Norton Rose Fulbright > Toronto, Canada > Firm Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright > The Legal 500 Rankings

Canada > Dispute resolution: Alberta Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s broad Alberta offering includes litigation involving the oil and gas, renewables, manufacturing, insurance and construction segments. Disputes involving contracts, joint ventures, construction projects, securities and professional liability are additional strengths. Ray Chartier steers the practice and shines above all in complex commercial litigation for infrastructure and energy clients. The practice boasts a group of star litigators, including the ‘responsive and timely’ Steve Leitl KC, senior partner Clarke Hunter KC and Roger Smith KC, who majors on oil and gas and corporate securities litigation. Lara Mason handles class action defence and has substantial expertise in Aboriginal law and electricity regulation matters; Kaitlin Long is routinely engaged in energy, regulatory and Indigenous-related disputes. Gunnar Benediktsson‘s practice has a focus on commercial disputes and complex insolvency, liquidation and restructuring matters.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Quebec Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s Quebec practice is a strong choice for corporate commercial litigation, class action, securities litigation, professional liability, product liability and restructuring and insolvency matters. The ‘highly skilled’, ‘solutions-oriented’ team is regularly instructed by major corporations in the energy, finance, natural resources, transportation, tech and healthcare segments. Disputes all-rounder François-David Paré handles corporate, commercial and civil litigation, as well as securities matters and shareholder disputes, while Horia Bundaru has focused his practice on commercial and construction litigation. Sophie Melchers is a key contact for securities litigation, and Jean Bertrand is active on competition, international trade, transport and energy disputes. Fraud and anti-corruption specialist François Fontaine is also noted. Senior associate Francesca Taddeo left the firm in July 2023.

Transport > Shipping Tier 1

The group at Norton Rose Fulbright is well-equipped to handle the full range of maritime law matters. Transactional expertise includes ship financing, importation and registration and bespoke contracts of affreightment, while on the contentious side, the team is experienced in acting on maritime incidents and casualties, pollution, cargo claims, passenger claims and insurance disputes. Shelley Chapelski steers the practice and specializes in both transactional and contentious aspects of maritime law, including maritime contracts, torts, liability claims, creditor’s remedies and marine insurance matters. Key Vancouver-based partner Andrew Stainer has substantial experience with contentious matters involving casualty and emergency response, such as oil spills, fires, floods, injuries and fatalities, maritime collisions and cargo claims.

Canada > Banking and finance

Norton Rose Fulbright’s team is distinguished by its extensive national and international network, which includes six offices in Canada as well as on-the-ground platforms in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the US. The firm’s international outlook notably marks it as a popular choice for cross-border — particularly US-related — financings. The Calgary office is a strong performer in energy-related matters, with Rick Borden recently advising Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent, on a senior secured $150m term facility and a $700m revolving facility to Enerflex. Marlow Gereluk is also recommended in Calgary. Key names in Montreal include asset-based lending co-chair Arnold Cohen; corporate finance and restructuring partner David Lemieux; and dual Quebec- and New York-qualified national practice co-ordinator Peter Wiazowski. In Toronto, asset-based lending co-chair David Amato and regulatory head Tim Stewart are noted.

Canada > Capital markets Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright’s broad capital markets group is distinguished both by its extensive national coverage and also by its ability to lean on its international network to provide robust cross-border firepower. In a recent example of the latter, Montreal-based corporate finance partner Peter Wiazowski advised Bausch Health Companies on the high-profile IPO of its subsidiary Bausch + Lomb Corporation on the NYSE and TSX. In another multi-jurisdictional highlight, Calgary-based Marcus Archer acted as Canadian counsel to a syndicate of underwriters, led by RBC Capital Markets and Scotiabank, on TC Energy Corporation’s C$1.8bn bought deal offering of common shares in Canada and the US. The sizeable national department is led jointly by Andrea Brewer, Kristopher Miks and Elliot Shapiro out of Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal respectively.

