Ms Karen Dawson > Bennett Jones LLP > Toronto, Canada > Lawyer Profile

Bennett Jones LLP
3400 ONE FIRST CANADIAN PLACE
PO BOX 130
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Canada

Work Department

Financial Services

Position

Partner

Career

Karen Dawson has extensive experience representing borrowers, agents, lenders and trustees in a wide range of domestic and international finance transactions, including corporate lending transactions, asset based lending transactions, equipment financings, acquisition financings, project financing, leveraged and operating leases, securitizations and private placements in various sectors including banking/financial institutions, energy, oil and gas, transportation, manufacturing, communications and technology. She also has experience working on restructurings, and routinely advises in connection with cross-border financing arrangements.

Memberships

Karen is a member of the American Bar Association (Business Law Section), New York State Bar Association and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.

Education

Mount Allison University, BA (Political Science/History), 1992, with first class honours
Dalhousie University, MA (International Relations), 1994 
McGill University, LLB/BCL, 2002, with great distinction

Lawyer Rankings

Canada > Banking and finance

Predominantly active on behalf of corporate borrowers, Bennett Jones LLP also advises lenders on finance transactions, including alternative lenders such as private equity clients and hedge fund debt investors. In Toronto, Mark Rasile is recognized for his experience in advising borrowers and lenders on a mix of syndicated loans, acquisition finance and restructuring transactions, among other matters. The Toronto team also includes regulatory specialist John Teolis; up-and-coming transactional partner David Rotchtin; and banking and secured transactions co-head Simon Grant. In Calgary, department co-head Karen Dawson and high-profile aviation finance expert Patrick Brennan are recommended. Former group co-head Steve Lutz left the firm in September 2022.