Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP > Vancouver, Canada > Firm Profile

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Canada > Cannabis Tier 1

A first-mover in the cannabis space in Canada, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is particularly sought after for its expertise in corporate finance matters. The full-service practice also shines in M&A, joint ventures, strategic partnerships and regulatory issues, with key industry players such as Canopy Growth and TerrAscend Corp routinely turning to the firm for support. Widely recognized as a leader in his field, department head Jonathan Sherman recently advised Canopy Growth on accelerating its entry into the US cannabis market through the creation of a new special purpose vehicle, Canopy USA LLC, and connected transactions totalling C$750m. The deep bench also includes Jamie Litchen, who specializes in securities and M&A; Daniel Cipollone, who sits in the banking and speciality finance group; corporate and securities partner Tayyaba Khan; and regulatory and IP specialist Chandimal Nicholas.

Energy and natural resources > Mining

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP continues to be a leader in the mining space, harnessing the experience of teams in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, to provide comprehensive support to major multinational mining companies throughout every stage of a project’s lifecycle. The group’s full service covers matters ranging from multi-jurisdictional M&A, joint ventures, leveraged buyouts and reorganizations to project finance, metal streams and royalties, exploration and development, high-stakes litigation and regulatory compliance. The practice is led in Vancouver by M&A and corporate finance expert Jen Hansen, who advises on business combination transactions, take-over bids and domestic and cross-border public offerings; and Jennifer Traub, who acts for issuers and investment dealers in connection with public and private securities offerings. At the Toronto office, mining industry authority and firm executive chair Mark Bennett brings extensive experience advising resource companies across the Americas, Eastern Europe, Africa and Australia to property acquisitions and dispositions. Other key figures include securities specialists Jay Goldman and Paul Stein in Toronto, and Gordon Chambers in Vancouver. Also of note are Jamie Litchen in Toronto, who acted as lead counsel for Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. on its recent $10.6bn merger with Agnico Eagle Mining Limited, and David Redford in Vancouver, who has developed a strong practice assisting with securities law requirements for mineral resource issuers.

Canada > Indigenous law Tier 2

The team at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is known for advising a great range of clients, including federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous groups and businesses. The group assists forestry, fishing, agriculture, mining and energy-sector clients with project-related transactions, governance and in litigation across Canada dealing with Aboriginal and treaty rights. Vancouver-based Thomas Isaac steers the practice and specializes in Aboriginal legal matters and related environmental assessments, negotiations, and regulatory and constitutional issues. Sandra Gogal in Toronto is an additional key contact.

Canada > Media and entertainment Tier 2

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP houses a thriving entertainment, media and sports practice, which operates across a broad array of film, television, book publishing, theatre, video games and other related industries. Music law is a particular sweet spot with department chair — and former jazz producer — Casey Chisick, widely acknowledged as an authority on copyright law. Notably, Chisick paired up with Eric Mayzel to represent the Society of Authors, Composers, and Music Publishers of Canada in a landmark appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada on the meaning and interpretation of the ‘making available provision’ of the Copyright Act. The Toronto-based group also draws on department co-head Leonard Glickman and entertainment and corporate partner Lindsay Dykstra.

Canada > Banking and finance

In a strong statement of intent, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP bulked up its banking and finance practice with a string of new arrivals during 2022/23. Most notably, in June 2022 the group established a lending team in Calgary through the hire of five new partners: Bria Fallen, Mike Hrabok, Sunil Joneja and Scott McLeman joined from Gowling WLG, while David Kolesar arrived from Torys. The national group acts for corporate borrowers, as well as traditional and alternative lenders, and is particularly sought after for its reputation in mining and cannabis-related transactions. Charles Rich, Charles Newman and Jennifer Wasylyk co-head the banking and specialty finance department from Toronto. Marc Mercier, Alison Manzer and Jason Arbuck are also recommended in Toronto, while David Budd splits his time between Toronto and Vancouver.

Energy and natural resources > Power Tier 3

Demonstrating increasing activity in the power space, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP’s blossoming regulatory credentials were recently evidenced by its work for Ontario Energy Board, Abengoa and Business Renewables Centre Canada, among others. It also handles a growing volume of power-related transactions. Calgary-based department head Jeremy Barretto chairs the national regulatory law group and contributes experience in energy regulation, environmental law and Indigenous law matters. Vancouver-based environmental and Indigenous law specialist Arend Hoekstra and Toronto-based corporate partner Jason Bullen are also noted for power-related matters.

Canada > Insurance Tier 3

The increasingly prominent insurance practice at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP added a string of new clients over the past year, including multinational names such as Sompo Japan Insurance, Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services and Generali Global Assistance. The group focuses on non-contentious insurance matters, with strong recent experience in incorporations, policy issues, corporate transactions and regulatory compliance, among other areas. The department is led jointly by Toronto-based insurance and reinsurance specialists Gordon Goodman and Rick Da Costa.

