Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP > Montreal, Canada > Firm Profile

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Canada > Banking and finance

Leveraging its enviable bank-side relationships, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP fields go-to teams for both financial services regulation and transactional work. On the regulatory front, Paul Belanger ranks among the market’s leading experts; he advises lenders (including all of Canada’s ‘Big Five’ banks), insurance companies and others on the full spectrum of related issues, including governance and product development matters. Among his recent marquee highlights, Belanger acted alongside Vladimir Shatiryan to advise Royal Bank of Canada on the regulatory aspects of its C$13.5bn acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada. Other key contacts for regulatory work include Jacqueline Shinfield, who co-heads the financial services regulatory group together with Belanger; Bonny Murray, who specializes in banking, payments and payment technologies and insurance; and Mena Bellofiore, who has a focus on consumer protection issues concerning financial services and products. Michael Matheson spearheads the transactional side of the practice and is considered by many as a leading light for corporate and commercial finance. Additionally noted for transactions are Simon Finch, who represents both borrowers and lenders in private debt transactions; Calgary-based Michael McIntosh KC, who has an emphasis on energy-related financings; and Calgary’s Nick Tropak, who is also recommended for energy and project finance-related matters. Named lawyers are based in Toronto unless otherwise stated.

Canada > Capital markets Tier 1

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s capital markets group is particularly dominant in equity work, where it acts for issuers and managers on a steady stream of high-value offerings. The department additionally houses a prominent debt practice, which saw Calgary partners Jeff Bakker and Kristopher Simard recently pair up to advise Coastal GasLink Pipeline on its C$7.1bn private placement of notes in Canada, the US and certain other international jurisdictions; this notably represented the largest Canadian dollar-denominated corporate bond offering to date. Ross Bentley is also a key contact in Calgary. Recommended names in Toronto include Tim Andison, Chris Hewat, Michael Hickey, Eric Moncik, London managing partner Jeffrey Lloyd (who splits his practice between Canada and the UK), and national practice head Catherine Youdan — all of whom maintain broad securities and M&A practices. Pascal de Guise is noted in Montreal.

Canada > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP's practice group is well-placed to handle diverse competition law matters, including merger reviews, cartel investigations, abuse of dominance cases, advertising matter and competition law class actions. The group is frequently instructed by banks and domestic and international companies in the healthcare, energy, pharma and retail segments. Navin Joneja and Julie Soloway, both based at the Toronto office, share leadership of the practice and take care of the gamut of Canadian competition and foreign investment matters. Additional key contacts include Randall Hofley, who is well-versed in litigation before the Canadian Competition Bureau; Cassandra Brown, who brings strength to matters involving distribution practices, criminal and civil investigation and foreign investment transactions; Kevin MacDonald, who manages files related to marketing and distribution practices and abuse of dominance cases); and Jonathan Bitran, who joined the firm from McCarthy Tétrault in August 2023.

Canada > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

The powerhouse practice at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP remains a market leader, leveraging the bench strength of national offices in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa and abroad in London and New York, to advise major domestic and multinational corporates and financial institutions involved in high-value public and private M&A. The practice is led by a trio of M&A experts in Toronto: Rory ffrench, who specializes in such sectors as healthcare, infrastructure and tech; Cheryl Satin, who also brings expertise to divestitures, private equity investments, joint ventures and corporate reorganizations; and Catherine Youdan, who advises on complex capital markets matters. Ross Bentley continues to be a key figure in Calgary, bringing experience to advising clients in the aviation, energy and agribusiness sectors, on such matters as domestic and international mergers, takeover bids and plans of arrangement. Michael Gans draws on over 25 years of practice to manage complex M&A, related party transactions and internal investigations. Jeffrey Lloyd brings authority to major negotiated and unsolicited transactions involving clients in industries ranging from real estate and media to telecoms and financial services. Linda Tu acts for a broad base of public and private companies, boards of directors, special committees and underwriters across the retail, tech, renewables, agriculture and cannabis spaces. All lawyers, unless noted, work in the Toronto office.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Alberta Tier 1

The practice group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is well-versed in arbitration, as well as energy, white-collar crime, securities, insurance, employment and insolvency litigation. The team routinely represents clients before trial and appellate courts, tribunals and government agencies. The practice is co-directed by Calgary-based Renee Reichelt and Michael Dixon. Reichelt majors on class actions, shareholder disputes, patent infringement, and banking, securities, oil and gas and environmental litigation. Dixon focuses his practice on energy and natural resources disputes. Additional names to note include David Tupper (takeover litigation, and construction, insurance, environmental, and oil and gas litigation); and Brendan MacArthur-Stevens (commercial litigation and advising clients on constitutional and administrative law matters).

