Firm Profile > Torys > Toronto, Canada
Torys Offices
79 WELLINGTON STREET WEST, SUITE 3000
BOX 270, TD CENTRE
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Canada
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Torys > The Legal 500 Rankings
Capital markets Tier 1
A popular choice for prolific issuers, Torys’ stellar institutional relationships supply a steady stream of debt and equity mandates, with Brookfield and Fairfax Financial among its most high-profile repeat clients. On the underwriter side, the group regularly acts for leading Canadian and US investment banks. International work is another significant differentiator. Indeed, the team is consistently involved in multi-jurisdictional offerings, particularly deals with a US dimension where it can utilize its well-staffed New York office. Glen Johnson provides comprehensive advice on securities regulation and corporate finance matters. David Seville handles a mix of debt and equity transactions, with complementary expertise in private equity and regulatory finance issues. Michael Feldman is noted for his experience in debt capital markets, with a focus on structured finance and securitizations. Rima Ramchandani is recommended for her growing profile in cross-border capital markets deals; she recently paired up with Calgary-based corporate finance partner Janan Paskaran to advise Sundial Growers on its $143m cross-border IPO and listing on the Nasdaq. Also in Calgary, Scott Cochlan co-leads the national practice together with Seville and Ramchandani and advises issuers and underwriters on a range of domestic and cross-border offerings. Named lawyers are based in Toronto, unless otherwise stated.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘The Torys Capital Markets team has an exceptionally strong customer service orientation. They are innovative and developed a completely new securitization product for us which enabled a cross-border transaction.’
‘Michael Feldman is thoughtful, innovative and customer-service oriented. Rima Ramchandani is a delight to work with, providing timely and practical advice.’
Key clients
Bank of Montreal
Brookfield
Choice Properties REIT
Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited
Manulife
Scotia Capital
Sherritt International
Superior Plus
TD Bank
TMX Group
Corporate and M&A Tier 1
Torys is distinguished by its longstanding relationships with some of the most active repeat acquirers in Canada, particularly private equity players such as Brookfield and pension funds including CPP Investments and Alberta Investment Management Corporation. Largely centred in Toronto, the national team also benefits from a leading transactional energy group in Calgary and a smaller corporate offering in Montréal. The firm consistently follows its key clients abroad and its prominent New York office provides invaluable corporate firepower in cross-border transactions. The firm also enjoys strong relationships with global corporate clients doing regular business in Canada. Firm managing partner Matthew Cockburn has an established record in corporate transactions, with a focus on advising private equity and pension funds. John Emanoilidis co-heads the M&A group and has broad experience in public and private M&A, private equity and corporate finance matters. Corporate chair Cornell Wright routinely acts for bidders, targets and shareholders on the full range of M&A deals; he recently paired up with Adrienne DiPaolo to act for Onex in its C$445m acquisition of Gluskin Sheff + Associates. Former New York managing partner Karrin Powys-Lybbe now co-heads the M&A department from Toronto and led on several substantial matters for Brookfield over the past year.
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Testimonials
‘Torys is top notch for their combination of cost and service. Torys is very aligned with our cost conscience business model and works with us to find fee arrangements that meet our objectives and I never feel like I am just being billed for hours. More importantly, Torys and team provide the kind of service that clearly demonstrate they care about our business outcomes. They provide legal support and analyses, but also provide business and commercial context. Our company does not have inhouse legal and we treat Torys as part of our team. This accountability is a clear differentiator. Many lawyers provide a one-dimensional legal service, but we are looking for aligned partners in our company who care about our business outcomes. They are not just there to highlight risks, but take a commercial perspective on how to address these legal risks with a business perspective.’
‘Stephanie Stimpson has lots of international transactional experience, but also has strong knowledge of credit/financing and corporate governance as well.’
‘Derek Flaman is a credible and experience transactional lawyer that provides great advice. His industry knowledge is impressive and we highly value his opinion.’
‘Peter Danner is a work horse that provides incredible service. He is thoughtful and thorough.’
Key clients
Brookfield Group
CPP Investments
Onex Corporation
Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank)
Canadian Tire Corporation
Enbridge Inc.