Canada > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright leverages deep bench strength and global reach (over 50 locations worldwide and offices in Calgary, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec City) to advise multinational corporates, major investment banks, financial institutions and private equity players, involved in high-value, multi-jurisdictional M&A and corporate finance transactions. The practice’s client roster covers such industries as tech, mining, construction, beverages, transport, retail and aviation. The team is led in Montreal by Canadian national business law chair and corporate securities expert Stephen Kelly and Mathieu Deschamps, who specializes in complex equity and debt financings and who co-chairs the M&A team along with Troy Ungerman, who is based in Toronto, and who also leads the firm’s M&A representation and warranty insurance practice. Other key figures include Toronto office managing partner Terence Dobbin, senior partner Paul Raymond in Montreal, Canadian chair Walied Soliman KC in Toronto and senior associate Eric Malysa in Vancouver.

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright’s energy team is lauded as ‘helpful in transactions where regulatory approval is complex’. The group is also distinguished by its ability to plug into its extensive national and global network for large-scale matters. Robert Froehlich leads the business law group in Calgary and has a strong emphasis on oil and gas deals; he recently advised Tidewater Renewables on the formation of a strategic renewable natural gas and feedstock partnership with Rimrock RNG and Rimrock Cattle Company. The group also includes transactional partners Wayne Fedun, KayLynn Litton and Ryan Keays. Don Davies KC is recommended for regulatory work.

Energy and natural resources > Power Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright’s national power group is marked by its comprehensive geographical and practice coverage, with strong lawyer representation across its six Canadian offices, as well as the ability to work alongside its corporate and finance lawyers to resource major projects and transactional matters. The team’s commercial activity is underpinned by a robust regulatory offering that handles a mix of environmental, Indigenous law and contentious work. Splitting his time between Vancouver and Calgary, department head Matthew Keen specializes in energy regulation and is representing the Alberta Electric System Operator in various proceedings before the Alberta Utilities Commission. Calgary-based David Eeles and Ottawa-based Alison Babbitt are recommended for project-related matters.

Canada > Infrastructure projects Tier 2

Noted for its ‘knowledge and experience across all infrastructure sectors’, Norton Rose Fulbright’s full-spectrum practice brings together specialists in public and government finance, banking, projects and PPP structures. As to its industry strong suits, the group is widely admired for its record in transport projects — including rail, ports and roads — as well as energy and social infrastructure. From Vancouver, Jay LeMoine fronts the Canadian infrastructure team and is advising the Province of British Columbia on the C$3.1bn Rapid Transit Rail project in Metro Vancouver. Other key contacts include Toronto-based project finance specialist Sandra Nissan and Vancouver-based global head of infrastructure and resources, Douglas Buchanan.

Canada > Intellectual property Tier 2

Equipped to handle the full range of IP strategy, acquisition, exploitation, regulation and enforcement, Norton Rose Fulbright is nonetheless best known for its prominent position in life sciences litigation. Jung-Kay Chiu heads the national IP department from Toronto and is recommended for IP rights management in the biotech and medical devices arenas. The Toronto office is also home to Kristin Wall, who advises on IP litigation and regulatory issues; Toronto group head Anna Wilkinson; and up-and-coming patent partner David Ng. Other local contacts include Calgary practice head Elizabeth Williams, who focuses on M&A transactions, licensing and IP commercialization, and portfolio monetization; and Christopher Wilson, who anchors the Vancouver team. Karen MacDonald recently left the firm.

Canada > Labour and employment Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s labour and employment practice is well-versed in advising on severance issues, boardroom disputes, class and collective actions, corporate governance and whistleblower claims, as well as other disciplinary and grievance issues. The team is co-led by seven partners from all six of the firm’s Canadian offices: Herb Isherwood, in Vancouver, stepped up to the practice co-head role in October 2022, joining existing lead Taryn Mackie; Daniel Leduc leads from Montreal and specializes in advising employers on the application and interpretation of collective agreements and labour standards. Anne K. Gallop (Toronto), Jean-Sébastien Cloutier (Quebec City), Lindsay Mullen (Calgary) and Tate McLeod (Ottawa) complete the leadership team. Additional names to note in Toronto include senior partner Richard Charney and litigators John Mastoras and Daniel MacDonald; François Côté in Montreal is noted for his expertise in grievance arbitration.