Canada > Dispute resolution: British Columbia Tier 1

The disputes capabilities of the practice at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP encompass commercial and securities litigation, as well as class action defence and arbitration. The practice is co-led by Joe McArthur KC, who specializes in representing mining, infrastructure, utilities, financial services and tech companies in commercial litigation and arbitration; and Robin Reinertson, who is well-versed in class action defence and product liability, consumer protection and competition litigation. Additional key contacts include Sean Boyle, who handles securities class actions, regulatory investigations and proceedings and capital markets litigation; Roy Millen (public and administrative law); Alexandra Luchenko (regulatory compliance, transactional litigation and crisis management); Peter Rubin (contractual disputes, tax appeals, tort claims, shareholder and securities litigation); and Laura Cundari (litigation and arbitration involving the energy, mining, cannabis and infrastructure sectors).

Canada > Dispute resolution: Ontario Tier 1

The Ontario disputes group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is routinely instructed by clients in the financial services, mining, automotive, insurance and pharmaceutical sectors for its commercial litigation expertise. Catherine Beagan Flood and Iris Fischer share leadership of the practice. Beagan Flood specializes in the defence of privacy, antitrust, insurance, product liability, misleading advertising, telecommunications and consumer-protection class actions. Fischer handles commercial litigation, internal and government investigations and white-collar matters, and has noted media and defamation expertise. Also noted are Michael Barrack (corporate and commercial, taxation, securities, constitutional and insolvency litigation, as well as arbitration); Jeff Galway (corporate/commercial, securities, constitutional, competition and pension law matters); Gordon McKee (class action defence and product liability claims); and Bradley Berg (commercial litigation, shareholder disputes and administrative law matters).

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 1

Recognized by many as a first port of call for oil and gas transactions, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP excels across the full range of M&A, joint ventures, project development and investment matters. The energy practice additionally leverages a broad regulatory offering, which integrates specialists in energy regulation, environmental law and Indigenous law. Among its recent highlights, Calgary managing partner Ben Rogers acted alongside up-and-coming department co-head Christine Milliken to advise TC Energy Corporation on corporate and commercial matters related to the development of the C$12bn Coastal GasLink Pipeline. The Calgary-based group also draws on the transactional expertise of Chris Harris and practice co-lead Keith Byblow, while associate Ashton Menuz provides support. On the regulatory front, department co-head Terri-Lee Oleniuk is sought after for her comprehensive experience spanning regulatory, environmental and Indigenous law issues. Lars Olthafer and Katie Slipp are also recommended for regulatory and environmental compliance and approval processes.

Canada > Environment Tier 1

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP fields one of the deepest environmental law benches in Canada, with the ability to call on experts in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. It is additionally distinguished by its experience across all key industry sectors, as well as by its coverage of the full range of permitting, environmental assessments, project approvals and corporate support work, among other areas. Jonathan Kahn (Toronto) steers the department and is a go-to specialist for complex, high-stakes cases. The group further draws on the senior expertise of Charles Kazaz (Montreal/Toronto), who has a focus on the industrial, mining and waste-management sectors; Tony Crossman (Vancouver), who is equipped to handle regulatory work, due diligence and litigation; Lana Finney (Toronto), whose track record spans land contamination, permitting, regulatory compliance and litigation; and Terri-Lee Oleniuk (Calgary), who is recommended for energy-related work.

Canada > Indigenous law Tier 1

The expertise of the practice group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP takes in litigation, M&A transactions, project and real estate financing and tax work. The team is regularly called upon by natural resources players, developers of pipelines, LNG and energy projects and consumer goods companies operating in First Nation territories, as well as First Nations governing bodies and First Nation-owned businesses. Vancouver-based Roy Millen and Sam Adkins share leadership of the department. Millen specializes in Indigenous rights, commercial litigation and international trade matters. Adkins, for his part, routinely assists natural resource-sector clients with Indigenous consultation, negotiation and regulatory matters. Also noted are Calgary-based Terri-Lee Oleniuk (regulatory, environmental and Indigenous law issues); and Vancouver-based Rochelle Collette, who is the key associate-level contact.