KKR & Co. Inc.
Husky Energy Inc.
Alberta Investment Management Corporation
Great-West Lifeco Inc.
Infrastructure projects Tier 1
'Responsive, diligent and constructive', the team at Torys operates on both sides of the Canada-US border to plan, procure, finance and build major infrastructure projects. The practice group works closely with the firm's highly regarded power and oil and gas teams to advise on large-scale energy. A recent example of this linked-up approach saw the team advising Wataynikaneyap Power on various commercial, regulatory and strategic matters related to the development, financing and operation of the C$1.9bn Wataynikaneyap Transmission Project. PPP specialist Mark Bain jointly leads the practice group alongside Scott Kraag, who has considerable experience in the energy and mining sectors. Also recommended is Daniel Ford, who is increasingly active in public mandates in the rail and healthcare sectors. All are based in Toronto.
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Testimonials
‘The Torys team is very responsive, diligent and constructive in their approach to advising us on legal matters. Frequently developing commercially reasonable solutions to complex legal challenges on large infrastructure projects.‘
‘There is a general understanding of the pace and diligence required to execute on infrastructure projects.‘
Key clients
Government of the Northwest Territories
Wataynikaneyap Power LP
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Infrastructure Ontario
MTR Corporation Ltd.
Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology Inc.
Fengate Capital Management Ltd.
National Bank
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Mizuho Corporate Bank
Natixis
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ
Insurance Tier 1
Acting as primary Canadian regulatory counsel to prominent insurers and reinsurers in Canada and globally, Torys is perhaps best known for its market-leading regulatory work, though the team also stands out for its strengths in transactional and contentious matters. Co-chair Jill McCutcheon is rated for her work in transactional matters, particularly for regulated financial institutions; and joint practice chair Blair Keefe focuses on corporate and regulatory issues. The team also handles a full range of insurance coverage disputes and a wide variety of reinsurance and business litigation. Senior counsel Kelly Morris is also recommended. All named lawyers are based in Toronto.
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Key clients
Sun Life Financial
Manulife Financial Corporation
Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited
Wilton Re
ivari (formerly TransAmerica)
TD Meloche Monnex
Northbridge Financial Corporation
Brookfield Annuity Company
Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company
Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
Oil and gas Tier 1
Torys' 'solution-oriented' oil and gas practice has extensive experience in large, complex transactions, a recent example of which saw the team acting for KKR in the establishment of the C$1.15bn Canadian midstream infrastructure platform, and in the platform’s subsequent C$600m acquisition of Meritage Midstream. Practice head Derek Flaman led on this, and has a strong practice focused on commercial law in the energy sector, with an emphasis on joint ventures and project development. Chris Christopher who is described as 'approachable and accommodating', is recommended for M&A work. Of late, the team has highlighted its strength in headline international transactions, having advised Africa Oil on its $3.75bn farmout agreement with Azinam Limited. The group also has a robust regulatory group, which provides a full range of advice to developers, owners, operators, lenders and equity investors.
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Testimonials
‘We work with Torys’ Calgary office extensively on M&A transactions, transportation deals and rail related work. They make us feel like their favourite client. All of the lawyers we work with there are extremely responsive, solutions oriented, efficient and smart. We always feel we get great value from the team, and consider Torys to be an important partner in our business.‘
‘Chris Christopher is a brilliant lawyer, skilled tactician and an outstanding person. Chris has an impressive way of operating at the highest level while remaining approachable and accommodating with clients, which is a winning combination for our business leaders.‘
Key clients
Husky Energy
Northleaf Capital Partners Ltd.
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR)
Suncor Energy Inc.
Enbridge Inc.
Inter Pipeline Ltd.
Vermilion Energy Inc.
Crescent Point Energy Corp.
Africa Oil
AIMCo
Pensions Tier 1
Torys pension practice is best known for its expertise in pension fund investing, where it advises major pension funds both on domestic and international investments, and is also recommended for complex strategic structuring advice. Other key areas of work include transactional post-closing pension support, and a full range of plan drafting, opinions, governance structuring and maintenance. Mitch Frazer chairs the practice and is sought after for his expertise in pension administration. Susan Nickerson and associate Tom Stevenson are also noted. All lawyers are based in Toronto.