Canada > Public procurement Tier 2

Working under the umbrella of the firm’s infrastructure department, the procurement team at Norton Rose Fulbright handles bid preparation, including security clearance issues, and assists with the development of procurement templates and policies for both governmental and private sector clients. The group is equipped to take care of each stage of projects, from procurement strategy counsel and the negotiation and preparation of contracts through to project delivery and post-contract advice. The practice is co-led by Vancouver-based infrastructure practice head Jay LeMoine and specialist litigator Jenna Anne de Jong, who works from the Ottawa office. Senior partner and ex-practice head Martin Masse is an additional key contact.

Canada > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

The group at Norton Rose Fulbright specializes in handling the restructurings and insolvencies of energy, finance, retail, real estate and forestry companies, regularly assisting lenders, noteholders, hedge funds, bondholders trustees and monitors. The practice's extensive skill set covers restructuring and liquidation proceedings, notices of intention, reverse vesting orders and bridge financings. Additional key partners include Howard A. Gorman KC in Calgary and Evan Cobb in Toronto. Former Montreal managing partner Luc Morin was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec in March 2024.

Canada > Business immigration Tier 3

Canada > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright houses a practice that handles all aspects of Canadian competition law, including cartels, mergers, abuse of dominance, compliance, as well as criminal and civil antitrust litigation. While the group boasts a presence in Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Québec City and Ottawa, Toronto-based Chris Hersh steers the department; he specializes in M&A, abuse of dominance cases, pricing and distribution issues and criminal law matters. Eric Lefebvre, based in Montreal, is active on competition litigation matters, including class actions.

Canada > Construction Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright utilizes global bench strength to advise developers, owners, general contractors, subcontractors, architectural and engineering firms, mortgagees and other lenders, on major construction projects. With offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Quebec, the practice's robust portfolio spans such industries as telecoms, transport, insurance and energy. The team assists clients throughout the entire project lifecycle, from front end procurement strategy advice, project structuring, development strategies and the negotiation and preparation of contracts to post-contract operational risk management and representation in disputes. Claudia Déry, who brings expertise to public-private partnership projects, co-leads the practice in Montréal, along with Daniel Leduc in Ottawa, a veteran litigator who handles complex labour matters. Other key figures include project procurement specialist Jenya Hammond, senior associate Jason Buttuls (who joined from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in March 2023) and associate Ryan Griffith in Vancouver.

Canada > Dispute resolution: British Columbia Tier 3

The British Columbia team at Norton Rose Fulbright routinely handles domestic and cross-border dispute mandates, international arbitrations and investigations for clients across the mining, real estate, finance, healthcare and telecoms sectors. Vancouver-based Beth Allard steers the practice. Additional key department figures include Daniel Bennett KC, who specializes in commercial, real estate and natural resources-related litigation; James Goulden KC, who has focused his practice on commercial disputes involving breaches of commercial agreements, securities litigation and shareholder disputes; and Thomas J. Moran, who has notable experience in contentious matters involving forestry and other natural resources.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Ontario Tier 3

Working from offices in Toronto and Ottawa, the Ontario group at Norton Rose Fulbright is well-versed in representing financial institutions, pharmaceutical, life science and insurance companies in litigation. The team’s M&A litigation capabilities are bolstered by close collaboration with the firm’s corporate, M&A and securities practice. Ottawa-based Tate McLeod brings expertise in advising clients in finance and in the transport sector. Orestes Pasparakis is noted for his knowledge on restructurings and proxy disputes; Jennifer Teskey chairs the national litigation department and has appeared before all levels of the Ontario courts. Associate Anisha Visvanatha specializes in competition and antitrust matters. Practice co-head Linda Fuerst departed in January 2024.

