Find Lawyers in Montréal, Quebec for Securities Law
Practice Area Overview
Generally, in each Canadian jurisdiction, a distribution of securities must be qualified by a prospectus that is filed with and cleared by the relevant securities regulatory authority unless an exemption from this requirement is available. In addition, securities legislation in the various Canadian jurisdictions deems certain trades in securities that were previously acquired under an exemption from the prospectus requirements, called "first trades," to be distributions. Securities of an issuer that is a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws (that is, an issuer that is subject to periodic reporting requirements) and that were acquired under an exemption from the prospectus requirements are generally freely tradable, depending on the exemption relied upon, after a four-month hold period. The most regularly relied upon exemption from the prospectus requirements is the accredited investor exemption (permits certain qualified investors, including institutional investors and persons or companies that meet income or asset tests, to acquire securities on a prospectus-exempt basis).
Lawyers in this area must have a comprehensive understanding of the provincial securities laws administered by the applicable provincial regulatory authority, as well as the rules and policies of the national securities exchanges and IIROC (Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, which is the national self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers and trading activity on debt and equity marketplaces in Canada). An important aspect of the practice is advising issuers and other market participants as to which information about the issuer and the securities being offered is "material" and therefore requires disclosure in offering materials or other disclosure documents.
Partner - Leader of the Business Law Group Josianne Beaudry is a member of the Business law group. Her practice is primarily focused on securities law, investment funds and mining law. She also advises financial sector participants on the application of regulations relating to securities and corporate governance. Ms. Beaudry assists clients carrying out public and private financings, corporate reorganizations, as well as mergers and acquisitions. She also helps publicly traded companies maint...
Sébastien Bellefleur specializes in business law, more specifically in securities, mergers, acquisitions, corporate governance and mining law. He also helps set up funding, whether in the form of loans or equity financings. He has drafted a number of complex transactions on behalf of public and private corporations, such as the purchase, sale, funding and restructuring of businesses throughout Canada and abroad. He has represented issuers and brokers in connection with initial public o...
Jean Bertrand focuses on commercial and corporate litigation, including class actions and arbitration, and on administrative law, with emphasis on regulated activity such as competition, transportation, international trade and energy. He has appeared frequently before Quebec and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as before regulatory boards such as the Commission des transports du Québec, the Régie de l’énergie, the Competition Tribunal, ...
Pierre Bienvenu, Ad. E. is a disputes lawyer with more than 35 years' experience in international commercial arbitration, corporate and commercial litigation, and constitutional law. He has acted as counsel or served as arbitrator in international arbitrations involving disputes in energy, transportation, telecommunications, mergers and acquisitions, construction, pharmaceuticals, international distribution and joint ventures, and foreign investment. A former co-chair of the IBA’s Arbit...
René Branchaud, partner and chairman of the board of directors of the firm, practises in the fields of securities, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate law. With more than thirty years’ experience, he advises companies on matters such as incorporation and organization, the drafting of shareholder agreements, private placements, public issues, going public, dispositions, and takeovers. His services are in demand with European entrepreneurs and investors, primarily in France, wi...
Robert Carelli is a partner, Head of the Montréal office’s Corporate Group and a member of the firm’s Partnership Board. Named as one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in 2020 by Canadian Lawyer , Robert has over 20 years of extensive experience focused primarily in the areas of securities, capital markets, public and private mergers & acquisitions and corporate governance. He advises issuers and underwriters on public offerings and private placements, b...
Bruno Caron is the co-chair of the firm’s ESG and Carbon Finance Group. He is a commercial lawyer whose practice is focused on capital markets and public and private M&A transactions. He has been recognized in Canada’s Best Lawyers list in the category of Mergers and Acquisitions since 2021. Bruno has a particular interest with all aspects of ESG and with respect to sustainable financing as a mean to mitigate and adapt to climate change and the disclosure rules applicable to t...
Jean-Pierre is responsible for the Québec Region Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions practice group. He practises business law and helps clients achieve their strategic and commercial objectives. Jean-Pierre specializes in securities and financing, mergers and acquisitions, governance, structured products and commercial transactions. Jean-Pierre advises companies and investment banks in capital market and private financing transactions, vendors, acquirers and special committees i...
Vanessa Coiteux is a partner in the Corporate and Privacy & Data Protection Groups. Her practice focuses on securities, public and private mergers & acquisitions and corporate financing. She frequently advises issuers and underwriters in connection with public and private offerings in Canada and abroad, as well as TSX-listed securities issuers on regulatory compliance, corporate governance and continuous disclosure requirements matters. Vanessa specializes in cybersecurity and advises...