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Key clients
Enbridge Inc.
Morneau Shepell Inc.
Navistar Canada, Inc.
Federal Express Canada Corp. and various subsidiaries
Morton Salt Company
Rogers Communications Inc.
OMERS Infrastructure
Destination Canada
Power Tier 1
'Unmatched' in the words of one client, the team at Torys has expertise in all areas of electricity transmission and distribution, and power generation. The practice is also noted for its cross-border capabilities, particularly in transactions involving the US. Project finance continues to make up a large part of the department's workload, having recently been retained as project counsel to Wataynikaneyap Power to advise on the supply of clean power to residents in remote communities. Based in the firm's Toronto office, the practice is jointly led by M&A and project development specialist Krista Hill and administrative law expert Charles Keizer. Also recommended is Valerie Helbronner, who specializes in project development work. Jonathan Weisz retired in January 2020.
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Testimonials
‘Torys is the best legal firm in Calgary that deals with Energy Regulation. They have been integral to my company’s success before the regulator. In terms of strengths and capabilities, the breadth of experience and knowledge that they have is unmatched by other law firms in Calgary. They are always available and their work product is first rate.‘
Key clients
Ontario Power Generation Inc.
Province of Ontario
Alectra Utilities Corporation
Wataynikaneyap Power LP
Kinectrics Inc.
Enmax Power Corporation
Suncor Energy
OMERS Infrastructure (formerly Borealis Infrastructure)
Toronto Hydro Utilities Inc.
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board
Banking and finance Tier 2
A top choice for borrowers in corporate finance deals, Torys is also a prominent name for lender-side work, where it regularly advises Canada’s ‘Big Six’ banks, as well as pension funds and, increasingly, private equity funds. On the transactional side, the group handles a raft of purely domestic and cross-border matters, with leveraged finance, acquisition finance and project finance all notable strong suits. The firm also houses one of the market’s most admired bank regulatory practices, which is regularly called upon by major financial institutions (including Canada’s three largest banks), insurance companies, securities dealers and trust and loan companies to advise on complex governance, product development and consumer law issues. Key names in Toronto include banking and debt finance co-head Adam Delean, who is recommended for his broad experience in corporate banking, leveraged finance and structured finance, both for lenders and borrowers. Amanda Balasubramanian co-heads the banking and debt finance department and acts for lenders and borrowers in domestic and multi-jurisdictional transactions. Up-and-coming partner Tom Zverina is also noted for his transactional expertise in Toronto. On the regulatory front, Blair Keefe is widely considered a market leader for advising financial institutions on corporate, finance and regulatory issues. In Calgary, Kevin Fougere is highly regarded for corporate lending and project finance, with an emphasis on energy-related matters. Jonathan Weisz recently retired.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘Torys has a very strong group of individuals at all practices – including banking and finance. The group is viewed accurately as being collegial and easy to work with. They are without issue one of the best banking groups in the city. I would suggest that compared to other firms, Torys is clearly one of the top banking groups.’
‘Tom Zverina is not the most senior of the group, but he is the most conversant with private equity acquisition financings and considered one of the top practitioners in the city. His clients think the world of him and he is exceptionally pragmatic and reasonable. He is always a pleasure to work with.’
‘Amanda Balasubramanian is considered a rising star among younger banking partners. She is very well liked and respected. I envision that she over time will be one of the elite banking lawyers in the city.’
Key clients
The Toronto-Dominion Bank/TD Securities Inc.
The Bank of Nova Scotia/Scotia Capital
Bank of Montreal/BMO Capital Markets
National Bank of Canada/National Bank Financial Group
Royal Bank of Canada/RBC Capital Markets
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (“CIBC”)
CPP Investments
Brookfield Asset Management Inc.
Mizuho Bank Ltd.
