Mr Brent Kraus > Bennett Jones LLP > Calgary, Canada > Lawyer Profile

Bennett Jones LLP leverages the deep bench strength of offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and New York, to advise domestic and multinational corporates and financial institutions on high-value, cross-border M&A, corporate financings, divestitures, take-over bids, restructurings and leveraged buyouts. M&A practice vice chair Curtis Cusinato brings over 25 years of experience to assisting public and private companies and private equity groups at the Toronto office, alongside corporate finance and securities expert Linda Misetich-Dann and Kris Hanc, who advises on public offerings, proxy contests and special committee processes to clients in such sectors as utilities and cannabis. Private equity practice head John Mercury specializes in the energy, financial services, consumer products and manufacturing spaces in Calgary, where Brent Kraus handles M&A and corporate governance matters across the oil and gas, natural resources and transport industries. Other key figures include Patrick Maguire KC, who manages major purchase and sales transactions in the energy sector, and seasoned senior partner Perry Spitznagel KC in Calgary; and Christian Gauthier, who started the firm’s Vancouver office.

Bennett Jones LLP is predominantly active on behalf of issuers, with a focus on the energy, natural resources and cannabis spheres. The group routinely handles debt and equity matters and had a role in one of 2023’s rare IPOs, where it advised a portfolio company of Riverstone Holdings, as principal shareholder, on Lithium Royalty Corp’s C$150m IPO — Calgary-based John Lawless paired up with the New York office to lead that work. Calgary-based John Piasta and Toronto’s Kristopher Hanc co-head a group that also includes corporate co-head Brent Kraus (Calgary); and corporate and securities partner Harinder Basra (Calgary).