Find Lawyers in Toronto, Ontario for Mining Law
Practice Area Overview
Mining Law may be both domestic, where the project is in Canada or the mining company is Canadian, and foreign, where the project is outside Canada.
At the land acquisition stage, the mining lawyer works with the legal and regulatory regime for acquiring mineral title and surface access either directly from governmental authorities or, after appropriate title searches have been conducted, from third parties. The form and security of mineral and surface tenures and the method for obtaining them from a government vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In foreign jurisdictions the Canadian mining lawyer will help the client to understand the political or country risk and to engage local counsel to assist. The mining lawyer will be aware of foreign ownership restrictions and will work with tax specialists to structure the investment in the most efficient way. The mining lawyer also will advise on foreign corrupt practices legislation and relevant principles.
At the exploration stage, Mining Law may include the negotiation of option and exploration joint venture agreements. These agreements are very often between junior companies, which may have acquired the mineral property and carried out preliminary exploration work, and major companies which have the financial and technical strength to develop the project. The exploration stage also comprises obtaining requisite permits and authorizations under local law and advising on maintenance of title and reclamation and reporting obligations.
In the project development phase, the mining lawyer works on environmental assessment and regulatory permitting, impact benefit agreements with indigenous groups to obtain the project’s “social licence”, and support or stability agreements with local government. Human resources, industrial relations, and OH&S policies are developed by labour and employment lawyers, but in consultation with the mining lawyer. Litigation may arise as NGOs or other stakeholders oppose the project, and the mining lawyer will play an important supporting role.
Project development may also involve the mining lawyer working on arrangements for project financing, metal stream agreements and royalties, off-take agreements, and investments by strategic partners.
As the project moves from development to construction, the mining lawyer advises on engineering and procurement contracts, construction management contracts, and service agreements and other supply chain matters.
Once the project is in operation, the mining lawyer may work on custom milling, smelting and refining contracts, product sales agreements, transportation agreements, etc. There may be emergencies or other situations involving people or the environment that require response.
At closure, the mining lawyer will be involved in the legal aspects of site rehabilitation, closure of work permits and return of reclamation bonds, sale of plant and equipment, demobilization of the work force, and termination or wind down of contracts.
At some point in the life of the mine it may be sold or its ownership restructured. Mining Law includes mergers and acquisitions in this context.
Gesta Abols’ practice is focused on mergers & acquisitions (including private equity), strategic investments, corporate governance and shareholder activism. Gesta provides expert legal advice, superior service and structure to bring clarity to complex challenges. Gesta is the Co-Leader of the firm’s US Practice and on the executive of the firm’s Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions (CM and M&A) Committee. Gesta is consistently recognized as a leader in the ...
Donald Belovich is a partner in the Capital Markets, Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups and Co-Head of the Cannabis Group. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, public financings and complex corporate reorganizations. Donald also acts as counsel to issuers and underwriters in connection with initial public offerings and other public offerings and private placements. He regularly advises issuers, boards of directors and special committees on the structuring of M&A...
Steven Bennett is a partner and Co-Head of the Mining Group. He is also a member of the Corporate, Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Groups and the firm's Emissions Trading & Climate Change practice. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities, private equity transactions, and general corporate and commercial law. Steven has significant experience representing domestic and international clients in inter-jurisdictional tra...
Bruce Blain’s broad business practice has included advice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, and debt and equity financings, as well as partnership, joint venture and shareholder arrangements. Bruce has been involved in the purchase and sale of businesses across a wide range of industries, including steel making, manufacturing, high tech, financial services and consulting and professional services. His experience also includes public markets financing, reorganizatio...
Michael Bourassa’s practice is focused in the mining industry. A member of the Global Mining Group, he acted as the group’s co-ordinator from 2004-2012. A recognized expert, Michael has accumulated extensive experience on both Canadian and international mining projects. Providing advice on public financings, commercial mining agreements, and corporate social responsibility, and litigation support, Michael also has significant expertise in international mining due diligence issues ...
William Braithwaite is senior counsel at the firm and was Chair of the firm from 2012 to 2018. He previously served on the firm’s Partnership Board and Executive Committee, and is the former Head of the Corporate Group in the Toronto office. Bill practises primarily in mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. In addition to acting on some of the most significant cross border merger transactions, he has acted as counsel to major Canadian corporations, boards of directors, and inst...
Colin Burn is a partner practising in the Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets, Securities and Mining Groups. His practice is primarily focused on corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on M&A, corporate finance, private equity, and stream and royalty finance, as well as corporate governance matters. Colin has extensive experience advising foreign and domestic clients, including private equity and other financial sponsors, in public and private merger and acquisition transa...
Geoff Clarke has over 25 years of experience in investment banking, financial advisory, corporate finance and securities law. Geoff is the Leader of Miller Thomson LLP’s Mining Law practice area. Geoff represents and advises public companies, institutional investors and investment banks in securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, shareholder activism, exchange sponsorships, fairness opinions, continuous disclosure, stock exchange matters, securities litigati...