Fairfax Financial
Cannabis Tier 2
'Available almost 24/7 and able to execute immediately', Torys' cannabis practice is regularly involved in major joint ventures, M&A, and licensing and collaboration agreements, where it acts for blue-chip companies, start-ups and other licensed producers. Moreover, the firm leverages its New York office and US law experts in Toronto to capabilities the cross-border capabilities of its strong corporate and securities offering. The group also stands out for its expertise in regulatory matters related to the cannabis industry. Key figures in the Toronto office include life sciences head Cheryl Reicin and food and drug regulatory chair Eileen McMahon.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘I chose to work with Torys LLP due to their professionalism, knowledge of the field, practical solutions and out of the box thinking. Availability almost 24/7 and ability to execute immediately. Comprehensive ability to provide a 360 solution‘
‘Personal touch and dedication to detail – Ability to assist beyond the direct project – Deep knowledge of the people and the field‘
Key clients
Village Farms International, Inc.
Sundial Growers Inc.
Tilray, Inc.
Trichome Financial Corp.
Canaccord Genuity Corp.
Syqe Medical Ltd.
Harspring Capital Management LLC/LAVVAN Canada Inc.
Experion Holdings Ltd. (formerly Viridium Pacific Group Ltd.)
PhytoGro Canada Ltd.
Cryptologic Corp.
Competition and antitrust Tier 2
Torys has a track record of handling significant antitrust mandates. The team has advised NRG Energy on its acquisition of Direct Energy, with joint practice head Omar Wakil leading on the competition aspects of the transaction. In addition, the team has continued to be engaged in standalone merger reviews and also has strengths in competition disputes. Linda Plumpton is recommended here, chairing the firm's litigation group; she is particularly skilled in class action defences, investigations and foreign investment matters. Co-chair Dany Assaf advises international and domestic clients on all aspects of competition law and foreign investment matters, including national security reviews.
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Environment Tier 2
The team at Torys is recognized by clients for its 'breadth of expertise'. Headed by Toronto-based Dennis Mahony, the environmental practice has strengths across a range of contentious and non-contentious matters, though it is perhaps best known for its contentious work, defending clients in major disputes in administrative, civil and regulatory proceedings across Canada. On the non-contentious front, the group is regularly instructed to advise on regulatory matters including climate change, and to obtain approvals on large scale infrastructure projects. Tyson Dyck and Michael Fortier are further key contacts in the team.
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Testimonials
‘One of the things that makes Torys practice unique is their breadth of experience. There is a history of knowledge and skill developed over that time that I would not trust to anyone else.‘
‘Michael Fortier has decades of experience in a variety of legal matters, but he has assisted our company with various types of transactions and knows the risk tolerances, preferences, corporate structures and level of diligence our company offers.‘
Key clients
Canadian National Railway
Canadian Tire Corporation
Windlectric, an Algonquin Power & Utilities company
Nation Rise Wind Farm Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of EDP Renewables
Toromont Industries
Wataynikaneyap Power LP
Alberta Investment Management Corporation
Dowa Metals & Mining Co. Ltd.
BluEarth Renewables Inc.
Praxair Canada Inc.
Intellectual property Tier 2
Based in the firm's Toronto office, the IP group at Torys has a very solid reputation in patent prosecution and IP litigation, with core strengths in the pharmaceuticals, agri-business, food and cosmetics sectors. Group lead Eileen McMahon specializes in patent law and patent strategy, as does partner Teresa Reguly. Edward Fan focuses on IP transactions, particularly in the technology sector. The group also fields a strong litigation team, with Andrew Bernstein and Andrew Shaughnessy noted for their work in pharmaceuticals-related patent disputes.Practice head(s):
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Key clients
Horizon Pharma Inc.
Procter & Gamble
Corteva Agriscience
Coty Inc.
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited
Zoetis Inc.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Scientific Games Corporation
Novelis (Aditya Birla)
Shoppers Drug Mart
Tennis Canada
Hydrogenics
Real estate Tier 2
Torys advises owners, developers and lenders on projects across Canada, bringing together expertise in a variety of disciplines to provide full support on projects involving the financing and construction of large-scale multi-use real estate. In addition to finance and development, the team acts for some of the country's largest pension funds in real estate investment and acquisitions. The department is jointly led by Toronto-based Sabrina Gherbaz and Graham Rawlinson. Other names to note include senior partner David Dell, who is highly regarded for his transactional experience, and Andy Gibbons, who has experience of a variety of commercial real estate matters, as well as land and real estate issues involving infrastructure and energy projects. Senior counsel Andrew Bedford in Calgary is also recommended.
