Torys > Montreal, Canada > Firm Profile

Torys > The Legal 500 Rankings

Canada > Banking and finance

Lawyers at Torys ‘find business solutions to legal problems’, according to clients. Combining a prominent transactional offering with one of the market’s leading regulatory practices, it impresses with its ability to cover the waterfront on banking and finance issues. The regulatory group had a banner year during 2023/24, which saw high-profile financial institutions expert, Blair Keefe, acting alongside banking and debt finance co-head, Amanda Balasubramanian, to advise Bank of Montreal on its acquisition of the ‘AIR MILES’ reward business of LoyaltyOne, among other marquee bank M&A deals. Additional regulatory specialists include Jill McCutcheon, who co-heads the regulatory practice alongside Keefe; fintech-focused senior counsel Brigitte Goulard; Peter Aziz, who co-chairs the payments area; and next-generation partner Eli Monas. Key transactional partners include the already mentioned Balasubramanian; Adam Delean, who contributes extensive experience in advising borrowers and lenders; Calgary-based Kevin Fougere, who is recommended for corporate lending and project finance; Tom Zverina, who maintains a broad debt finance practice; and Calgary-based senior associate Tyrel Henderson. Named lawyers are based in Toronto unless otherwise stated.

Canada > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

The corporate and M&A practice at Torys draws on the combined experience of teams in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary and New York, to advise major corporates and financial institutions (including The Bank of Nova Scotia) involved in high-value, cross-border transactions. The group’s client roster spans such sectors as energy and natural resources, retail, infrastructure, government and utilities. The group is headed in Toronto by John Emanoilidis, Karrin Powys-Lybbe and Michael Amm, all of whom bring experience and expertise to complex M&A, securities, private equity and corporate governance matters. Other key figures include Adrienne DiPaolo in Toronto, who, in addition to public and private M&A, specializes in corporate governance; Janan Paskaran in Calgary, an expert in securities compliance matters and corporate finance; and Jennifer Baugh (also in Calgary) who brings strength to M&A and reorganisations. Another figure of note is senior associate Daniel Masliyah in Toronto.

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 1

Torys’ oil and gas group is a popular choice to handle high-end corporate matters involving the oil and gas industry. The Calgary-based practice acts for a diverse roster of energy clients, including in the upstream (Vermilion Energy, TAG Oil) and midstream (Enbridge, AltaGas) segments — it also frequently acts for downstream players and industry service providers. Department head Chris Christopher is a force in oil and gas transactions; he recently advised AltaGas on its 50/50 joint venture with Koninklijke Vopak for the phased development of the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility. The team additionally draws on David Cuschieri, whose focus spans corporate and commercial issues in the oil and gas, power and infrastructure spheres; up-and-coming partner Peter Danner, who has an emphasis on corporate and M&A in the energy, infrastructure and mining areas; and counsel Amy Maginley, who is also noted for energy transactions. Senior associate Gino Bruni is recommended for regulatory matters, including environmental work.

Energy and natural resources > Power Tier 1

According to satisfied clients, Torys’ ‘depth of power knowledge and experience is unparalleled’. Leveraging well-staffed platforms in both Toronto and Calgary, the sizeable national practice is well weighted between transactional and regulatory work and it enjoys close relationships with some of Canada’s largest utilities, including Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Hydro One — among other major industry participants. Toronto-based transactional power expert Krista Hill co-heads the practice and recently advised OPG on multiple matters, including on the Darlington small modular reactor project. The Toronto team also draws on fellow department co-head Charles Keizer, who specializes in regulatory matters; Valerie Helbronner, who is highly regarded for power project development and financings; transactional partner Huw Evans, who impresses with his ‘great negotiation skills’; and Jonathan Myers, whose practice spans energy regulation and project development. In Calgary, office managing partner Lou Cusano and senior counsel David Wood are names to note for regulatory matters.

Canada > Infrastructure projects Tier 1

The ‘practical and collaborative’ infrastructure practice at Torys is distinguished by its full-spectrum coverage of projects matters, from procurement and financing, through to development and secondary market activity. With experience in acting for all key stakeholders, including public sector authorities, project consortiums and lenders, the group additionally stands out for its thriving US projects offering. Toronto-based Mark Bain is highly regarded for his extensive experience in first-of-a-kind projects; he is acting alongside Toronto’s Josh Van Deurzen to advise Infrastructure Ontario, as the public authority, on the procurement process for the Accelerated High-Speed Internet Program. Bain co-heads the department together with Toronto-based power specialist Krista Hill and New York-based Tara Mackay, who has a focus on international work. The Toronto team additionally draws on high-profile project finance partner Scott Kraag, as well as a strong band of up-and-coming associates including Jessica Ho-Wo-Cheong (senior) and Emily Stewart (intermediate).

