‘One of the top mining teams‘, Fasken remains a destination practice for the full life-cycle of industry matters; from exploration and permitting, through to project development, financing and M&A. The group draws on several well-staffed platforms nationally (including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary), while it also brings to bear on-the-ground teams in Johannesburg and London, which makes it a popular choice for cross-border transactions. Toronto-based corporate finance and M&A partner John Turner spearheads the global group and ranks among the market’s leading mining specialists. Andrew Gabrielson coordinates the group from Vancouver and maintains a broad practice with an emphasis on commercial agreements, project development and public financings. Other senior names in Toronto include corporate and finance partner Brian Graves and Michael Bourassa, who handles commercial work, projects and contentious matters. In Montreal, Frank Mariage has a focus on securities, corporate law and mining law. Capable up-and-coming partners Johanna Fipke (Vancouver) and Krisztián Tóth (Toronto) are also noted.

Bennett Jones LLP‘s mining practice routinely represents Canadian and international mining companies, investment banks and investors on mining work. Primarily active on the corporate finance and M&A fronts, the team also houses significant capability in exploration and development agreements, mine permitting and environmental compliance. Group head Sander Grieve covers the waterfront on mining matters, with an emphasis on public market finance and M&A. Other recommended names are Abbas Ali Khan, who also has a strong transactional focus, corporate co-head Linda Misetich Dann and corporate, commercial and securities lawyer James Clare. The team was recently boosted by the arrivals of mining-focused corporate finance and M&A partner Marshall Eidinger (January 2022) and cross-border mining specialist Steven Bennett (June 2022), both joined from Stikeman Elliott LLP. All named practitioners are based in Toronto.

Full-service powerhouse Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is equipped to advise its extensive client roster of junior, intermediate and major mining companies and financial institutions on all core areas of mining law. The firm additionally brings to bear experience in niche areas such as streaming transactions, and mining disclosure and securities law regimes. Toronto-based corporate finance and M&A partner John Wilkin oversees a department that also includes high-profile Vancouver-based mining specialist, Bob Wooder. Wooder recently advised Great Bear Resources on its C$1.8bn acquisition by Kinross Gold. Vancouver managing partner Peter O’Callaghan is recommended for his experience in mining-related corporate and finance transactions.

Lawson Lundell LLP remains synonymous with mining work, and the firm is well-versed across the full range of early-stage exploration and development issues through to corporate and finance transactions. The group routinely represents major regional and national players from its offices in Western and Northern Canada, also counting UK, US and Australia-based companies among its key clients. Khaled Abdel-Barr co-heads the Vancouver-based team and his expertise spans project-related matters, commercial agreements, and mine acquisitions and disposals. Practice co-head Karen MacMillan is also highly recommended for her focus on commercial law issues. Stuart Breen specializes in corporate finance transactions.

A strong performer in the M&A and cross-border spheres, McCarthy Tétrault leverages its extensive national platform, together with its New York and London offices, to pack a punch in large-scale corporate transactions. In a highlight example of its multi-jurisdictional prowess, Shea Small, who splits his time between Toronto and London, advised Australia-headquartered Wyloo Metals on its C$617m acquisition of all the shares of Noront Resources that it did not already possess. In Vancouver, Roger Taplin is a sought-after name for his experience in mining financing and M&A, including streaming transactions. Rounding out the key partners is Toronto-based M&A and corporate finance specialist Eva Bellissimo; she co-heads the global mining practice alongside Small and Taplin.

‘A top firm in structuring complex deals,’ Torys is distinguished by its focus on M&A, corporate finance and streaming transactions. From its Toronto platform, the group acts for a mix of domestic and international mining companies, financial institutions and specialty lenders and also supports the wider firm’s enviable roster of private equity and pension fund clients on industry investment matters. Among its highlights, Michael Amm paired up with the corporate and securities team to advise Zijin Mining Group on its C$960m acquisition of Neo Lithium Corp. Department head Michael Pickersgill is highlighted together with impressive senior associate Braden Jebson for their understanding of ‘the sector, the precedents and the nuances of complex structuring.’

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP‘s national mining group handles a mix of transactional, regulatory and contentious work, with recent strong showings in M&A and securities matters. Mainly active on behalf of mining companies, including juniors and majors, the team also frequently represents investment dealers and financial institutions as well as industry service providers. Vancouver’s Fred Pletcher chairs the practice and is noted for his experience across all spheres of mining law. Corporate finance partners Graeme Martindale and Andrew Powers also maintain active mining practices from Vancouver and Toronto respectively. 

Dentons continues to invest in its Canadian mining practice, recently adding Chris Wolfenberg from Fasken and Jennifer Poirier from Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP; the pair join in Calgary and Vancouver respectively. The team’s emphasis on M&A, capital markets and finance work is supplemented by significant activity in commercial and operational mining matters. Edmonton-based Leanne Krawchuk handles a mix of commercial, M&A and construction law and co-heads the team alongside Vancouver-based mining and forestry specialist Robin Longe. High-profile mining expert Brian Abraham KC is also recommended in Vancouver.

In a significant coup, Gowling WLG boosted its mining team with the April 2022 hire of Erik Goldsilver from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP; he arrives with significant experience across the full life cycle of mining projects. Capital markets partner Ian Mitchell heads a practice that also includes Ontario- and Venezuela-qualified France Tenaille, who naturally has an emphasis on Latin America-related work. All named partners are based in Toronto.

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s mining practice benefits from its ability to plug into the wider firm’s thriving global energy, infrastructure and resources group. In Canada, the group’s mining work is handled by a mix of M&A, corporate finance and infrastructure lawyers, including project finance partner Alison Babbitt and infrastructure-focused Geoffrey Gilbert, both are in Ottawa. Quebec’s Jean-Philippe Buteau is noted for corporate, M&A and securities-related matters.