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Testimonials
‘Andrew Bedford in the Calgary office is outstanding mix of smart and practical. Distills technical real estate matters into short, practical explanations for in-house lawyers who only occasionally deal with real estate. Great value for money.‘
Key clients
Brookfield Properties Corporation
Oxford Properties Group
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
The Toronto-Dominion Bank/TD Securities Inc.
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce/CIBC World Markets Inc.
The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited
Ontario Power Generation Inc.
Metrolinx
Axium Infrastructure
Investor Real Property Funds
Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2
Torys has a strong national presence, but is particularly strong in the Calgary market, where it generates a significant amount of work in the oil and gas space, working closely alongside the firm's top-tier oil and gas practice. Acting for a wide range of core parties, including debtors, court officers and creditors, the team is also active outside of the oil and gas space, boasting the ability to bring in 'the right resources from the firm to think through complex issues'. Tony Demarinis leads the national team from Toronto, and is recognized for his work in the high-end restructuring and insolvency field. Also recommended is David Bish, who leads the corporate restructuring practice and focuses on bankruptcies, insolvencies, receiverships and restructurings.
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Testimonials
‘The team brings the right resources from the firm to think through complex issues, are extremely responsive, able to take into account various viewpoints and bridge the commercial/legal aspects.‘
‘A balanced approach that took into consideration both the commercial and legal aspects.‘
‘David Bish laid out the paths and clearly articulated the considerations in a very complex and unique matter.‘
Key clients
PIMCO
Barings LLC. Brigade Capital Management. DDJ Capital Management
Ernst & Young Inc.
QuadReal
Home Trust
Morneau Shepell
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
The Toronto-Dominion Bank
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)
Fairfax Financial Holdings
Sagard Credit Partner
Resources Partners
The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited
Tarion Warranty Corporation
FTI Consulting
Clairvest
Medical Pharmacies Group Limited
General Nutrition Centres
Tax Tier 2
'Combining top tax technical knowledge with top-notch legal work', Torys' tax team works closely with the firm's premier corporate group to assist financial institutions, pension funds and companies with a wide range of transactional matters. The team also stands out for its ability to handle complex international deals, with a strong track record of transactions involving parties in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Practice head Jerald Wortsman specializes in domestic and international corporate tax planning and is recognized by clients for his 'vast tax experience'. Also recommended is Corrado Cardarelli, who maintains a broad corporate tax practice covering M&A, private funds, tax-exempt investments and structured financial products.
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Testimonials
‘Always available and gets things done even when timing is tight – Industry thought leaders with deep experience – Can speak with authority since they know the industry and what is considered market‘
‘The tax team that I work with are some of the smartest lawyers I have ever worked with — combining top tax technical knowledge with their top notch legal work.‘
‘Jerald Wortsman is always available, has vast tax experience, and knows my company inside and out.‘
Key clients
Brookfield Group of Companies
Scotiabank
Thomson Reuters
Bank of Montreal
Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (OTPP)
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)
Norbord Inc.
First Capital Realty Inc.
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Technology Tier 2
Torys stands out for its expertise in fintech and financial services work, particularly in the payments space. Areas of core strength include outsourcing and contracting work in the public sector, and cross-border technology deals involving the US. The team is jointly led by payments and fintech specialist Joel Ramsey and Adam Armstrong, who handles outsourcing transactions, software and hardware licensing, with expertise in blockchain, fintech and cloud computing. Also recommended are counsel Ebad Rahman and associate Jessica Bishop. Named lawyers are based in Toronto.Practice head(s):
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Key clients
The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)
The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS/Scotiabank)
Payments Canada
Home Trust Company
Morneau Sheppell Ltd.
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP)
Indigo Books & Music Inc.