Canada > Infrastructure projects Tier 1

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s infrastructure practice is distinguished by its ability to land key roles advising all major stakeholders in Canada’s largest projects, including recent engagements for public sector entities, lenders, sponsors and developers. 2023/24 was a particularly strong year on the public sector side, which saw Toronto-based procurement expert Marianne Smith act for the City of Calgary on the development of a C$5bn light rail transit line, among other mandates. Vancouver managing partner Jeffrey Merrick contributes extensive experience in infrastructure work and fronts an enviably deep bench that also includes high-profile Toronto-based projects specialist Catherine Doyle, who focuses on representing lenders, developers and sponsors on large-scale projects. Other key contacts are Mark Johnson, who splits his time between Toronto and Ottawa; Alain Massicotte, who spearheads the Montreal infrastructure and PPP area; Toronto-based Alyssa Shivji, whose increasingly prominent practice spans procurement, infrastructure and construction; and Claudie Imbleau-Chagnon, who recently joined in Montreal from Ivanhoé Cambridge.

Canada > Insurance Tier 1

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s premier insurance offering is well weighted between market-shaping transactions, complex regulatory issues and strategic contentious work. Routinely sought after by major domestic and global insurers and reinsurers, the team is also a popular choice to represent insured entities on high-stakes disputes. On the litigation front, Calgary-based David Tupper is widely recognized for the breadth of his expertise, which spans subrogation actions, coverage actions, and liability defence cases, among others. The insurance litigation team also draws on Montreal-based Matthew Liben, who has extensive experience in representing US and Europe-based insurance companies and syndicates; and Calgary’s Keith Marlowe QC, who has an emphasis on insurance coverage and defence. Toronto-based financial services head Paul Belanger is a go-to specialist for non-contentious work. Also recommended in Toronto for transactional and regulatory insurance matters are Bonny Murray, Jake Gilbert and next-generation partner Michael Elder.

Canada > International expertise Tier 1

Frequently involved in both inbound and outbound transactions, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s cross-border offering benefits from its ability to leverage international offices in New York and London. The firm’s premier dispute resolution practice additionally marks it as a popular choice for transnational disputes, including arbitrations. High-profile M&A specialist Jeffrey Lloyd manages the London office, and also routinely works from Toronto. In a $9bn deal, Lloyd recently acted for the Special Committee of Teck Resources in connection with the sale of a majority stake in its steelmaking coal business to Glencore and a minority stake to Nippon Steel. The London office also draws on corporate and capital markets partner Jennifer Maxwell. In New York, office managing partner Kevin Rusli is highly regarded for his private equity expertise.

Canada > Pensions Tier 1

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP's pensions group is equipped to advise on the gamut of pension and benefit plans matters, including executive compensation arrangements, retirement compensation arrangements, employee share ownership plans, deferred income arrangements and profit-sharing plans. The team is frequently instructed by banks and companies in the energy and financial services segment. Toronto-based Jeffrey Sommers acts as sole practice head following the December 2023 retirement of Kathryn Bush. Sommers is well-versed in advising clients on the taxation, funding, administration and winding-up of pension and group benefit plans. Additional key contacts include Montreal-based Natalie Bussière, who handles both employment and pensions matters; and senior counsel Jeremy Forgie and partners Adam Ngan and Philipp Knoll in Toronto. Lindsay McLeod left the firm in May 2023, as did Sean Maxwell in May 2024. Pensions and benefits-focused counsel Jessica Bullock joined the Toronto office in June 2024.

Canada > Public procurement Tier 1

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is a strong choice among both private and public-sector clients for its procurement expertise. Core areas of focus for the group include bidding processes, commercial arrangements, tender documentation and related disputes. The department is directed by Marianne Smith, who specializes in advising clients on the development, preparation, and administration of public tenders, as well as on the financing and construction of infrastructure projects. Additional key contacts include Stephanie Console, who focuses on the development, preparation and administration of public tenders; and Alyssa Shivji, who brings notable experience advising on transportation, civil infrastructure, water and wastewater, and healthcare mandates. Karishma Prasanna is the key associate-level contact, following Meaghan Parry‘s January 2024 promotion to the partnership. All named lawyers are based in Toronto, with the exception of infrastructure specialist Claudie Imbleau-Chagnon, who arrived at the Montreal office in August 2023.

Canada > Real estate Tier 1

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP continues to be a leader in the real estate space, drawing on its deep bench of national offices in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa and abroad in London and New York, to advise a broad client base of domestic and international institutional and private entities, developers, banks, pension funds, fund managers, insurance companies, REITs, retail and commercial property owners and occupiers, hotel owners and government agencies, on a diverse spectrum of real estate matters. The practice, which displays particular strength in the retail and financial services spaces, is led in Toronto by Thomas von Hahn, an expert in the acquisition and disposition of real property and mortgage portfolios, and John Hutmacher, who utilizes extensive experience advising clients on acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, sales and leaseback transactions. Other key figures include Silvana D’Alimonte, who specializes in complex financings involving investors, fund managers and asset managers; Daniel Kofman, who brings expertise acting as real estate lead on multi-billion-dollar acquisitions in the financial services sector; and Garth Anderson in Calgary, who brings over 25 years in the real estate arena assisting life insurance companies, REITs and utility companies. Key support is provided by senior associate Jean-Simon Lamarre in Montreal. Unless noted, all lawyers mentioned work in the Toronto office.

