Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP - The Who's Who Legal 100 2012

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

As part of its commercial real estate practice, Blakes specialises in providing advice on acquisition and disposition of property assets in a range of industries, as well as real estate investments, property management and regulatory compliance. In Alberta, Garth Anderson assists clients on structuring major design projects in the transportation sector, and on the real estate and construction aspects of energy-related infrastructure projects. With over 30 years’ experience, Richard Dawson advises on major deals concerning financing for lenders and acquirers, and leasing and development projects in and outside of Alberta.

In Vancouver Gayle Hunter is a corporate lawyer with a focus on commercial real estate development, construction, financing, leasing and investments. Alongside her is Jeff Merrick, who specialises in commercial real estate projects and advises clients on public-private financing, alternative investments and infrastructure procurements contracts.

Chair of the real estate group, Jim Hilton is “highly visible in the market”. He deals primarily with the acquisition and disposition of the real estate assets of companies and advises on the development and redevelopment of public areas. He counts the Government of the Bahamas and Standard Life as clients.

In Toronto, Thomas von Hahn is the coordinator of the real estate group and advises on pension funds, investments, acquisition and disposition of real property and mortgage portfolios. He acts for both domestic and foreign companies. He is joined by Chris Huband, a very “experienced real estate lawyer” who works on big transactions such as bcIMC Realty’s acquisition of Toronto real estate and GWL Realty’s purchase and sale of local private infrastructure. Silvana D’Alimonte has significant experience advising on REITs, foreign investments into Canada and regulation relating to lending.

In Montreal, Pierre-Denis Leroux concentrates on mortgage and financing for property projects, acquisitions and developments. He represents mainly consortiums, work providers and large property development companies.

Eight of the firm’s natural resources specialists are recognised. Managing partner of the European practice, David Glennie features in the oil and gas and mining chapters as an active energy and infrastructure lawyer. He advises foreign investors concerning London, North Africa and Alberta-based ventures. Chairman of the firm, Brock Gibson combines his management duties with work representing issuers, financial institutions, investment dealers, and energy and technology companies on corporate transactions, reorganisations and debt offerings in the oil and gas market, for which he enjoys an additional listing in the M&A chapter. Dan Fournier QC works mainly for clients involved in Middle Eastern projects, and Bob Wooder earns three listings in the oil and gas, mining and M&A chapters as a skilled M&A lawyer with a focus in those industries.

Also in the M&A chapter is Pat Finnerty who has represented UTS in defence of a hostile takeover, Canadian Occidental Petroleum in its demerger from the corporation and Nexen in its acquisition of EnCana’s North Sea assets. He also appears in the capital markets chapter. Senior counsel David Jackson advises on issuings, mergers, acquisitions, disposition transactions and corporate governance, and so earns additional listings in the capital markets and corporate governance chapters. Corporate governance and M&A lawyer Jeffrey Lloyd is highly recommended by clients for his representation on corporate ventures, IPOs and private placements of equity and debt securities.

Fellow capital markets lawyers William Sirett and Michael Gans both earn many nominations, as does the head of the financial services group Michael Harquail,who advises a variety of financial institutions and corporate clients on corporate lending, debt restructuring and general corporate matters with special expertise in structuring and documenting domestic and foreign financing transactions. He appears in the banking chapter along with four other lawyers.

Blakes has a prominent competition practice, of which six lawyers feature in our research. Brian Facey is “a smart guy” and Calvin Goldman QC has appeared before the Canadian Supreme Court many times. Both are co-chairs of the competition, antitrust and foreign investment group and received numerous votes for their practice work in these areas.

The firm also stands out in the environment, internet and e-commerce, commercial litigation, public procurement, product liability defence and tax chapters.