Torys' Toronto-based M&A practice is a driving force in the Canadian market, handling cross-border and domestic M&A transactions. The team focuses on a number of sectors including financial services, life sciences and healthcare, retail and consumer products, oil and gas, energy and mining. John Emanoilidis has deep expertise in the M&A space, advising domestic and foreign acquirers, private equity sponsors, special committees and banks in hostile takeover bids, proxy contest, private equity transactions and other complex issues. Corporate and capital markets specialist Karrin Powys-Lybbe is well-versed in party transactions and complex deals for renewable energy, infrastructure and private equity clients. Michael Amm advises clients on an array of deals from M&As to strategic investments, IPOs and securities offerings. The three aforementioned lawyers all jointly lead the Toronto practice. Jennifer Baugh is well-versed in advising on legal risk, regulatory matters and corporate governance, Adrienne DiPaolo is the go-to for issuers and investment banks looking for public offering assistance and associate Carly Klinkoff assists with corporate and securities law issues. Over in Calgary, Janan Paskaran centres his practice on international transactions, representing private and public issuers.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘We value the depth of expertise of the team and their exceptionally user-friendly approach. The team is not only highly knowledgeable across a broad range of corporate and M&A matters, but they are also great at translating complex issues into clear, actionable advice. The team is collaborative, responsive, and consistently demonstrates a deep understanding of our sector.’
‘One of the standout strengths is the calibre of key partners, such as Janan Paskaran, who has a wealth of experience and insight. He is generous in sharing his knowledge in a way that is both strategic and commercially astute, and focused on helping clients achieve practical outcomes.’
‘The Torys team is extremely reliable and never fails to provide commercially-minded advice which is invaluable to our business. Their work is tailored to our needs and they are always a pleasure to work with!’
‘Janan Paskaran consistently provides sound, practical advice and is always willing to work with our team to meet our business goals. He is a trusted advisor to many individuals within our organization as he has extensive knowledge of securities and corporate law as well as a strong understanding of our business which makes his advice invaluable.’
‘Their team offers strategic advice that is both practical and tailored to our specific needs. What sets them apart is their commitment to ongoing engagement. Follow-up meetings were opportunities to refine strategy, address any concerns, and ensure alignment. This proactive approach made a significant difference in the efficiency and outcome of our engagements.’
‘Working with Janan Paskaran and Scott Cochlan has always been a standout experience. From the beginning, they approached our partnership with genuine collaboration, treating in-house counsel not just as clients but as equals and strategic partners. Their respect for internal expertise and willingness to co-create solutions made every interaction productive.’
Key clients
- Canadian Western Bank
- Brookfield Group of Companies
- Bain Capital
- Viterra
- Scotiabank
- BMO Capital Markets
- Rothschild & Co
- Thomson Reuters
- Homesteaders Life Company
- The Bank of Nova Scotia
- Fairfax Financial
- Franco-Nevada
Work highlights
Torys advised Canadian Western Bank in its C$5.3 bn sale to National Bank of Canada, which has C$462 bn in assets
Torys advised Bain Capital, as a holder of preferred equity in Corient Holdings Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of CI Financial Corp., in CI Financial’s proposed C$12.1bn sale to an affiliate of Mubadala Capital.
Torys advised as Canadian counsel to Viterra Limited and its shareholders (BCI, Glencore and CPP Investments) in connection with Viterra Limited’s proposed $34bn merger with Bunge Limited to create a global agribusiness solutions company.
Lawyers
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Leading partners
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Next Generation Partners
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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
John Emanoilidis; Karrin Powys-Lybbe; Michael Amm
Other key lawyers
Janan Paskaran; Carly Klinkoff; Adrienne DiPaolo; Jennifer Baugh; Scott Cochlan; Braden Jebson; Daniel Masliyah