Canada > Insurance Tier 1

According to satisfied clients, the insurance team at Torys draws on ‘some of the best experts in financial services corporate and litigation work in the country’. The practice is particularly dominant on the corporate and regulatory front, where it is a popular choice to advise insurance corporations on high-profile M&A deals, joint ventures and other highly regulated transactions and compliance matters. Financial services expert Blair Keefe co-heads the insurance regulatory practice and is a first port of call for insurance companies undertaking corporate transactions. Other advisory specialists include Jill McCutcheon; senior counsel Kelly Morris; and Melissa Prado, who was recently promoted to partner. Litigation and dispute resolution chair Linda Plumpton is the key contact for contentious insurance work and contributes significant experience in precedent-setting regulatory and coverage disputes. Litigator David Outerbridge is also noted for insurance disputes, including product liability claims, environmental claims and class actions. Named lawyers are based in Toronto.

Canada > Cannabis Tier 2

Lawyers at Torys ‘take time to understand the commercial objectives’, according to clients. A strong performer in the medical cannabis field, the team is well versed in regulatory, IP and commercial work, while it additionally leverages its New York office to provide significant cross-border firepower. Life sciences expert Eileen McMahon chairs the IP, agribusiness and food and drug practices and is sought after for her mastery of regulatory issues. Teresa Reguly also specializes in life sciences regulation and IP, with a focus on cannabis, food and controlled drug products. Counsel Yolande Dufresne and senior associate Melanie Sharman Rowand provide support.

Canada > Capital markets Tier 2

The capital markets group at Torys is composed of ‘practical business advisers with a great view of precedents and trends’. Striking a balance between transactional and regulatory expertise, the team leverages the wider firm’s preeminent financial institutions offering to excel in representing financial services clients as both issuers and underwriters — it also routinely represents corporate issuers. The national department is co-led by Toronto-based David Seville (‘one of the best in Canada’), Toronto-based Rima Ramchandani and Calgary’s Scott Cochlan — all of whom contribute broad corporate finance experience. Also highly regarded in Toronto are capital markets specialists Glen Johnson and Kevin Morris, as well as securitization partner Jim Hong and senior associate Michael Murphy. In Calgary, Michael Pedlow is noted.

Canada > Competition and antitrust Tier 2

The practice group at Torys is well-versed in providing financial, retail, energy and healthcare-sector clients with strategic competition advice for M&A transactions, as well as representing them in competition law disputes. Dany Assaf, Omar Wakil and Linda Plumpton co-lead the practice from Toronto. Assaf and Wakil take care of the range of competition law and foreign investment matters; Plumpton majors on class action defence and competition and securities litigation. Litigator James Gotowiec and senior associate Rebecca Wagner, who handles Competition Act compliance, including complex merger transactions, are additional key contacts. All lawyers mentioned are based at the Toronto office.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Ontario Tier 2

The team at Torys' Ontario disputes department is well-versed in shareholder litigation and corporate-commercial litigation. The group’s client roster frequently features domestic and multinational companies in the financial services, insurance, tech, retail and manufacturing sectors. Practice co-head Linda Plumpton specializes in competition litigation, securities litigation, class action defence and corporate and commercial disputes. Also co-leading, Sarah Whitmore handles class actions, commercial litigation, employment law and media law. Also noted are Sheila Block (commercial and securities litigation, IP, defamation and administrative law cases); Gillian Dingle (corporate and securities litigation); and Andrew Bernstein (public law and appellate work).

