Thought Leader” for M&A by Lexology Index. He is recognized by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as most frequently recommended in corporate finance & securities, M&A, corporate commercial, corporate mid-market, private equity and consistently recommended for mining law. He has also been recommended by The Lexpert 500 (corporate commercial, corporate finance, corporate mid-market, M&A, and private equity), Chambers Global (corporate/M&A and private equity: buyouts), Chambers Canada (corporate/commercial and private equity: buyouts), Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading M&A Lawyers, IFLR1000 (M&A), Lexology Index (capital markets & thought leader in M&A), The Legal 500 Canada (M&A), and The Best Lawyers in Canada (cannabis, corporate, leveraged buyouts & private equity, M&A, mining, natural resources, private funds and securities). He is also featured as a leading practitioner in the Lexpert Special Edition: Finance, the Lexpert Special Edition: M&A, and the Lexpert Special Edition: Mining.

Professional Memberships

Neill is a former member of the Toronto Stock Exchange Listing Advisory Committee and the Ontario Securities Commission’s Securities Advisory Committee and Small Business Advisory Committee. Neill is a former adjunct professor at the University of Toronto - Faculty of Law.

Neill is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.

Publications

He has co-authored reports for the Ontario Securities Commission Task Force on small business financing. Neill has also been quoted in an article published by The Best Lawyers in Canada 2027.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Canada Guide

Corporate/Commercial - Ontario

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Neill May has a wealth of experience handling M&A and corporate finance matters. Based in Toronto, he advises on transactions across a broad range of industries, including mining and private equity.

Private Equity: Buyouts - Nationwide - Canada

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial

Neill May boasts considerable expertise in complex transactional matters, acting for investment managers as well as portfolio companies.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Neill is a total pro. He has incredible judgement and commercial instincts, and he also contributes meaningfully to the profession.

    Corporate/CommercialChambers Canada Guide
  • He's one of the smartest people I know.

    Private Equity: BuyoutsChambers Canada Guide

Ranked Individuals at Goodmans LLP (87)

Nationwide - Canada

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