Private Equity: Buyouts | Canada

Stikeman Elliott is a dominant corporate law firm offering longstanding experience of private equity transactions across its offices throughout Canada. The private equity lawyers act for both buyers and sellers, demonstrating considerable depth of expertise in relation to private equity and venture capital funds. The team advises on both high-end and mid-market deals originating in a variety of industry sectors. The firm regularly represents foreign investors and is cited as a top choice of Canadian counsel on US-Canadian private equity deals.

Torys is respected for its experience in major private equity deals and recognised by the market for its commitment to this area. The firm has a strong tradition of representing large Canadian-based pension funds in global transactions, and benefits from the support of its New York office to advise Canadian and US private equity firms on cross-border matters. It offers significant expertise in mid-market buyouts, and draws on additional experience in areas such as fund formation and corporate governance. Its Toronto and Calgary-based lawyers also offer strength in secondary acquisitions and divestitures, with expertise cutting across a variety of sectors including infrastructure, energy and consumer products.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon operates an active deal practice in private equity, with a significant national scope. The group demonstrates equal strength acting for buyers and sellers on domestic and cross-border buyout, investment and exit transactions. It also stands out for its representation of US funds in connection with their Canadian investments, supported by the firm's office in New York. With experienced Toronto, Vancouver and Montréal-based lawyers, the team has experience handling private equity buyouts in sectors such as telecoms, manufacturing and energy.

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg is a well-regarded M&A law firm with a strong reputation for fund formation and transactional work in private equity. The group attracts significant clients including major private equity houses and their funds, institutional investors and sponsors. It advises on both acquisition and financing work, and maintains a longstanding presence in both Toronto and Montréal. The buyouts team often collaborates with colleagues in other departments to advise on a range of mandates; it has a strong track record of advising large clients investing in the Canadian mid-market. Its expertise cuts across sectors including real estate, technology, consumer products and the automotive industry.

Goodmans is a major player in the private equity space in Toronto. It represents institutional investors and large private equity firms in cross-border deals on both the buy and sell sides, with industry expertise covering IT, energy and real estate. The firm advises on transactions in the private equity secondary market and is recognised for its representation of funds clients in corporate restructuring and recapitalisation mandates. It displays supplementary strengths in areas such as fund formation and public M&A.

McCarthy Tétrault has a strong private equity platform for inbound transactions, fielding significant experience in relation to real assets, including infrastructure, energy and power assets, as well as a growing focus on sectors such as health and tech. The law firm's clients include pension funds, domestic and foreign private equity investors and investment banks across Canada and the USA. The private equity team further assists with leveraged buyouts and going-private transactions. It supplements its transactional practice with fund formation expertise.

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt is noted for its frequent representation of Canadian pension plans in the private equity space, as well as its varied list of domestic and international deals. It assists clients with a range of buyout and private equity financing mandates, as well as PIPE transactions. The firm has noted strengths in the venture capital space across its offices and frequently advises private equity firms investing in tech.

Bennett Jones is consistently viewed as a leading law firm in Alberta, with deep expertise relating to buyouts in the energy and natural resources sector. The private equity group further benefits from the expertise of its growing offices in New York and Toronto. It is well versed in the representation of Canadian and US asset managers, along with funds and portfolio companies. The firm's buyouts strength is bolstered by complementary financial services and regulatory expertise.

Fasken is a national law firm that is adept at handling a wide array of private equity mandates. The team's buyouts expertise is complemented by an assured grasp of corporate restructuring and regulatory matters, including issues arising under the Investment Canada Act. It is particularly noted as a leading force for private equity in Québec, with highly experienced teams in both Montréal and Québec City.

McMillan regularly advises on mid-market transactions, acting on behalf of Canadian and US private equity houses. The firm also frequently fulfils the role of Canadian counsel in US-Canada big-ticket transactions, acting alongside major US law firms. Its private equity and venture capital industry lawyers have further experience acting for private investors and target companies across a variety of industry sectors.