Energy and natural resources > Mining

The Toronto-led mining team at Torys pairs the strength of a network of offices in Montreal, Halifax, Calgary and New York, with the experience of its team, to advise large, mid-cap and junior mining companies, issuers, underwriters and selling security holders on matters ranging from high-value, multi-jurisdictional M&A, project finance, joint ventures and commodity transactions to mining arbitration, restructuring, permitting matters and negotiations with Indigenous groups. The team is headed by Michael Pickersgill, who brings a track record of expertise to M&A, corporate finance, earn-in agreements, and royalty, streaming and offtake arrangements. Other key figures of note include Michael Amm, who handles complex strategic investments, joint ventures, corporate financings and who, like Braden Jebson, manages complex royalty and streaming transactions; Don Bell, who draws on experience advising on mining projects in North and South America, Asia and Africa; and John Terry and Kevin Morris, who both specialize in capital markets transactions, board governance advice and shareholder activist issues.

Canada > Environment Tier 2

The environmental law practice at Torys is ‘well-informed, up-to-date and strategic’. Demonstrating strong skill sets across all relevant industries, including energy and natural resources, transport, infrastructure, chemicals and consumer products, the team is particularly distinguished by its expertise in nuclear-related matters. Toronto’s Dennis Mahony chairs the practice and acted alongside the litigation group to represent Canadian National Railway on a judicial review of the federal environmental process in connection with its Milton Logistics Hub. The group also includes Toronto-based Michael Fortier, who is recognized for his record in the nuclear sphere; Toronto’s Tyson Dyck, who specializes in climate change law; and Calgary-based Lou Cusano, who is noted for energy-related work.

Canada > Intellectual property Tier 2

IP lawyers at Torys stand out for being ‘very smart in the legal theory but also very practical’. The Toronto-based team strikes a balance between IP litigation and advisory work, with its expertise in the latter area considered particularly formidable. Historically recognized for its capability in transactional support matters, the team also excels in patent and trademark filing, prosecution and strategy; notably, it filed 780 patent and trademark applications during 2023/24. IP chair Eileen McMahon contributes thirty years of experience in IP law, with a focus on patent work. Other non-contentious specialists include Edward Fan, who advises on the acquisition, enforcement and exploitation of IP; Teresa Reguly, who has a focus on life sciences clients; and Michelle Nelles, who specializes in trademark law and branding. Andrew Shaughnessy heads the IP litigation area and recently paired up with Andrew Bernstein — who maintains a broad dispute resolution practice — to represent Sanofi-Aventis Canada in a complex patent case. Nicole Mantini is also noted for litigation.

Canada > International expertise Tier 2

Torys’ robust M&A offering combines with its large New York platform to position it as a key contender for US-related transactions. The team has also recently undertaken cross-border work involving countries in Europe, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, among other jurisdictions. Canada-qualified M&A and securities partner David Chaikof manages the New York office. Also noted in New York are high-profile infrastructure specialist Tara Mackay; Don Bell, who specializes in commercial transactions; and Jared Fontaine, whose practice has an emphasis on institutional investing. In Toronto, M&A co-heads John Emanoilidis and Michael Amm, along with former New York office managing partner Karrin Powys-Lybbe, are routinely involved in multi-jurisidictional transactions.

Canada > Pensions Tier 2

The pensions practice at Torys specializes in plan drafting, administration and governance, wind-ups, plan mergers, pension investments and tax issues, as well as regulatory matters and transactional support. The practice is directed by Toronto-based Tom Stevenson, who focuses on the interpretation and application of pension, benefits and human rights legislation in the workplace, and who assists clients with the drafting and implementation of plans. The ‘excellent’ Stephanie Kalinowski, previously at Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP, joined the group in June 2023. Raegan Kennedy, who has experience advising private equity, infrastructure and real estate-sector clients; and Jennifer Lennon (employment and benefits matters), were promoted to the partnership in January 2024.

Canada > Real estate Tier 2

The real estate group at Torys harnesses the combined experience of teams in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary and New York, to advise owners, investors, developers, government bodies and lenders (including such clients as Metrolinx and Toronto Metropolitan University) on projects involving large-scale multi-use developments, joint venture ownership, energy and infrastructure projects and phased development arrangements, throughout their entire lifecycles, from initial acquisition through development, management and disposition. The practice is headed by Sabrina Gherbaz and Graham Rawlinson, who both bring expertise to acquisitions, joint ventures and project finance. Other figures of note include Andy Gibbons, a specialist in the energy and infrastructure areas; Simon Knowling, who heads real estate investment trust (REIT) group; real estate private equity expert Charlene Schafer; and Rose Bailey, who brings extensive experience in commercial real estate, renewable energy assets and securitizations. All lawyers mentioned work in the Toronto office.