Nancy Eastman’s practice is focused on securities, mergers and acquisitions and global mining. Working predominantly on mining issues, Nancy advises clients on royalty and stream financings, domestic and cross-border corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and regulatory compliance. Assisting clients with a variety of securities matters, Nancy has worked with both private and public companies on debt and equity financings, as well as on initial public offerings, reverse take-overs, ...
Rob Eberschlag is a Partner at WeirFoulds LLP with a practice that is focused on corporate, commercial and securities law. Rob has 20 years of experience advising clients on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, investment funds and corporate governance and compliance matters. His number one priority is helping his clients navigate complex and ever-changing nature of securities law. Rob has a knack for taking highly technical and complex information and pr...
Wayne Egan is the Co-Managing Partner at WeirFoulds LLP. He also practises in the area of securities and corporate law, focusing on advising clients involved in raising money, considering and implementing going public transactions and meeting legal obligations existing in the public markets. Wayne is experienced in advising private and public corporations on various financing and regulatory matters, including initial public offerings, private placements, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizati...
Paul Fornazzari’s practice is focused predominantly in the areas of corporate, commercial and securities law. Clients rely on his expertise in deal structuring, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, shareholder disputes, regulatory and stock exchange compliance and a wide variety of commercial arrangements. Advising boards, executive teams, entrepreneurs and investment dealers, Paul acts for domestic and foreign clients in various industries including mining, petrol...
Brad Freelan is a Partner in the firm’s Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions group with a practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, shareholder activism, corporate governance and corporate finance. Brad has significant experience representing acquirors and targets across a broad range of industries in both public and private M&A transactions, and frequently provides governance advice to boards and special committees. He has a particular expertise assisting clients with cont...
Erik Goldsilver is a partner in the Securities and Capital Markets Group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP with specific expertise in the mining, natural resources and energy sectors. He regularly acts for Canadian and international mining companies on acquisitions and dispositions of mines, mining projects and mining companies; project development; and mine operations in Canada and throughout the world. Erik also advises on the structuring and negotiation of option and joint venture agreements, s...
Brian Graves advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, commercial and securities law matters. With a particular focus on cross-border transactions, Brian works mainly in the mining and natural resource industries and, in particular, is considered an authority on metal streaming transactions. Brian regularly acts as lead counsel on M&A deals for Canadian and foreign clients, advising on hostile and friendly take-over bids, reverse take-overs, plans of arrangement, ass...
Ivan Grbesic is a partner and Co-Head of the Mining Group. He is also a member of the Capital Markets, Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups. Ivan plays a leading role in the firm’s Latin American coverage group. Ivan’s practice focuses on corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on corporate finance transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate reorganizations. He regularly provides advice to issuers and underwriters in connection with initial public offe...
Andrew Grossman is an experienced client-focused deal advisor. He practises corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on M&A and corporate finance, and acts as strategic counsel to corporations and various market participants on significant multiparty transactions (see “Selected client work” below). He has a reputation for leading complex mandates and for delivering practical and timely solutions. Clients also frequently seek his guidance on most major decisions affecting...
In 2012, Barbara Hendrickson, after a twenty-year career that included stints with Canada’s largest securities regulator, one of the world’s largest law firms and a highly ranked national law firm, founded BAX Securities Law. In 2025 Best Lawyers™ recognized BAX Securities Law in the inaugural edition of Best Law Firms – Canada. The Canadian Best Lawyers™ rankings celebrate firms that have consistently demonstrated excellence in legal expertise and industry knowl...
Jay Kellerman is a partner and member of the Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Markets Groups, and served as the Managing Partner of the firm’s Toronto office from 2012 to 2018. With more than 30 years of experience, Jay is widely recognized by market sources as a leading practitioner in his field. He is consistently sought out by senior management of companies, boards and investors for not only transactional assistance, but to advise on strategic direction and growth. Jay has earn...
Amanda Linett is a partner and Co-Head of the Mining Group. She is also a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity and Capital Markets Groups and a member of the Management Committee in the Toronto office. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions (cross-border and domestic), private equity and corporate finance transactions. Amanda has extensive experience advising senior management, boards of directors, special committees and other transaction participants in numerous...
Daphne MacKenzie is a partner in and former Head of the Banking & Finance Group and serves on the firm’s Partnership Board. Her practice focuses on banking, project finance, restructurings, insolvency and public debt securities. Daphne acts for financial institutions and borrowers in cross-border banking and project finance transactions, and for creditors, debtors, receivers and monitors in commercial insolvencies and restructurings. She acts for private equity funds in connection w...
Grant McGlaughlin is co-leader of the Private Equity Group and practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, corporate finance, governance and sensitive and complex transactions. He provides superior service and expert legal advice to public and private issuers, underwriters and private equity funds in a broad range of industries including mining and natural resources, technology and industrial. Grant has an extensive corporate practice providing general legal and strate...