Canadian Football League (CFL)
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
Indigenous law Tier 3
The Toronto-based Indigenous law group at Torys is integral the firm's ability to provide comprehensive legal service on transformative natural resources transactions and infrastructure projects, where the practice group regularly advises on Aboriginal consultation. The firm also handles commercial disputes, acting both for Indigenous groups and non-Indigenous companies. Power and projects expert Valerie Helbronner co-chairs the team with John Terry, who advises on the duty to consult and corporate social responsibility issues.Practice head(s):
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Key clients
Government of Ontario (Ministry of Northern Development & Mines)
Government of Yukon
Province of Ontario
Government of Canada
Wataynikaneyap Power
Government of Northwest Territories
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Ontario First Nations (2008) Limited Partnership (OFNLP) (a partnership of the First Nations in Ontario other than the Chippewas of Rama First Nation)
International expertise Tier 3
Torys is regularly involved in cross-border and multi-jurisdictional transactional and project development work. Its New York office provides a platform for US-Canada M&A transactions, in addition to working with US investors and Canadian businesses on private equity, corporate financing, and regulatory elements. Tara Mackay divides her time between New York and Toronto, and specializes in project financing work, advising on major infrastructure transactions across Canada and the US. The firm also regularly advises Asia-based clients on setting up operations in Canada, and partnerships with Canadian firms. New York's David Chaikof a standout name in this regard. In Latin America and Africa, the focus is on natural resources and mining work, where key figures include Toronto's Michael Amm. Amm and fellow team members have extensive experience advising Canadian and US investment banks and private equity funds on financing large-scale minerals transactions and projects.Other key lawyers:
Mining Tier 3
The 'practical and commercial' team at Torys has continued to increase its activity in mining M&A, a recent example of which was its advice to Pala Investments on the C$511m acquisition of Cobalt 27. The department continues to undertake a significant amount of capital markets work, and also has a thriving royalty and streaming finance practice. It also has experience structuring and negotiating sophisticated joint ventures and and representing clients in international arbitration claims regarding mining rights and international investments. Michael Amm and Michael Pickersgill ('efficient, calm and collected') jointly lead the group from Toronto.
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Testimonials
‘Practical, measured and commercial approach. Creative problem solvers. Broad industry and subject matter expertise.‘
‘Mike Pickersgill – efficient, calm and collected‘
‘Top tier in the sector for commercial capability, knowledge and sound legal advice on transactions and litigation. One of the top two we work with regularly in the mining sector.‘
‘Great legal advice married with sound commercial judgement and problem solving. Most firms can give you sound legal advice. The best can help you creatively come up with excellent solutions to structure the best deals.‘
Key clients
Orion Resource Partners
Franco-Nevada Corporation
Pala Investments Limited
Triple Flag Precious Metals
Sprott Resources
Nevada Copper Corp.
BMO Capital Markets
Newcrest Mining
Americas Gold & Silver Corporation
Alamos Gold Inc.
BaseCore Metals LP
Stelco Holdings Inc.
Sherritt International
Dowa Metals & Mining Co.
Mitsubishi Materials
Public procurement Tier 3
Torys 'provides dynamic, thoroughly reasoned and strategic support to its clients in challenging environments'. The procurement team has a particularly strong reputation for advising government clients, with noted expertise in the areas of defence, healthcare and life sciences, telecoms, transportation and energy. The group is also becoming increasingly active in the procurement of large technology projects. Corporate and commercial lawyer Thomas Yeo jointly heads the team from Toronto with infrastructure and energy specialist Philip Symmonds.
