Jeffrey Lloyd > Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP > Toronto, Canada > Lawyer Profile

The powerhouse practice at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP continues to lead in the marketplace, utilizing the bench strength of national offices in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa and abroad in London and New York, to advise major domestic and multinational corporates and financial institutions involved in high-value public and private M&A. The group is led by two M&A experts: David Kruse, who also provides expertise in assisting with shareholder, joint venture, partnership and commercial agreements, and Catherine Youdan, a specialist in equity and debt capital market transactions. Ross Bentley in Calgary brings experience to the aviation, energy and agribusiness sectors, advising on domestic and international mergers, takeover bids and plans of arrangement. Michael Gans draws on over 25 years of practice, managing complex M&A, related party transactions and internal investigations. Jeffrey Lloyd brings authority to major negotiated and unsolicited transactions involving clients in such industries as real estate, media, telecoms and financial services. Acting for wide client base of public and private companies, boards of directors, special committees and underwriters, Linda Tu specializes in the retail, tech, renewables, agriculture and cannabis spaces. All lawyers, unless noted, work in the Toronto office.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s premier finance and corporate practices marks the firm as a first port of call for both debt and equity capital markets. Additionally, its full-service national offering ensures that it is a popular choice for large-scale, event-driven transactions. In a recent example, Michael Hickey advised OpenText Corporation on a $1bn notes offering used to support its acquisition of Micro Focus International. Among its equity highlights, Calgary partners Ross Bentley and Jeff Bakker advised TC Energy Corporation on its C$1.8bn bought deal offering of common shares. The deep bench also includes go-to capital markets expert Tim Andison; London managing partner Jeffrey Lloyd, who splits his time between the UK and Toronto; Chris Hewat, who specializes in M&A, capital markets and private equity; corporate finance partner Eric Moncik; national practice head Catherine Youdan; and Montreal-based Pascal de Guise. Named lawyers are based in Toronto unless otherwise stated.

A regular fixture in major multi-jurisdictional deals involving Canada, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP stands out for its reputation for transformative corporate transactions involving the energy and natural resources, financial services TMT and life sciences sectors, among others. The group’s thriving cross-border activity is supported by well-staffed platforms in London and New York, while its focus on Canadian law work ensures that it also enjoys close referral relationships with international firms. Names to note in London include Jennifer Maxwell, who is well versed across a range of M&A, private equity and corporate finance matters; and go-to M&A specialist Jeffrey Lloyd, who manages the London office. Following the recent elevation of former New York managing partner Geoffrey Belsher to firm chair, corporate and securities partner Kevin Rusli now anchors the US office.