Canada > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

The practice at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP acts for debtors, court officers and secured lenders on a range of restructuring and insolvency mandates. The team has notable expertise in the financial services, mining, cannabis, real estate and energy segments. The department is directed by Calgary-based Kelly Bourassa and Toronto-based Linc Rogers. Bourassa handles in-court and out-of-court matters for major public companies, and Rogers regularly assists foreign-based lenders, corporations and private equity and hedge funds with restructurings, distressed acquisitions and distressed financings. Additional key contacts at the Toronto office include Pamela Huff, Chris Burr and Caitlin McIntyre, who handles insolvency litigation, financial restructurings and debt enforcement. Vancouver-based Peter Rubin has experience acting as independent counsel for monitors in reorganization cases.

Canada > Tax Tier 1

The practice group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is well-placed to handle tax planning for M&A transactions, transfer pricing matters and cross-border tax controversies, for which it is routinely instructed by clients in the financial services, energy, real estate and telecoms segments. Paul Stepak directs the national group; Mark Tonkovich heads up the tax litigation and controversy group; and Jeffrey Shafer acts as transfer pricing lead. Stepak specialises in income tax planning and capital markets transactions; Tonkovich is well-versed in representing clients in administrative appeals and before federal and provincial courts. Shafer, for his part, has substantial experience in M&A, international transfer pricing and the taxation of various investment vehicles. Additional key contacts include Calgary-based Dan Jankovic, who deals with both tax planning and litigation; and Zvi Halpern-Shavim (tax compliance, planning, audit and disputes) and Andrew Spiro (tax matters involving REITs), both of whom are based in Toronto.

Transport > Aviation Tier 1

The practice group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is equipped to provide aviation finance and regulatory advice to aviation groups, manufacturers, financiers and lessors. Core areas of expertise include aircraft and engine financings, aerospace M&A, airport and infrastructure financings and satellite financings. Toronto-based Jason MacIntyre directs the department and specializes in regulatory matters, including aircraft repossessions, and aircraft maintenance, licensing and certification. MacIntyre also co-leads the firm's drones and defence industry groups. Additional key contacts include Auriol Marasco, who majors on aircraft finance transactions, aircraft regulatory matters and manufacturing matters; and associate Eric Goneau, who handles aviation financing.

Canada > AI Tier 2

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP utilizes the bench strength of national offices in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa and abroad in London and New York to advise investors, emerging companies and established domestic and multinational corporates across such sectors as e-commerce, tech, agriculture and chemistry, on complex, multi-jurisdictional AI financings and acquisitions, AI risks and regulations and programmes for global data protection compliance in AI systems. The practice is led by Anne Glover, a seasoned litigator and specialist in electronic discovery and information governance; Christopher Jones, a veteran M&A lawyer involved in complex transactions involving AI-based platforms; and Wendy Mee, an expert in data processing and collection matters and privacy considerations related to commercial transactions, litigation and the development of AI tools. All the lawyers mentioned work in the firm's Toronto office.

Canada > Cannabis Tier 2

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s comprehensive cannabis offering maintains an interdisciplinary approach, with the ability to draw on specialists from its corporate, dispute resolution, IP and insolvency groups, among others. Montreal-based Tricia Kuhl anchors the team and stands out for her broad practice focus, which spans corporate, technology, regulatory and compliance; she recently advised Rose LifeScience on various commercial law issues. Rounding out the key partners are Toronto-based Pei Li, who specializes in regulatory matters, and Montreal-based litigator Patrick Lapierre. A robust second line of non-partners includes IP-focused counsel Henry Bian (Toronto) and corporate and commercial associate Renée Tousignant (Montreal).