Alix d’Anglejan-Chatillon is a partner and Co-Head of the Financial Products & Services Group. She practices principally in the areas of investment management, the regulation of capital markets and derivatives. Her clients include North-American, European and Asian-based investment fund managers, including managers of mutual funds, pooled funds, hedge funds, credit funds, private equity, real estate and infrastructure funds, and fund of fund structures, as well as commercial and inv...
Olivier Godbout is a partner in the Corporate Group. His practice focuses primarily in the areas of securities, corporate finance, domestic and cross-border public and private mergers and acquisitions, and governance matters. Olivier advises clients from a wide range of industries, including transportation, telecommunications and manufacturing. In 2016, Olivier worked in Stikeman Elliott’s London office where he acted for issuers and underwriters in corporate finance transactions as wel...
Sidney Horn is a senior counsel in the Corporate Group, specializing in commercial, corporate and securities law, advising large domestic and international corporations on complex questions concerning finance, mergers & acquisitions and corporate governance. Sidney has developed an expertise in complex transactions requiring creative solutions. He represents private equity firms in their investments in private and public corporations, as well as corporations and independent directors in t...
Warren Katz is a Partner in the Corporate Group. He previously served as Managing Partner of the Montréal office and as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and Partnership Board. Warren specializes in Canadian and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity and corporate finance transactions, including representing broad and varied public and private companies across many industries. He offers over 25 years of extensive experience, including strong cross-border c...
Stephen Kelly is the Canadian national chair of our business law group. He practises corporate and securities law, with particular emphasis on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. He regularly acts for large public companies, underwriters and investors in public offerings, including initial public offerings, bought-deal transactions and cross-border offerings as well as private placement transactions.Mr. Kelly frequently advises on public and private mergers and acquisitions both n...
Kosta Kostic is a partner in our Corporate/Commercial group in the Montréal office. He has a broad range of experience in business law, particularly in the areas of corporate finance, securities law and mergers and acquisitions. Kosta represents clients in various industries in the context of complex commercial transactions. He advises both issuers and investment dealers in private and public debt and equity offerings. He also has extensive experience as lead counsel in a number of maj...
Neil Kravitz is a partner in the Mergers and acquisitions, Corporate finance, Private equity and Corporate/Commercial groups. A seasoned advisor and a recognized leading lawyer in mergers and acquisitions, securities law and cross-border transactions, Neil has extensive experience acting for domestic and foreign acquirers and targets, issuers, entrepreneurs, private equity funds, investment banks, boards of directors and special committees in connection with public and private M & A trans...
Jean Michel Lapierre practises business law, with a leading expertise in corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions and securities law. Jean Michel has acted on behalf of issuers, securities dealers and institutional investors in various securities offerings. He has also acted for financial institutions in connection with issuances of structured products. Jean Michel has been involved in several major acquisition, sale, merger or going-private transactions of publicly-traded companies, inc...
Stéphanie Lapierre is a partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group. Her practice is mainly focused on securities, financial and business law. She represents clients both in the first instance and on appeal in matters involving hostile take-over bids, contested change of control transactions, shareholder disputes, derivative actions, plans of arrangement, dissidence rights and judicial liquidation. Stéphanie has a solid expertise in litigation matters pertaining to ...
Pierre-Yves Leduc is a partner in the Securities Group. His practice focuses primarily in the areas of public and private, domestic and cross-border mergers & acquisitions, securities and corporate finance. Pierre-Yves has over 20 years of extensive experience advising issuers and underwriters in public offerings and private placements, and corporations in acquisitions and divestitures. He also has a solid track record of advising both buyers and sellers on numerous take-over bids, going-...
John Leopold is a preeminent corporate lawyer who has been repeatedly recognized both nationally and internationally as one of Canada's elite practitioners in mergers and acquisitions and corporate law. John is ranked by Chambers Canada as a Band 1 leading lawyer in corporate/commercial where he is described as having an outstanding reputation with one of his clients calling him "one of the finest M&A and general business lawyers I have worked with" and with several market commentators de...
Luc Lissoir is a partner in the firm's Montréal office, practising in securities and corporate and commercial law with particular emphasis on public and private securities offerings, project financing, private equity, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate counselling. After having served as managing partner for Lafleur Brown from 1995 to 2000 and for Gowlings from 2000 to 2007 and following a change in governance, Luc was an active member of the six person Board of Trustees of...
Renée Loiselle is the Montréal local co-chair of our business law group. Renée practises corporate and securities law, with particular emphasis on corporate finance (including both private placements and public financings) and public mergers and acquisitions. She also regularly advises a number of Canadian public companies on continuous disclosure obligations, corporate governance issues and other ongoing securities law questions. Renée serves as a member of the Qu...
