Canada: Project Finance
The project finance chapter features 18 lawyers, up from 15 last year. Our research reveals an upswing in projects, increasingly financed through public-private partnerships (PPP), and in the natural resources industry.
This year Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP is represented by two lawyers. Michael McIntosh is a “superb guy” and his peers “think highly of him”. His work centres on financing for acquisitions in the natural resource industry. In Montreal, Sébastien Vilder is the regional practice group leader for the financial services group and is recommended by clients for his work on renewable energy projects and public infrastructure and advice on PPP financing.
At Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Xeno Martis is a “sharp” and “accomplished” project finance lawyer. Brian Kelsall is “top notch” and works in a range of industries, including natural resources, energy and telecommunications, where he assists clients on their financing and project developments.
Byran Gibson QC of McCarthy Tétrault LLP is “very active” in the market, particularly on banking financing, energy and transportation projects. He counts some of the largest manufacturing, forestry and credit companies in Canada as clients. David Lever is a “great” lawyer with a “good niche” in the energy sector. He is the group leader of the firm’s power group and is well known for his representation of generation power stations throughout Canada. He assists on development, financing, contract negotiation, regulation and ownership matters.
At Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Paul Martin has a “first class mind” and Jay Swartz is an “experienced and recognised” practitioner with an “advanced” practice in financial product development and structured finance.
At Torys LLP in Toronto, Mark Bain leads the PPP practice. He counsels clients on power, telecom, gaming, water and wastewater infrastructure, among other areas. He “greatly strengthens the practice” and is a “sure inclusion” in the research.
David Armstrong is an “effective lawyer” in energy and infrastructure project financing at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP. He has acted for Mirant Asia-Pacific on refinancing and asset sales, and has been involved in financing for a natural gas producer, port operator and investment bank, among other clients.
At Davis LLP, Doug Buchanan QC divides his practice between Tokyo, Vancouver and Toronto. He is “first rate” for PPP and natural resources project financing work. Foreign legal consultant, Ian Bendell advises domestic clients such as SNC-Lavalin on public infrastructure projects.
Michael S Allen is a “top notch banking and project finance” lawyer with Stikeman Elliott LLP who acts for major companies in the mining, energy, forestry and telecommunications industries.
At the Alberta office in Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP, John Wilmot advises on domestic and international lending, restructuring and borrowing for a range of industry projects. Philip Backman at Bennett Jones LLP acts on major deals for domestic companies.
At Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, William Jenkins enjoys a “diverse practice in securities and M&A financing”. At Macleod Dixon LLP, Richard Borden is a “sharp” financing lawyer in joint ventures for the oil and gas industry and inter-creditor agreements. Lorne Carson at Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP is “a smart guy” who works primarily on project development in the oil and gas, pipeline, petro-chemical and electronic industries.