Alex Nikolic’s practice is focused on corporate and securities law. He regularly advises issuers, investment dealers, private equity and other investors in capital markets and mergers and acquisitions transactions. Frequently assisting clients on debt and equity financings, both domestic and cross border, Alex also works on private placements, public offerings, private equity transactions, take-over bids, plans of arrangement, and joint ventures. He also provides advice on reorganizatio...
D’Arcy Nordick is a corporate partner in the Toronto office. He is a member of the Management Committee and is the former Co-Head of the Capital Markets and Public Mergers & Acquisitions Groups in the Toronto office. He is also a member of the Private Equity, Mining and Financial Products & Services Groups. D’Arcy is one of the most well-regarded corporate and securities lawyers in Canada and has over 20 years’ experience advising both foreign and domestic clients in...
Justin Parappally is a partner in the Banking & Finance Group. He has expertise in acquisition financing, leveraged buyout transactions, take-private financings, gold streaming transactions, mining debt finance, forward gold sales, debtor-in-possession financing, and asset-based lending transactions. Justin acts for financial institutions, non-bank lenders and borrowers in domestic, cross-border, and international banking and lending transactions. He acts for private equity funds in conne...
Brian Pukier is a partner in the Corporate Group, whose practice is focused primarily on cross-border M&A, private equity investments, corporate finance transactions, complex corporate reorganizations and public policy. He is also called upon by his clients to advise them on corporate governance and crisis management issues. Brian is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading corporate and M&A lawyers. He has extensive experience in counselling senior management and the b...
Kathleen Ritchie is a partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office and is the past leader of the firm's Corporate Finance, M&A and Private Equity Group (2010-2013). She practises securities and corporate law, and has almost 20 years of experience advising on public and private M&A and corporate finance transactions, as well as securities regulatory and corporate governance matters. Kathleen is known by her clients and colleagues for approaching her work with a great deal of intensity, inte...
John Sabetti practices primarily in the areas of securities, mergers, acquisitions and corporate commercial law. With significant experience in corporate finance and M&A transactions, John regularly assists clients with structuring and leading initial public offerings, private placements, acquisition financing, take-over bids, business combinations, debt offerings and redomiciling transactions. In his corporate commercial practice, John has acted for public companies and some of Canada&rs...
Jason Saltzman practises corporate finance and securities law, with an emphasis on securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, as well as all other aspects of corporate and securities law. Jason works with both established and emerging companies world-wide, primarily in the mining, technology, life science, cleantech (including renewable energy, water tech and ag tech), industrial, mid-tech and digital media and entertainment sectors. He as...
One of Canada’s most highly regarded lending lawyers, John Torrey has a practice focused exclusively on lending transactions. With experience in all areas of lending, John has particular expertise in project and acquisition financings and in all aspects of mine finance. John acts on behalf of both borrowers and lenders and has extensive experience with a broad range of financings in a broad range of industries. The mine finance practice of John and his colleagues is amongst the most act...
Krisztian’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance with an emphasis on cross-border transactions, proxy contests and other contested matters, public and private financings, securities regulations and corporate governance. Clients value his ability to balance commercial and legal aspects and the broad range of his transactional experience. He has expertise in the national and international mining and oil and gas sectors and routinely acts for clients based in ...
John Turner is Leader of the firm’s Global Mining Group and Chair of the Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions (CM and M&A) Group. His practice is focused in the resource sector, where he has been involved in many leading corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions deals. One of Canada's national newspapers, the Financial Post, has described John as "one of the best dirt lawyers in Canada, if not the world." John represents issuers and underwriters in capital markets and...
Peter is a partner practising primarily in the areas of securities, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance. Peter brings exceptional experience in the oil and gas, mining and natural resource industries, and in his practice at the firm has worked for both issuers and investment banks. Prior to joining the firm, Peter served as General Counsel to Frontera Energy Corporation (formerly Pacific Exploration & Production/Pacific Rubiales Energy), Gran Colombia Gold...
Nadim Wakeam has a broad and deep range of corporate, commercial and securities law experience. Clients draw on his expertise in corporate and governance matters, corporate finance, M&A, divestitures, shareholder disputes, regulatory and stock exchange compliance and a wide variety of commercial arrangements. Nadim advises boards, executive teams, entrepreneurs and investment dealers and acts for domestic and foreign clients in various industries, including mining and technology. Nadim be...
Tina Woodside is one of Canada's leading corporate and securities lawyers. A Toronto-based Gowling WLG partner with more than 25 years' experience, she can provide you with expert, strategic advice on corporate finance, M&A and corporate governance matters, with a particular focus on the natural resources and mining sectors. Passionate about helping clients succeed in achieving their goals, Tina is known for her strong business acumen and commitment to delivering excellent service. She is...
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