Steve Malas practises in the area of corporate finance and securities, mergers and acquisitions, privatizations and corporate governance. He has extensive experience in M&A transactions, acting for both buyers and sellers in public and private transactions and advising boards of directors and special committees in such transactions. He also acts in Canadian and Canada/US cross-border offerings and private placements on behalf of issuers and underwriters. Mr. Malas frequently advises on di...
David Massé is a partner and Head of the Montréal office’s Securities Group. David has extensive experience focused primarily on corporate finance and securities, mergers and acquisitions, financial restructuring and corporate governance. He has been counsel to strategic purchasers, financial sponsors, private equity funds, pension funds and boards of directors in several complex domestic and cross-border transactions, including going private transactions and initial publi...
Amelie Metivier is a partner in the Corporate Group in Montréal. Her practice focuses on securities, capital markets and public mergers and acquisitions. With over 15 years of extensive corporate experience, Amelie has represented clients in high-profile transactions and is vastly regarded for her corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions expertise. She regularly acts for industry-leading listed companies, underwriters and investors in connection with public offerings, bought-deal...
Since January 1st, 2024, Marie-Josée Neveu has been the new Chair of the Partnership Board at Fasken. A member of the Board since 2021, Marie-Josée has been with the Firm for close to 30 years and a partner for 20. She has been recognized for her deep expertise in governance, and sits on a number of external boards such as Centraide of Greater Montreal and Tourisme Montréal. Marie-Josée Neveu specializes in corporate and securities law. Her practice is focused on p...
François-David Paré practises in all areas of corporate, commercial and civil litigation. He also acts in securities matters and shareholder disputes and was seconded to the legal department of a major Canadian investment dealer on two occasions. Mr. Paré has significant experience in successfully handling class action litigation, including consumer legislation related claims, pharmaceutical, product liability and civil liability. He is co-chair of our national class acti...
Aniko Pelland is a partner in the Corporate Group. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, corporate governance and securities law compliance matters. Aniko's experience includes advising Canadian and foreign clients in acquisitions, business combinations, reorganizations, general commercial negotiations, public and private offerings of equity and debt as well as governance matters. He has worked across a wide range of industries, acting for public and private com...
Constantinos Ragas has been a member of Fasken’s Corporate/Commercial group since 2010, after joining the firm in 2008 as a student. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, information technology, and start-ups. Costa advises clients on activities involved in the purchase and sale of shares and assets in Canada and internationally, including complex multi-jurisdictional cross-border transactions. In addition to his experience in mergers and acquisitions in the industrial...
Paul Raymond is experienced in corporate and securities law, financings and business acquisitions and sales. He has been involved in debt and equity financing of private and public corporations, governments and Crown corporations by way of private or public offerings in Canada and the United States, acting on behalf of issuers and underwriters. He has acted in various transactions for the purchase or sale of businesses as well as in mergers and reorganizations. Mr. Raymond has also been invol...
Sébastien Richemont has over 20 years of commercial litigation experience. In court, he is both formidable and passionate, and out of court he is a strategic counsellor in litigious matters and devoted partner to his colleagues and clients. As a frequent speaker and teacher, he also appreciates the academic aspects of the law. His areas of expertise include contractual disputes, class actions, manufacturer’s liability, professionals liability (lawyers, accountants, engineers), as...
Caitlin is co-leader of the Private Equity Group and practices business law with an emphasis on mergers & acquisitions and securities. Her practice focuses largely on private equity & venture capital investments, add-ons and divestitures, as well as cross-border M&A. She also regularly acts on behalf of public companies and underwriters, in going public transactions, securities offerings and general securities matters. Caitlin works closely with some of Québec’s large...
Scott Rozansky practices corporate and commercial law from Dentons Canada LLP’s Montreal office. Scott represents clients engaged in a broad range of commercial activity focusing on corporate financings and acquisitions, involving both public and private companies. Scott also works regularly with regulated dealers, advisers and investment fund managers on registration related matters. He also represents foreign clients establishing or acquiring a business in Canada or assisting with ins...
Solomon Sananes practises corporate finance and securities (including both private placements and public financings), mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. In corporate financing, he acts in numerous Canadian and Canadian/US cross-border offerings of debt, equity and derivative instruments on behalf of issuers, selling shareholders and underwriters. In mergers and acquisitions, he participates in a variety of significant transactions, acting for both buyers and sellers of public...
Elliot Shapiro's practice is transaction oriented, with a focus on corporate and securities law, public and private mergers and acquisitions (M&A), infrastructure and P3 financing as well as venture capital financing transactions. Mr. Shapiro also regularly advises public companies and their boards of directors on strategic, disclosure and governance matters. He has also worked on various licensing and related commercial arrangements. Mr. Shapiro has been integrally involved in numerous c...