Canada > Tax Tier 2

Torys's tax capabilities are centred on advising on M&A and private equity transactions and representing clients in tax litigation. Private equity funds, corporations, pension funds and banks regularly look to the group for support. Toronto-based Jerald Wortsman steers the practice and specializes in domestic and international corporate tax planning, as well as M&A, reorganizations and corporate finance matters. Additional names to note include Gwen Watson, who brings strength to income tax advice; Corrado Cardarelli, who handles corporate, partnership, trust and general business tax work; and Calgary-based Craig Maurice, who has niche expertise in the tax aspects of M&A transactions involving oil and gas, mining and the midstream sector.

Canada > Technology Tier 2

The practice group at Torys handles a range of technology transactions, including outsourcing, fintech matters, M&A, financing and data licensing. Clients include major banks and credit unions, as well as companies in the retail, oil-and-gas, insurance and tech segments. The department is co-directed by Toronto-based duo Adam Armstrong and Joel Ramsey. Armstrong majors on tech and commercial contracting mandates, including service arrangements and technology procurement; Ramsey also specializes in technology contracting, as well as pensions and real estate work. Additional key contacts for transactional work at the Toronto office include Ebad Rahman, Konata Lake and Steven Slavens. Halifax-based senior associate Jessica Lumière is also of note.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Quebec Tier 3

The Quebec disputes group at Torys specializes in representing clients involved in commercial contractual disputes, shareholder disputes and insurance claim disputes. Sylvie Rodrigue leads the practice from Montreal and focuses on class action, product liability mandates and commercial disputes, drawing on litigation experience in Quebec and other provinces. Additional names to note include Christopher Richter, who manages corporate and commercial litigation; Julie Himo, who handles matters involving commercial fraud, contractual and shareholder disputes and bankruptcy and insolvency and securities litigation); and Matthew Angelus, who majors on civil, commercial and class action litigation, with a particular focus on insurance, consumer, real estate, insolvency and transportation matters. Class action defence specialist Anne Merminod joined the firm in July 2024 from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.

Canada > Indigenous law Tier 3

The expertise of the practice group at Torys takes in M&A transactions and energy and infrastructure projects, involving Indigenous communities, as well as related litigation. The team is regularly instructed by Indigenous communities, governments and companies alike. Toronto-based Valerie Helbronner and John Terry share leadership of the department. Helbronner specializes in the development of infrastructure projects involving Indigenous interests and parties. Terry focuses his practice on litigation for public law cases involving Indigenous issues, constitutional and treaty rights. Former Supreme Court Justice and senior counsel Frank Iacobucci KC is an additional key contact. Associate Brianne Paulin left the firm in October 2023.

Canada > International trade Tier 3

Torys’ possesses niche expertise in NAFTA/WTO issues, where it specializes in representing claimants and respondents in treaty disputes, including international arbitrations. On the regulatory front, the team covers a range of economic sanctions, export controls and anti-corruption-related matters. Toronto-based practice head John Terry is recommended for investment arbitrations. Ryan Lax, who was recently promoted to counsel, has an emphasis on public, commercial and international trade law.

Canada > Public procurement Tier 3

Canada > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

Torys' practice group is routinely called upon by boards of directors and senior management to act on restructuring and insolvency mandates across a range of sectors, among them financial services, retail, pharmaceuticals and mining. The practice is jointly directed by David Bish, who has experience handling bankruptcy proceedings, proposals, wind-ups, liquidations, reorganizations, restructurings and receiverships; and Tony DeMarinis, who focuses on negotiated workouts, recapitalizations, distressed investments and acquisitions, and court proceedings under the federal CCAA. Also noted are Scott Bomhof; litigator Jeremy Opolsky; and Adam Slavens, who is lauded by one client as ‘practical, experienced and technically sound’. All lawyers mentioned are based at the Toronto office.

Canada > Labour and employment Tier 5

The employment capabilities of the group at Torys take in hiring and dismissals, occupational health and safety matters, executive compensation matters, workplace investigations and employment litigation. Lisa Talbot steers the practice group and specializes in contentious employment matters and investigations. Also noted are executive compensation practice lead Jennifer Lennon and counsels Rebecca Wise and Darryl Hiscocks, the latter of whom is lauded as ‘responsive and thorough in his support’. All named lawyers are based in Toronto.