From its platforms in Toronto and Montreal, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP’s team advises corporate borrowers and — increasingly — lenders on banking and finance transactions. In Toronto, department co-head Carol Pennycook is widely recognized for her record in acquisition finance, particularly infrastructure-related matters; she is advising Canada Infrastructure Bank on the development of a financing programme, with a C$5bn commitment, for the Government of Canada’s zero-emission buses initiative. Other recommended names in Toronto include highly regarded lender-side specialist Joel Scoler, as well as Derek Vesey and Scott Hyman. Group co-head Dan Wolfensohn is a key contact in Montreal. The team also includes a strong band of up-and-coming partners, including Peter Martorelli and Jennifer Prieto — both are in Toronto.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team stands out in several areas: reliability (ultra-responsive and always willing to make time to speak on short notice); quality (highest quality drafting and exemplary legal advice); professionalism; expertise (proactively seeks ways to protect our interests as lenders; extreme ownership / accountability.’
‘It feels like Davies drives the deal and transaction process forward (often not the case with other firms, where we need to follow up to ensure docs are moving). These characteristics are representative of my dealings with Joel Scoler and Peter Martorelli.’
Key clients
- Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation
- The Blackstone Group
Work highlights
- Acted for Rogers Communications on Canada Infrastructure Bank’s financing of a C$1.3bn rural broadband project to provide underserved households in Ontario with internet service.
- Acted for the underwriters, led by Royal Bank of Canada, on the Government of Canada’s C$5bn green bond offering.