Canada > Intellectual property Tier 3

A force in copyright-related matters, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP also handles a significant volume of trademark and patent prosecution, portfolio management and litigation. Department head Casey Chisick is widely recognized as a leading light for his niche expertise in the collective administration of copyright, where he routinely represents copyright collective societies and trade associations, among others. Additional senior names include Toronto-based IP litigator Mark Davis, and Vancouver-based IP litigation specialist Karen MacDonald, who joined in May 2023 from Norton Rose Fulbright. Up-and-coming IP litigators Eric Mayzel and Jessica Zagar are also noted in Toronto. Alison Hayman recently left the group.

Canada > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

The group at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP handles domestic and international restructurings and liquidations and has particular experience advising clients with assets in Africa and Latin America. Toronto-based insolvency specialist Jane Dietrich steers the practice and specializes in restructurings and related litigation, as well as corporate reorganizations, enforcement of security and unsecured creditor remedies. Partners Ryan Jacobs, Shayne Kukulowicz and Alan Merskey are additional key contacts. Mary Buttery KC left the firm in September 2022.

Canada > Capital markets Tier 4

Canada > Competition and antitrust Tier 4

The team at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is well-placed to assist domestic and international clients with cartel defence, regulatory matters, internal audits and litigation. The group, which additionally provides support with merger and foreign investment review, is directed by Davit Akman, whose expertise covers the gamut of competition matters, including advertising and marketing practices and abuse of dominance cases. The practice was recently bolstered by the arrival of associate Eric Buist from the Canadian Department of Justice.

Canada > Construction Tier 4

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP draws on the expertise of teams in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary to advise a client roster of owners, contractors, construction managers, subcontractors and suppliers, on major projects across the transport, education, mining and government sectors. Matthew Alter leads the team, bringing strength to project delivery methods and procurement processes. Mark St. Cyr guides clients through risk management and complex construction litigation. Associate Stephanie Garraway assists clients with document review, preparation and negotiation. All lawyers mentioned work in the Toronto office.

Canada > Dispute resolution: British Columbia Tier 4

The Vancouver-based practice at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is regularly instructed by educational institutions, financial institutions, government bodies, insurance companies and retailers seeking support with commercial litigation. Negligence actions, class action defence, shareholder disputes, tax litigation and insolvency litigation are particular strengths of the group. Practice head John Birch is based in Toronto and specializes in restructuring and insolvency proceedings.

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 4

Following its Calgary office launch in 2016, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP has worked hard to develop its oil and gas offering. The group continues to make inroads into the local market under the leadership of Calgary-based regulatory chair Jeremy Barretto, who has recently acted for Trans Mountain Corporation, Canadian Natural Resources and West Parkland Gas Co-Op, among others. The regulatory-focused group also includes Vancouver-based Arend Hoekstra, who was elevated to the partnership in January 2023, and Calgary-based associate Liv Desaulniers, who recently joined the firm from TransCanada.

Canada > International trade Tier 4

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP’s group leverages extensive experience in representing national governments, trade associations and corporate clients on international trade law. The team counts export controls, customs matters, economic sanctions and trade litigation among its key areas of expertise, while it also fields complementary offerings in anti-corruption law and government contracting. Toronto-based Brenda Swick anchors the practice and advises on a mix of compliance, enforcement and contentious matters; notably, she has handled more than 15 WTO and NAFTA dispute resolution proceedings.

Canada > Real estate Tier 4

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP leverages the bench strength of locations in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary to advise financial institutions, real estate investment trusts, national retailers, commercial real estate investors, owners, developers, municipalities and educational and public institutions (including the Canada Life Assurance Company and the University of Toronto) on a diverse spectrum of matters. They range from real estate financing, commercial acquisitions and dispositions to land development, joint ventures and leasing. Jonathan Freeman leads the team, specializing in the finance of senior housing projects, office buildings, hotels, shopping centres and multi-family residential apartment complexes. Other key figures include David Redmond, who brings extensive experience to purchase and sale transactions and the financing and structuring of real estate transactions; Andrew Salem, who regularly represents restaurants and retail chains, energy companies and railways; and leasing expert Armen Khajetoorian. Kwaku Tabi and Manny Mukkar were promoted to partner in January 2023. All lawyers mentioned work in the Toronto office.

Canada > Tax Tier 4

The tax group at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is regularly instructed by corporations, mining companies, REITs, financial institutions, private equity funds and governmental agencies for its expertise in tax issues relating to M&A and restructuring. Practice co-head Zahra Nurmohamed leads from Toronto and has significant experience in mining matters; she specializes in corporate tax matters, M&A, reorganizations and financings. Alongside her, Calgary-based Douglas Richardson majors on energy-sector transactions.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Ontario Tier 5

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP's Ontario group has a track record representing clients before all local Courts of Appeal, in addition to the Supreme Court of Canada. The team handles a range of disputes, from shareholder disputes, class action, M&A and tax-related litigation to defamation matters. National department head John Birch leads from Toronto and specializes in restructuring and insolvency proceedings.

Canada > Labour and employment Tier 5

Areas of expertise for the Toronto-based team at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP include workplace investigations, compensation packages, terminations, privacy issues, sexual harassment claims, and wrongful dismissal and severance pay class actions. Since the departure of ex-practice head Adrian Jakibchuk from the group in October 2022, Laurie Jessome steers the department and leads on both contentious and non-contentious labour matters. Managing partner Kristin Taylor is an additional key contact.