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Testimonials
‘The dynamic amongst the members of the Torys team was incredible.‘
‘Phil Symmonds was the primary lawyer that I dealt. Phil’s ability to deal with difficult individuals was outstanding. It was a total pleasure to interact with him. He was respectful, always calm and very perceptive of the key players role and personability. To top it off, his insight and legal advice advanced the project substantially.‘
‘Adam Banack and Tom Yeo were both an incredible asset to the legal team. Adam has the personality to bring people together and resolve matters to everyone satisfactory.‘
‘The work performed by Torys LLP Public Procurement practice has consistently been of exceptional quality with excellent delivery time.‘
‘Overall expertise in extremely complex public procurement and intellectual property; plus the expertise of their partners and associates. In particular, Phil Symmonds, Adam Armstrong, Thomas Yeo and Emma Sako.‘
‘The lawyers I have worked with are very experienced, knowledgeable, creative and responsive. I especially appreciate that they are practical minded when working with our business people, including presenting complex legal issues in clear business terms that they can understand and deal with.‘
‘I highly recommend Adam Armstrong, Ebad Rahman, Adam Banack, Jessica Bishop and Danielle Colliver.‘
‘Public procurement is a niche area that requires an intimate knowledge of complex rules flowing from Canada’s international trade agreements. The project-based nature of the files necessitates a sophistication and professionalism to advise a team of clients with diverse expectations and goals. Tory’s provides dynamic, thoroughly-reasoned and strategic support to its clients in challenging environments. They were key to the success of one of Canada’s largest procurements and they possess expertise that is unmatched in this field.‘
‘An unwavering commitment to excellence; unflinching attention to detail; delivery without compromise. Phil Symmonds, Adam Banack (Counsel),Tom Yeo (Counsel) and Emma Sako (associate) brought a superior level of professionalism to a demanding exercise with poise and resolve. Without them, delivery would have been impossible. They made everyone around them rise to a level of excellence that was unparalleled. Not only are they excellent lawyers, but they are terrific people and a true benefit to any team. They are simply the best!‘
Key clients
Government of Canada
Wataynikaneyap Power LP
TransitNEXT (SNC-Lavalin Capital)
Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology Inc. (“SWIFT”)
Infrastructure Ontario
Metrolinx
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (“GNL”)
Government of Canada
Haldimand County
International trade Tier 4
Torys is best known in this area for its record in trade and investment disputes and international arbitration. The practice group is led by Toronto-based senior litigation and arbitration counsel John Terry, who leads the practice from Toronto, who focuses on international commercial and investment arbitration, and international business and public law. The team has also advised clients on various NAFTA and WTO issues, anti-corruption and AML, sanctions compliance, and export control issues.
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Key clients
Windstream Energy LLC
Infinito Gold Ltd.
Fairfax Financial
Husky Energy Inc.
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
CPP Investments
Public Sector Pension Investments
Russian Federation
Windstream Energy LLC
Labour and employment Tier 4
Led by Lisa Talbot, the employment team at Torys represents well-known domestic and multinational corporate clients in employment disputes and class actions across the country. In addition to its litigation and internal investigations work, the team also advises on the hiring and firing of executives, executive compensation matters and human rights issues. It also supports the firm's corporate transactional work. The wider pensions and employment practice is chaired by Mitch Frazer.Practice head(s):
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Key clients
Uber Technologies Inc., Uber Canada Inc., Uber B.V.
BlackBerry Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited/George Westin/Choice Properties
REIT
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank)
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
Four Seasons Hotels Limited
Alamos Gold Inc.
Rogers Communications Inc.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Dispute resolution
Torys’ dispute resolution group is active in high-stakes litigation across the country, with a leading class action practice complemented by specialist offerings in financial services, product liability and IP. The firm’s position in the Ontario market is particularly commanding, but it also fields an increasingly prominent team in Montréal. Toronto-based litigator Sheila Block has built a standout record in precedent-setting cases and successfully represented Ontario First Nations Limited Partnership (a partnership of 132 of the 133 First Nations in Ontario) in arbitration brought against the Province of Ontario and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation concerning breaches of a gaming revenue sharing agreement. Other senior experts in Toronto include Patricia Jackson, who is a premier name for class actions, and department chair Linda Plumpton. Also in Toronto are Gillian Dingle, who coordinates the department, and senior associate Sarah Whitmore. Christopher Richter and counsel Geneviève Bertrand are recommended in Montréal.
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Key clients
Stronach Consulting Corp.