David Tardif is a partner in the Corporate Group. His practice mainly focuses on corporate finance and securities. He represents issuers, investment banks and private equity sponsors in a large variety of capital markets transactions, including initial public offerings and other equity offerings, investment grade and high-yield debt, project finance and structured financial products. He also advises corporate clients and financial institutions on regulatory compliance and corporate governance...
Maxime Turcotte is a partner in the Corporate Group and a member of the firm’s Partnership Board. He has a diverse national and cross-border practice supporting our clients, their boards and special committees with complex and strategic transactions including private & public mergers and acquisitions, corporate & fund finance and project development. Maxime has been recognized as a leading lawyer in these areas by various industry directories such as the Lexpert/American Lawyer ...
Peter Wiazowski practises corporate finance and securities law, focusing on cross-border debt capital markets and banking. With extensive experience in liability management, he represents borrowers and lenders, and issuers and underwriters, in secured loans, debt offerings, debt tender offers and strategic refinancings, as well as debt finance solutions for M&A, asset portfolio optimization and project finance. Mr. Wiazowski is a seasoned liability management practitioner, representing bo...
James A. Woods , senior partner of the firm, practises in litigation and arbitration and pleads at all levels of federal and provincial courts in Ontario and Québec including the Supreme Court of Canada. Once again, named by Lexpert® 2017 as one of the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada – Montreal, Corporate and Commercial Litigation. Recognized by the Best Lawyers Directory since 2006 for his expertise in the fields of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Class Action Litigation, Corporat...
Claire Zikovsky is a partner in the Corporate Group, who practices corporate and commercial law, specializing in public and private Mergers & Acquisitions, and Restructuring & Insolvency. Claire's experience includes advising several Canadian and foreign clients in cross-border acquisitions, divestitures or reorganizations. She has worked with businesses in various industries, including the construction, travel, paper, power, retail, manufacturing and telecommunications sectors.
Michael Ball is an associate in the Corporate Group, specializing in public and private mergers and acquisitions, private equity and corporate finance, with a focus on cross-border transactions. Michael also advises clients on venture capital financings, strategic investment transactions and corporate governance matters. In 2020, Michael worked in Stikeman Elliott’s London office.
Samuel Francisque is a business lawyer with the Emerging Technologies team at the Montréal office. His practice focuses primarily on venture and private equity financing, mergers and acquisitions and high growth technology companies. As part of his practice, Samuel supports clients in their financing and mergers and acquisitions strategy and process, particularly through the technological ecosystem. A member of the Québec Bar since 2019, Samuel also holds a Bachelor of Laws from...
Alexandra Freedman is a member of the Corporate/Commercial group at the Montréal office. Her practice covers all aspects of business law and is mainly focused on mergers and acquisitions of public and private companies, as well as securities law. Alexandra advises companies and institutional investors on the organization of their business activities, as well as complex purchase, sale, merger, financing, and restructuring operations, both nationally and internationally. She also represe...
Julia Godolphin's practice covers all aspects of corporate and commercial law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions and securities matters. During her law studies, Ms. Godolphin participated in our secondment program, which gave her the opportunity to intern in the legal department of Aimia Inc. Before joining our Montréal office, she practised in tax and transfer pricing at a large accounting firm.
Rachel Lesmerises practises all aspects of commercial and corporate law, with an emphasis on public and private mergers and acquisitions, corporate and project financing, securities and financial services. She participates in drafting various commercial agreements. Ms. Lesmerises acts on behalf of various Canadian and foreign public and private companies in connection with a wide range of commercial operations, mergers and acquisitions and public and private financings.
Alexandra Persaud is an associate in our corporate, M&A and securities group, and is a member of our Canadian special situations team. Ms. Persaud's practice covers all aspects of corporate and commercial law, with a particular focus on corporate finance (including both private placements and public financings), merger and acquisition transactions (including carve-out transactions) and securities matters. Ms. Persaud also regularly advises a number of Canadian public companies on continuo...
Rachelle Powell Bergmann is a litigation lawyer based in our Montreal office. Her practice involves securities litigation, as well as all aspects of civil and commercial litigation, including contracts, civil liability, administrative law, insurance law, class actions, cyber security breaches, data protection and privacy. Ms. Powell Bergmann is fluent in English and French.
Anthony Sylvain is a lawyer in our Corporate/Commercial group at the Montréal office. His practice spans all areas of business law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions for both public and private companies and on securities law. He gives clients legal advice on various complex business issues. He has a Bachelor of Civil Law (LLB) with distinction and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Université de Sherbrooke. He also obtained a Master of Laws (LLM), taxation op...
Mylène Vallières is a member of the Business law group. Her practice is primarily focused on securities law and mining law. She also assists clients carrying out public and private financings, corporate reorganizations, as well as mergers and acquisitions. She also served as assistant to the chief negotiator for Québec in the negotiation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union. Ms. Vallières completed her bache...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.