OSLER HOSKIN & HARCOURT LLP
With a history that dates back to 1862, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP is now home to almost 500 lawyers with offices in Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa and New York. We list a total of 50 lawyers across 20 practice areas and the firm exhibits particular strength in its corporate, finance and tax departments.
Oslers boasts a “phenomenal tax practice” and our research identifies eight leading practitioners in this discipline, more than any other Canadian firm we list. In Toronto, the “exceptional” Richard Tremblay receives praise for his tax experience in capital markets, M&A and cross-border structuring. He is joined by the “excellent” Scott Wilkie and “first-class” Firoz Ahmed. The firm’s “tax litigation specialist”, Al Meghji is “hugely respected” by peers. In Montreal, Mark Brender and Robert Raizenne are “experts in the field”.
A further five lawyers are selected for inclusion in our insolvency and restructuring chapter. Hailed as a “true talent”, Edward Seller’s clients include Parmalat Dairy and Bakery and Tricap Restructuring Fund. Martin Desrosiers and Robert Anderson are “brilliant” in Montreal and Calgary respectively.
Clay Horner is chair of the firm and receives praise as an “outstanding talent” for corporate and finance work alongside Jean Fraser, who is referred to by peers as a “leading light”. The “formidable” duo both feature in our corporate governance, M&A and capital markets chapters. They are joined by a further two names that stand out for their capital markets expertise: the “top tier” Douglas Marshall and Mark DesLauriers. In our banking chapter, Micheal Matheson and Peter Milligan are regarded as “prominent lawyers”.
Competition is another strong suit for the firm and four partners are listed in the corresponding chapter. With over 25 years of experience in Canadian competition matters, Peter Franklyn is a “market leader”. Michelle Lally heads the firm’s competition law and foreign investment group and is a recognised name.
Robert Beaumont, who is also a qualified and experienced professional engineer, is a “respected” name for his construction and public procurement expertise. Completing the firm’s listing in the public procurement chapter are the “eminent” Tobor Emakpor and Rocco Sebastiano.
In Toronto a trio of names list under franchise. Frank Zaid is “one of the best”, Jennifer Dolman is “absolutely great” and Andraya Frith has an “excellent reputation” advising Canadian and international franchisors.
The firm has a reputable oil and gas team that has acted for clients such as Total E&P and Shell Canada Limited. Calgary-based Shawn Denstedt is joined in the oil and gas chapter by Robert Desbarats QC and Jack Thrasher QC.
With lawyers listed in a further nine chapters, Oslers position as one of Canada’s most distinguished law firms is unmistakeable.