Canada > Dispute resolution: Quebec Tier 2

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP's disputes capabilities in Quebec take in corporate litigation, product liability litigation, class actions defence, insurance litigation, restructuring and insolvency litigation and securities litigation. Multinational clients in the automotive, construction, banking, healthcare, energy, financial services and tech segments routinely feature on the group’s client roster. The practice is directed by Claude Marseille, who focuses on class actions, product liability, construction law and shareholder remedies. Additional key contacts include Caroline Biron, who previously acted as managing partner at Woods LLP and who arrived at the firm in August 2023; litigator and senior counsel Robert Torralbo; Simon Seida, who brings expertise to class actions and professional malpractice matters; Matthew Liben, who handles insurance, restructuring and insolvency litigation; and Ariane Bisaillon, who brings strength to commercial litigation, class actions and product liability disputes.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 2

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP channels the bench strength of national offices in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa, and abroad in London and New York, to advise junior, major and intermediate mining companies (including First Quantum Minerals and Teck Resources) and financial institutions involved in high-value, cross-border M&A and corporate finance. The firm’s offering extends to cover streaming transactions, post-restructuring, ESG and emerging technologies matters. M&A expert John Wilkin heads the team in Toronto, bringing expertise to securities law finance and corporate governance matters. Other key individuals include practice area authority Bob Wooder in Vancouver; Charles Kazaz in Montreal, a specialist in mine acquisitions and divestitures, mining agreements with First Nations, mine reclamations and closure issues; and Kathleen Keilty in Vancouver, who advises issuers and underwriters on public offerings, private placements and equity and debt securities related to mining M&A transactions.

Energy and natural resources > Power Tier 2

Particularly noted for its expertise in projects and commercial transactions, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s power practice is driven out of Toronto by Vivian Kung, who specializes in power, infrastructure and M&A. The national group also draws on transactional partners Keith Byblow (Calgary), Sébastien Vilder (Montreal), Scott Clarke (Calgary) and up-and-coming name, Ky Kvisle (Toronto). The transactional team is supported by a growing regulatory offering led by Calgary-based energy regulation head Terri-Lee Oleniuk and also including Toronto-based counsel Reena Goyal, who recently joined from McCarthy Tétrault — Goyal contributes significant in-house experience gained during an eight-year stint at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).

Canada > Technology Tier 2

The practice group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is frequently instructed by tech, financial services, telecoms, real estate and pharma sector clients seeking assistance with tech-related corporate transactions, as well as regulatory issues. Montreal-based Sunny Handa steers the national practice and specializes in tech sector transactions, cloud computing, SaaS, licensing, open source software, e-commerce, privacy and data protection. Additional key contacts at the Montreal office include Marie-Hélène Constantin (technology regulatory matters) and Joanna Myszka (M&A, share and asset sale transactions, general corporate matters). Toronto-based Robert Percival and David Feldman have focused their practices on commercial and IT transactions.

Canada > Labour and employment Tier 3

The team at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP specializes in employment litigation and providing employment advice on corporate transactions involving the financial services, oil and gas, retail, tech and aerospace segments. National practice lead Andrea York is based in Toronto and handles both advisory and contentious mandates. Also in Toronto, Holly Reid takes care of harassment and misconduct allegations. Calgary-based Birch Miller, Vancouver-based Michael Howcroft and Montreal-based Natalie Bussière are noted for their expertise in litigation.

Canada > Telecoms Tier 3

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP's telecoms group is equipped to provide support on M&A and capital markets transactions involving the telecoms, broadcasting and media sectors, in addition to representing clients in related disputes, hearings, regulatory enforcement actions and public consultation processes. The practice is directed by Montreal-based Sunny Handa, who has focused his practice on telecoms regulatory matters and M&A. Also noted in Montreal is Céline Poitras, who has knowledge of the regulatory regimes covering telecoms, satellite communications and broadcasting.

Canada > Construction Tier 4

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP houses a robust construction litigation practice, which frequently acts in tandem with the firm’s dominant procurement, infrastructure, and oil and gas teams to advise on complex construction work. Equipped to handle both judicial and arbitral disputes, the group counts project owners, developers, engineers, architects and insurers among its key clients. Corporate and commercial litigator David Tupper fronts the team from Calgary. Litigators Laura Cundari (Vancouver), Matthew Liben (Montreal) and Alyssa Duke (Calgary) also handle a significant volume of construction cases.

Canada > International trade Tier 4

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s international trade offering leans on the firm’s tax, dispute resolution and regulatory groups, among others, to provide interdisciplinary support on customs, economic sanctions, export controls anti-corruption and trade policy matters. Toronto-based tax partner Zvi Halpern-Shavim spearheads the cross-practice team and advises on customs law, export controls and economic sanctions. Vancouver-based associate Brady Gordon is noted for trade litigation.

Canada > Intellectual property Tier 5

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s Toronto-based IP group handled a significant volume of transactional support matters during 2023/24. Chris Hunter heads the IP department and is well versed in IP portfolio management, M&A-related work and infringement and misappropriation actions. New IP litigation head Fiona Legere joined in July 2024 from McCarthy Tétrault. IP litigators Melanie Baird, Andrew Skodyn and Sean Jackson recently left the firm.