Anson Group Canada, Anson Investments LP, Anson Capital LP, Anson Investments Master Fund LP, Anson Advisors Inc., Anson Catalyst Master Fund LP
Resolute FP Canada
Brookfield Infrastructure Fund IV GP LLC
BlackBerry
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
Parkland Fuel Corporation
TMX Group
Ontario First Nations (2008) LP
The City of Saint John
Torys > Firm Profile
Torys LLP is a respected international business law firm with a reputation for quality, innovation and teamwork. Our experience, our collaborative practice style, and the insight and imagination we bring to our work have made us our clients’ choice for their largest and most complex transactions as well as for general matters in which strategic advice is key.
We work with clients who expect the best advice and exceptional service, and our dedication to excellence across practice areas and industries has resulted in an enviable record of experience in Canada and globally. Teamwork is one of our firm’s distinguishing features, reflected in all aspects of how the firm partners with clients and collaborates internally. Long-standing clients continue to retain Torys not only for our excellent service and legal expertise, but also because of a shared value for lasting partnerships based on trust and respect.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
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Banking and Debt Finance | Amanda C. Balasubramanian | abalasubramanian@torys.com | 416.865.8137 |
Intellectual Property, Cannabis Group | Eileen McMahon | emcmahon@torys.com | 416.865.7676 |
Cannabis Group | Cheryl Reicin | creicin@torys.com | 416.865.7373 |
Corporate and Capital Markets | Rima Ramchandani | rramchandani@torys.com | 416.865.7666 |
Corporate and Capital Markets | David A. Seville | dseville@torys.com | 416.865.7821 |
Corporate and Capital Markets | Scott Cochlan | scochlan@torys.com | 403.776.3784 |
Competition and Foreign Investment | Dany H. Assaf | dassaf@torys.com | 416.865.7303 |
Competition and Foreign Investment/ Mergers and Acquisition | Linda M. Plumpton | lplumpton@torys.com | 416.865.8193 |
Competition and Foreign Investment | Omar Wakil | owakil@torys.com | 416.865.7635 |
Mergers and Acquisitions | John Emanoilidis | jemanoilidis@torys.com | 416.865.8145 |
Mergers and Acquisitions | Karrin Powys-Lyybe | kpowys-lybbe@torys.com | 416.865.7829 |
Litigation and Dispute Resolution | Gillian Dingle | gdingle@torys.com | 416.865.8229 |
Mining and Metals | Michael Amm | mamm@torys.com | 416.865.8140 |
Mining and Metals | Michael Pickersgill | mpickersgill@torys.com | 416.865.8180 |
Oil & Gas | Derek Flaman | dflaman@torys.com | 403.776.3759 |
Environmental | Dennis E. Mahony | dmahony@torys.com | 416.865.8214 |
Indigenous, Trade and Investment Disputes | John A. Terry | jterry@torys.com | 416.865.8245 |
Indigenous | Valerie Helbronner | vhelbronner@torys.com | 416.865.7516 |
Projects | Mark W.S. Bain | mbain@torys.com | 416.865.7349 |
Projects | Scott A. Kraag | skraag@torys.com | 416.865.7980 |
Insurance Transactions/Insurance Regulatory | Blair Keefe | bkeefe@torys.com | 416.865.8164 |
Insurance Transactions/Insurance Regulatory | Jill McCutcheon | jmccutcheon@torys.com | 416.865.8121 |
Employment, Pensions and Employment | Mitch Frazer | mfrazer@torys.com | 416.865.8220 |
Strategic Procurement | Phillip Symmonds | psymmonds@torys.com | 416.865.8219 |
Strategic Procurement | Thomas Yeo | tyeo@torys.com | 416.865.8125 |
Real Estate | Sabrina Gherbaz | sgherbaz@torys.com | 416.865.8179 |
Real Estate | Graham Rawlinson | grawlinson@torys.com | 416.865.7397 |
Corporate Restructuring and Advisory | David Bish | dbish@torys.com | 416.865.7353 |
Corporate Restructuring and Advisory | Tony DeMarinis | tdemarinis@torys.com | 416.865.8162 |
Tax | Jerald M. Wortsman | jwortsman@torys.com | 416.865.7384 |
Technology Contracting | Adam S. Armstrong | aarmstrong@torys.com | 416.865.7336 |
Technology Contracting | Joel Ramsey | jramsey@torys.com | 416.865.7638 |