With a particularly strong merger practice, McCarthy Tétrault is sought out by clients for advice in competition clearance in addition to Competition Bureau investigations and litigation. At the helm of the practice, Jason Gudofsky negotiates remedies and orders with the Competition Bureau and before the Competition Tribunal. Oliver Borgers (mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures), Dominic Thérien in Montreal (criminal cartel, bid-rigging and civil investigations) and Debbie Salzberger (domestic and international mergers) are names to note. Having recently been promoted to partner, Gideon Kwinter is a key contact for clients in the transport, telecoms and retail sectors. At an associate level, Erin Keogh is an active member of the team. Counsel Kate McNeece and Daphné Anastassiadis left the group in 2025. Unless noted, all lawyers mentioned work in Toronto.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘McCarthy Tetrault's competition practice is at the forefront of competition law and policy developments affecting businesses in Canada. It is clear that their team has extensive knowledge of antitrust and merger laws of Canada and know how to manage proceedings before the Competition Bureau in the best interest of their clients. They are able to offer an upfront strategy and can handle complex and extensive investigations.’
‘Michael Caldecott and Jason Gudofsky both stand out for their client-tailored approach to cases, being able to connect with the DNA of the company. They are also able to present complex procedural issues specific to Canada in a clear and practical way to an international company. We feel confident that our matters are always handled in our best interest without making false promises or providing overly conservative legal opinions to us.’
‘Jason Gudofsky and Gideon Kwinter are fantastic, engaged and knowledgeable competition lawyers and have always exceeded our expectations.’
‘McCarthy truly has a unique bilingual team with a deep experience in all aspects of competition and antitrust law. They provide timely advice, they can quickly understand the particulars of their client's industry and have a very practical approach in assessing the transactional risks in that area.’
‘Dominic Thérien is our go-to person for all matters involving competition considerations. His vast experience working with the Bureau (as well as within the Bureau) is impressive. He quickly understands the business considerations of a transaction and provide tailor-made support. He is always available and very enjoyable to work with.’
'Debbie Salzberger is very personable and friendly, gives straight forward advice, is reasonable about billing for her time, and makes every effort to provide value. Niki Iatrou, with his experience on the litigation side and with the Bureau and strong judgment on strategy, we're able to go to to obtain very refined advice and specific approaches on how to manage risk on various files.'
Key clients
- Catalent
- Quikrete Companies
- Cavendish Farms, part of the J.D. Irving Group of Companies
- Parkland Fuel
- General Mills
- Xylem Inc.
- West Fraser Timber Co. Inc.
- Rio Tinto Alcan
- Loblaws Companies Limited
- Vinci Construction
- TransAlta Corporation
- Brookfield, Royal Lepage, Sotheby's, Chestnut Park Real Estate and Harvey Kalles Real Estate
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Gideon Kwinter
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Jason Gudofsky
Other key lawyers
Oliver Borgers; Dominic Thérien; Debbie Salzberger; Gideon Kwinter; Erin Keogh; Michael Caldecott; Niki Iatrou