Stikeman Elliott - The Who's Who Legal 100 2012

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

Stikeman’s corporate governance practice is “highly regarded” for its expertise covering regulations and best practices. Five lawyers are selected for inclusion in the corresponding chapter, three of which are located in the Montreal office. Chair of the firm, Pierre Raymond focuses his practice on public M&A, securities regulation and corporate finance. Alongside him, John Leopold, senior partner in the Montreal office and co-chair of the firm’s M&A practice is a “great talent” and Benoît Dubord specialises in corporate and securities law and is a “trusted adviser”. In Toronto, William Braithwaite, a “leading lawyer”, is highly recommended by peers and clients alike, while Marvin Yontef has advised on numerous corporate reorganisations and restructurings, working with directors, senior officers, director committees and bankers on strategic and fiduciary issues.

M&A remains one of the firm’s strongest suits and it is internationally renowned for its transactional work. Highlights of the last year include acting as Canadian counsel for Apple Inc in the US$4.5 billion purchase of Nortel’s remaining patents and patent applications by a consortium of technology companies, the largest patent sale in history. Two of the aforementioned lawyers, William Braithwaite and John Leopold, make a second appearance in this section. Two lawyers from the Montréal office, Sidney Horn and William Rosenberg, are hailed as “first rate” and Stewart Sutcliffe in London is “exceptional”, and focuses on both private and public mergers and acquisitions.

Adding to the firm’s impressive corporate offering is its capital markets practice. One of the team’s recent highlights includes advising Bauer Sports Performance on its C$75 million initial public offering. Former chairman of the firm Edward Waitzer is “greatly respected” lawyer for his transactional work. Simon Romano is considered “first rate” for his securities work and Jonathan Drance has acted as special counsel on numerous significant public financings. Christopher Nixon is head of the national China coverage group and is “excellent”.

Three nominees appear in the corporate tax chapter, among them the “eminent” Ronald Durand, head of the Toronto office tax group, whose expertise covers divestitures, mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations and corporate restructurings and financings. Richard Hay, based in London, also performs well in our research. His practice encompasses advising financial institutions and private clients on tax, regulatory and political risk aspects of cross-border estate planning structures for high net worth families.

In the mining chapter, the firm garners four listings from as many offices. Michael Allen, based in Vancouver, complements his listing here with appearances in the banking and project finance chapters and is considered “indispensable” by clients. The “first-rate” Quentin Markin, recently relocated to the firm’s Sydney office to better serve clients in the Asia-Pacific region.

The firm has four listings in the insurance and reinsurance section, covering transactional, regulatory and contentious work. Brian Rose is “internationally renowned” for his corporate insurance practice, while Alan D’Silva has a “very well-respected” litigation practice and handles large insurance disputes and directors’ and officers’ claims.

With three lawyers selected for inclusion in the environment section, Stikeman proves its credentials in the field. The practice group serves a range of national and international clients in an advisory role as well as in contentious matters. Co-chair of the firm’s energy and real estate group, James Harbell has appeared before various levels of courts and regulatory agencies and is “highly rated” by peers for his work in the field. In Toronto, Larry Cobb has a broad environmental practice that covers business transactions and environmental liabilities, as well as environmental assessments and compliance reviews.

Stikeman receives recognition for its dispute resolution practice in the arbitration and litigation chapters. John Judge is listed in the arbitration section and noted for his “adept and skilled” handling of cases. Listed in both the commercial litigation and insolvency and restructuring chapters David Byers is praised as an “excellent” litigator. Byers is head of the firm’s litigation group in Toronto and co-chair of the national practice group.

The firm receives additional nominees in the competition chapter, with three of its lawyer highly recommended. Lawson Hunter is a “pre-eminent” figure in the competition bar, with his vast knowledge of policy and regulations. Katherine Kay is head of the firm’s competition litigation practice and an “outstanding” name according top sources, while Susan Hutton is “well known” for advising companies in respect of competition considerations affecting mergers and acquisitions.

Our research highlights the strength of Stikeman’s corporate and transactional practice areas that underpin its position as one of Canada’s leading business law firms.