A destination practice for banking and finance, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP stands out for its premier firepower in both the regulatory and transactional spheres. In terms of the former, Paul Belanger is widely acknowledged as a market leader; he recently paired up with Vladimir Shatiryan to advise Royal Bank of Canada on the regulatory aspects of its C$13.5bn acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada — the deal, which was also co-led by specialists in the corporate and dispute resolution practices, additionally highlights the team’s enviable ability to link up with practices from across the full-service firm to resource large-scale matters. Other key names on the regulatory front include Jacqueline Shinfield, Bonny Murray and newly promoted partner Mena Bellofiore. Michael Matheson is a go-to name for corporate and commercial finance transactions; he advised Toronto-Dominion Bank/TD Securities and Bank of Nova Scotia (as co-lead arrangers and underwriters) on C$1bn in senior secured revolving credit facilities and back-stop facilities to support GIC and Dream Industrial REIT’s acquisition of Summit Industrial Income REIT. Other recommended transactional specialists include Simon Finch, who focuses on private debt transactions; and Calgary-based partners Michael McIntosh KC and Nick Tropak. Michael Harquail recently retired. Named lawyers are based in Toronto unless otherwise stated. Partner Mary Jeanne Phelan joined the firm's Montreal office from McCarthy Tétrault in October 2023.

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Key clients

Bank of Montreal
Calgary Airport Authority
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Capstone Mining Corp.
Definity Financial Corp., formerly Economical Mutual Insurance Company (“Economical”)
Enerplus Corporation
ENMAX Corporation
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board
PayIt
Royal Bank of Canada
Scotiabank
TC Energy Corporation
TD Bank Group

Work highlights

Advised Royal Bank of Canada on its C$13.5bn acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada.
Advised Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board on its acquisition of HomeQ Corporation, the parent company of HomeEquity Bank.
Advised Toronto-Dominion Bank/TD Securities and Bank of Nova Scotia (as co-lead arrangers and underwriters) on facilities to support the acquisition of Summit Industrial Income REIT.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Paul Belanger

Hall of fameBlake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Paul is Practice Group Leader of the Financial Services practice. He deals with all aspects of the regulation, business and affairs of financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies and other regulated and unregulated providers of financial services. Paul advises on governance, enterprise risk management, business and ownership structures, product development, permitted investments, capital, related-party transactions, licensing, product development and distribution matters and all regulatory issues. He also advises on acquisitions, pension derisking transactions, divestitures, reorganizations and joint ventures involving financial service providers, and advises financial services providers on a variety of agreements and services.

Michael Matheson

Hall of fameBlake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Michael has more than 25 years of experience in banking and financial services law, with a particular specialization in corporate and commercial finance. His practice is focused on the areas of banking, syndicated lending, leveraged finance, project finance, and mergers and acquisitions. Michael regularly advises Canadian and foreign financial institutions and borrowers with respect to the structuring and negotiation of syndicated loan transactions, acquisition financings, take-over bid financings, leveraged buyouts, corporate reorganizations, workouts, and mergers and acquisitions.

Leading individuals

Simon Finch

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Simon’s practice focuses on debt transactions, acting both for borrowers and lenders (bank and private credit). He has extensive experience structuring and negotiating syndicated credits, asset-based loans, capital call facilities, and project financings. In particular, he provides advice with respect to acquisition financings, including both strategic and sponsor leveraged buyouts and tender-offer financings for public companies. Simon has developed particular expertise in the mining sector, and advises on projects within and outside of Canada. Simon's clients include numerous domestic and foreign financial institutions, private equity funds, corporations and foreign law firms, who retain him to assist with the Canadian aspects of multi-jurisdictional financings.