Canada > Indigenous law Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s practice is known for assisting a range of clients with project development on land that affected by Aboriginal or treaty rights. The group’s specialties include land claim negotiations, joint ventures and partnerships, regulatory issues, risk mitigation, dispute resolution and litigation. Calgary-based practice co-head Ray Chartier focuses on litigation and arbitration involving the energy, construction and logistics sectors, as well as ESG compliance; alongside him, Emily Chan co-leads from Vancouver and counsels Indigenous groups on energy and infrastructure matters.

Canada > International trade Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright operates across all key facets of international trade law, with notable expertise in treaty interpretation, treaty disputes, economic sanctions and export controls. The team also stands out for its ability to plug into an extensive international network of WTO and international trade lawyers for additional support on complex matters. Martin Masse heads the Ottawa-based group and is well versed in trade litigation, customs law, sanctions and export controls. Department co-head Alison FitzGerald departed in October 2023.

Canada > Real estate Tier 3

The real estate practice at Norton Rose Fulbright utilizes its global reach (over 50 locations worldwide and offices in Calgary, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec City) to advise developers, major lenders, landlords, tenants and government agencies involved in project development, finance, acquisitions, dispositions, commercial leasing and construction and infrastructure matters, ranging from contracts to litigation. The practice is led by joint venture and project finance specialist Miguel Manzano in Montreal and Michael Bolitho in Calgary, who handles complex commercial acquisitions and dispositions, condominium development, and the drafting and negotiation of construction contracts. Other key figures include Jean-Nicolas Prévost in Quebec City, noted for his management of partnership structures for investors; senior partner Annette Lambert; and senior associate Nadia Guizani. Senior partner Mario Caron retired in December 2022. Max Collett departed in June 2023.

Canada > Tax Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright is regularly instructed by private equity firms and public and private companies in the mining, energy, finance, infrastructure and agribusiness sectors for its expertise on both contentious and non-contentious tax matters. Practice co-head Dominic Belley leads from Montreal and specializes in litigation; alongside him, Dion Legge majors on transactional tax matters. Working from the firm’s five Canadian offices, additional key team members include Toronto-based Adrienne Oliver and Derek Chiasson in Montreal, both of whom focus on non-contentious tax matters.

Canada > Technology Tier 3

Boasting personnel based at its Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa and Québec City offices, the technology group at Norton Rose Fulbright is well-versed in technology issues arising from M&A and investments. Senior partner and cybersecurity specialist Imran Ahmad leads the department. Ahmad splits his time between the Montreal and Toronto offices and majors on developing and implementing strategies related to cyber threats, as well as providing legal risk assessments and due diligence services.

Transport > Aviation Tier 3

Transport > Other transport Tier 3

Canada > Cannabis Tier 4

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 4

Norton Rose Fulbright utilizes deep bench strength and global reach (over 50 locations worldwide and offices in Calgary, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec City) to provide a comprehensive service to major commercial lenders, export credit agencies and domestic and multinational mining companies(including Rio Tinto and Lundin Gold), advising on matters throughout the entire project lifecycle, ranging from equity raising, debt financing, regulatory compliance, construction and infrastructure to M&A and dispute resolution. The team is led in Ottawa by Alison Babbitt, a project finance expert who advises on projects throughout Canada and Latin America, and Geoffrey Gilbert, who regularly assists clients on royalty agreements and offtake arrangements. In Montreal, Steve Malas brings strength to public and private M&A transactions.

Canada > Environment Tier 4

Norton Rose Fulbright’s environmental group maintains a broad sector focus but it is arguably best known for its activity in the energy and transportation spheres. Calgary-based Alan Harvie heads the department and has a significant energy dimension to his practice. Up-and-coming Vancouver-based litigator Michael Manhas is also noted. Former department co-head Max Collett departed in June 2023.

Canada > Insurance Tier 4