Investment Funds: Fund Formation | Canada

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg operates a highly regarded team acting on fund formation and restructuring mandates, with notable experience representing large buyout and infrastructure funds. The group advises on a wide range of deals, including both mid-market and high-end transactions. The practitioners are also active on real estate and pension fund mandates, in addition to private equity and hedge fund work. The lawyers in Toronto and Montréal regularly work alongside the firm's New York office to provide advice on cross-border mandates. The team has particular strength acting on the sponsor side of private equity fund formations.

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.

Torys is a Toronto and Calgary-based law firm that assists clients with a range of issues, including fund formation and launches. The team is noted for advising on bespoke fund platforms, in addition to providing guidance on the structuring of funds and capital raises. Its investment funds and asset management team is particularly recognised for an elite client roster that includes leading private equity houses as well as pensions and sovereign wealth funds. The group is renowned for its expertise across a variety of asset classes, including infrastructure, real estate and hedge funds. It offers clients cross-border and US law capabilities through its New York office.

McCarthy Tétrault operates a high-quality investment fund practice with a strong track record of representing clients in connection with closed-end funds. The firm also advises on open-end funds, derivatives and ETF mandates, and supports clients with regulatory and compliance expertise. The lawyers are noted for their strong grasp of the regulations governing Canadian investment funds and demonstrate further expertise in secondary investments and fund formation.

Stikeman Elliott operates a broad investment fund practice acting for managers, dealers and investors on closed-end funds, mutual funds, hedge funds and real estate funds. The financial products and services group advises on regulatory compliance and transactional matters, including cross-border offerings. It regularly assists Europe-based investors with their Canadian business activities. The firm is also widely praised for its capabilities in fund formation, with notable strengths in both Montréaland Toronto.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon operates a wide-ranging investment funds practice with notable expertise in ETFs, closed-end funds and mutual funds. The investment products and asset management team is also noted for advising sponsors on launching Canadian SPACs. Its lawyers represent asset managers, established financial institutions and overseas banks. The group demonstrates significant experience in structuring domestic and cross-border funds, offering additional guidance on the capital markets and tax aspects of fund matters.

Goodmans is a Toronto law firm with a compact investment fund practice that is acknowledged for its representation of domestic and cross-border private equity and pension funds. The team wins recognition for its experience in the private equity secondary market and has considerable experience in the structuring and formation of funds.

Gowling WLG has experience acting for private funds and fund managers on a range of investments and transactions. The group provides counsel on matters related to venture capital, private equity and pensions funds, often involving the infrastructure and real estate space. The practitioners demonstrate notable strength handling open-end funds in addition to continuation vehicles.

Norton Rose Fulbright enjoys a growing presence in the Canadian investment funds market, with notable activity on fund formation and structuring mandates. The international law firm regularly advises on asset management and investment matters, with additional strength in securities law. The lawyers are well versed in private equity and venture capital funds, with notable knowledge in the real estate space.