STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP
Stikeman Elliott LLP has developed an impressive reputation as a leading corporate finance set. The strength of its expertise is exhibited by its 64 listings across 21 chapters in this year’s edition. We feature lawyers from their Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal offices.
By far the firm’s strongest chapter is capital markets. In Calgary, Christopher Nixon is “super” and Craig Story is “really very good”. He is also head of the China coverage group and focuses his practice on M&A, corporate finance and governance, assisting natural resources companies and investment entities in Canada, the US, Europe and Asia. In Montreal, Jean Marc Huot “works very well and gets the job done”, according to our sources.
In Vancouver, Jonathan Drance is highly praised for his work as counsel for insurance underwriters. He advises on corporate governance rules and compliance and securities law. In Toronto, Simon Romano specialises in high yield markets and emerging CICB markets. Jeffrey Singer has acted for some of the major Canadian firms, including Credit Suisse Securities, and does a lot of work in the debt markets sphere. Former head of the corporate group William Braithwaite is “brilliant” in capital markets and M&A and is highly experienced in advising on corporate governance in leading major M&A deals. He features in all three chapters. Former chair of the firm Edward Waitzer is a “respected adviser” on public policy and compliance. He features in the capital markets and M&A chapters.
There is a strong overlap in the M&A and corporate governance chapters this year, and Stikeman Elliott’s Montreal inclusions reflect this. Alongside Braithwaite and Waitzer in M&A, Peter Castiel is the head of the M&A practice group and a co-chair of the associates committee at the firm. He is “outstanding and generally well thought of” for his work on funds, with a particular interest in Hong Kong transactions. Sidney Horn is “one of the top M&A lawyers in Canada” and William Rosenberg is “excellent”, particularly in financing on oil and mining deals. John Leopold enjoys a “very robust practice, and is one of the best lawyers I have worked with in Canada,” according to a client. He also features in the governance chapter as a “first class” adviser. In governance, Pierre Raymond is chair of the firm and a recognised corporate lawyer and Benoît Dubord works on cross-border M&A and finance deals. Marvin Yontef has many years’ experience in this field and has worked with some of the leading domestic companies, including Air Canada, Blackfriars, Nortel and Apax International.
The firm is highly regarded for its tax expertise. Ronald Durand is head of tax at the Toronto office and advises companies during M&A transactions, reorganisations and restructurings. Former head of the firm’s tax group Guy Masson is “knowledgeable” on restructuring debt and gives “sophisticated advice”. John Lorito has appeared before the Federal Court of Appeal and the Ontario Court (General Division) on tax matters on behalf of clients. In Calgary, Douglas Richardson advises on tax relating to trusts, funds and other investment units, with an emphasis on energy and green issues. David Weekes focuses on corporate income tax in Calgary.
As with many Canadian firms, Stikeman Elliott is very well represented in the natural resources sphere. At the Toronto office, mining lawyer Jay Kellerman leads the global group and he is one of the most highly nominated lawyers in the research. Raymond McDougall’s primary focus is advising on financing and capital acquisitions for mining companies. In Vancouver, Michael Allen has a broad practice that encompasses working for banking lenders and borrowers, advising on PPP and structured financing for mining, energy and telecommunications entities. Consequently, he enjoys additional listings in the banking, project finance and public procurement chapters. Alongside Allen in banking is Peter Hamilton, a “great” lawyer with a lot of experience handling banking credit matters. In public procurement, Erik Richer La Flèche is the co-chair of the India and PPP practices and is “very good for combining government and lender work” according to our sources.
In the oil and gas chapter, managing partner of the Calgary office Frederick Erickson features for his leadership of the commercial energy group and advisory work in the LNG industry. Calgary based Glenn Cameron has worked on multi-billion dollar transactions for Chinese enterprises and is known for his work in the oil sands sector.
The firm receives five listings for its disputes expertise. John Judge is featured in both the commercial litigation and arbitration chapters as a renowned and “knowledgeable” dispute resolution lawyer. The Honourable Benjamin Greenberg QC, former Quebec Superior Court judge, is “an obvious inclusion” in the arbitration chapter for his work on ICC and AAA matters. In Montreal, litigator Michel Décary QC works in a range of industries and has many years acting for clients before Canada’s courts. Peter Howard received many nominations from international peers and has also appeared before a number of domestic courts on litigation issues. David Byers is head of the firm’s litigation group, co-chair of the global practice and co-chair of the insolvency and restructuring practice in Toronto. He earns a place in the insolvency chapter, as does the co-head of the Toronto practice Sean Dunphy and “key player” Jean Fontaine.
In the insurance and reinsurance chapter, Stuart Carruthers is “very good”. His practice is mainly focused on non-contentious M&A, joint ventures, product developments and regulatory matters. The “impressive” Alan D’Silva specialises in mergers claims and Brian Rose is “very highly regarded”. For one client, Vincent Prager is the “go-to guy” at the Montreal office for maritime insurance in contentious and non-contentious claims.
In the real estate sector, managing partner of the Vancouver office, Ross MacDonald works on leasing, financing, environmental and remediation matters. Neil Bindman focuses on financing and real estate investments in Montreal. In Toronto, Brenda Hebert is a commercial real estate practitioner acting for developers and lenders in renewable real estate projects. Co-head of the structured finance and financial products group, Douglas Klaassen is “one of the best at the firm”.
The firm has wide-ranging expertise and some of the most well known lawyers in this year’s research. It also boasts lawyers in the aviation, competition, environment, private funds, regulatory communications, shipping and trade chapters.
