The banking and finance practice at McCarthy Tétrault strikes a balance between transactional and regulatory mandates, while the firm’s comprehensive national network also ensures that work is well weighted between Canada’s key business hubs. In Toronto, Richard Higa is sought after for transactional matters; he acted as Canadian counsel to Golub Capital Markets, and a syndicate of lenders, on the financing of Excelitas Technologies Corp. Other transactional specialists in Toronto include Gordon Baird; Justin Lapedus; and project finance specialist Stephen Furlan. Additionally, Joseph Palin and counsel Michel Deschamps are noted for lending deals in Calgary and Montreal respectively. The deep and broad group also includes regulatory and fintech expert Ana Badour, who recently acted alongside Hartley Lefton to advise Novacap on the regulatory aspects of its partnership with online financial marketplace, Ratehub.ca. Other key contacts include Ian Mak; recently promoted partner Noel Chow; and debt capital markets expert Marc MacMullin, who leads the overarching financial services group — all are focused on transactions and based in Toronto. Mary Jeanne Phelan departed in October 2023.
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Leading individuals
Ana is a partner in McCarthy Tétrault’s Toronto Financial Services group and co-leader of the firm’s Fintech group. Ana regularly advises banks, credit unions, payment service providers, non-bank lenders and other Fintech entities on regulatory requirements, including prudential, consumer protection and anti-money laundering requirements. She is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).
Practices banking and commercial law. Broad experience in domestic and cross-border loan syndications, secured transactions, receivables financing, international banking transactions, and regulation of financial institutions (including on consumer protection matters).
Practice focuses on project finance and secured lending. Regularly advises Canadian and foreign lenders with respect to the structuring and negotiation of some of the most complex project financings in the Canadian marketplace. Has acted for both lenders, borrowers and governments with respect to project financing, public private partnership infrastructure financings and loan work-outs in the project finance area.
Practice focuses on all aspects of domestic and cross-border financings, including acquisition, asset-based, cash flow and recurring revenue based lending, bilateral and syndicated financings, Term B, second lien and mezzanine financings, as well as debtor-in-possession financings and high-yield notes. Recently acted on behalf of a variety of Canadian and US financial institutions including banks, insurance companies and specialty debt funds on asset-based financings and leveraged cash-flow financings and mezzanine financings provided to private equity funds in connection with acquisitions in the gaming, telecom, insurance, medical, technology and manufacturing sectors. Richard brings a pragmatic, solution oriented practical style to closing transactions. In addition to his finance practice, Richard is the Practice Group Leader for the firm’s business law group in Toronto.
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Marc MacMullin, Ana Badour