Business Law

Whether you are just starting up or are a business with national or international operations, we can help you structure, negotiate and execute any type of business transaction.

Our client base is diverse. We have a long history of advising some of Canada's most successful entrepreneurs in sectors such as traditional and renewable energy, technology, aviation, construction plus many more. We can give you initial advice when you're starting up or financing your new venture, through to guidance on reorganization, acquisition or sale of the business.

Who we work with

Lawyers in our group advise stakeholders of all types – boards and committees, management teams, sellers, buyers, investors, funds, lenders, governments and shareholders.

Areas of focus

Did you know?

Some of Canada's most well-known businesses, including West Jet and Tourmaline Oil Corp., started in our boardrooms.

Representative work

Obsidian Energy Ltd. acquisition in the Peace River Oil Partnership

Counsel to Obsidian Energy Ltd. in its $44 million acquisition of a 45% interest in the Peace River Oil Partnership from its partner (now 100% owned)

Marco Enterprises Inc.'s going private transaction

Counsel to the special committee of the board of directors of Macro Enterprises Inc. in a going private transaction for total consideration of $136 million, excluding debt.

Ag Growth International Inc.'s $104 million public offering

Counsel to Ag Growth International Inc. for its public offering of convertible unsecured subordinated debentures by short form prospectus for total gross proceeds of $104 million.

AltaGas Ltd.'s $700 million note offering

Counsel to AltaGas Ltd. in its $500 million offering of senior unsecured medium-term notes maturing on May 30, 2028, and $200 million offering of senior unsecured medium term notes maturing on November 30, 2030.

Ag Growth International Inc.'s $115 million public offering

Counsel to Ag Growth International Inc. in its $115 million public offering of 1,874,500 common shares.

Blackline Safety Corp.'s bought deal financing

Counsel to Blackline Safety Corp. in its bought deal financing of 5,480,000 common shares for gross proceeds of approximately $40 million.

Tidewater Renewables $150 million public offering

Counsel to a syndicate of underwriters led by CIBC in Tidewater Renewables Ltd.'s initial public offering of 10,000,000 common shares for gross proceeds of $150 million.

Kicking Horse Oil & Gas Ltd.'s $300 million acquisition by Whitecap Resources Inc

Counsel to Kicking Horse Oil & Gas Ltd., a portfolio company of Quantum Energy Partners, in its $300 million acquisition by Whitecap Resources Inc.

Alaris Equity Partners Income Trust $95 million financing

Counsel to Alaris Equity Partners Income Trust in a bought deal financing of 5,909,375 trust units for gross proceeds of $94,550,000.

AltaGas Ltd.'s $715 million acquisition

Counsel to AltaGas Ltd. in its acquisition of an additional 37 percent equity interest in Petrogas Energy Corp. for approximately $715 million.

Headwater Exploration Inc.'s acquisition of Cenovus Energy Inc.'s Marten Hills assets

Counsel to Headwater Exploration Inc. in the $100 million acquisition of Cenovus Energy Inc.'s Marten Hills upstream assets. The transaction comprised $35 million in cash, $50 million common shares of Headwater Exploration Inc. and $15 million purchase warrants.

FYi Eye Care Services and Products Inc.'s strategic investment

Counsel to FYi Eye Care Services and Products Inc., the world's largest optometrist-controlled eye care company, in connection with the strategic minority equity investment in FYi made by L Catterton Management Limited, the largest and most global consumer-focused private equity firm, for an undisclosed amount.

Headwater Exploration Inc.'s recapitalization of Corridor Resources Inc.

Counsel to Headwater Exploration Inc. management team in the $50 million recapitalization and reconstitution of management of Corridor Resources Inc.

Bonavista Energy Corporation's strategic asset acquisition for $53.3 million

Counsel to Bonavista Energy Corporation in the acquisition of certain oil and natural gas assets located in West Central Alberta for $53.3 million.

Clarke Inc.'s acquisition of Holloway Lodging Corporation

Counsel to Clarke Inc. and the special committee of Clarke's board of directors in Clarke's acquisition of the 49% of Holloway Lodging Corporation that it did not already own. The acquisition was completed by plan of arrangement.

Alaris Royalty Corp. $100 million financing

Counsel to Alaris Royalty Corp. on its $100,000,000 financing of 5.5% senior unsecured subordinated debentures.

Crown Point Energy Inc.'s rights offerings and acquisition of Apco Austral S.A.

Counsel to Crown Point Energy Inc. regarding its US$16 million circular and short form prospectus rights offerings. Following the offering, BD&P acted as Canadian counsel to Crown Point in its US$39 million acquisition of Apco Austral S.A. from an affiliate of Pluspetrol S.A. using the proceeds from the rights offerings.

$2.8 billion acquisition of Raging River Exploration Inc.

Counsel to Raging River Exploration Inc., a Canadian oil producer, in the $2.8 billion strategic acquisition.

Artis Exploration Ltd. $180 million private equity financing

Counsel to Artis Exploration Ltd. in the $180 million private equity financing with Warburg Pincus LLC.

$232 million acquisition of Canadian Helicopters Limited

Counsel to Don Wall and CHL Heli-Acquisition Company Ltd. in the $232 million acquisition of HNZ Group Inc. (Canadian Helicopters Limited).

Peloton Computer Enterprises Ltd.'s strategic investment

Counsel to Peloton Computer Enterprises Ltd. in a strategic investment by Silver Lake, TriWest Capital Partners and HarbourVest Partners.

Canyon Services Group Inc.'s acquisition by Trican Well Service Ltd.

Counsel to Canyon Services Group in the $637 million acquisition by Trican.

Leucrotta Exploration Inc.'s $80 million public offering

Counsel to the underwriters in Leucrotta Exploration Inc.'s $80 million public offering of 33,333,400 common shares.

Paramount Resources Ltd.'s merger with Trilogy Energy Corp.

Independent counsel to the special committee of independent directors of Paramount in its $2.8 billion merger and related party transaction with Trilogy completed by plan of arrangement.

Inter Pipeline Ltd.'s $500 million note offering

Counsel to Inter Pipeline Ltd. in a public offering of $500 million senior unsecured medium-term notes.

FirstEnergy Capital Corp.'s acquisition by GMP Capital Inc.

Counsel to FirstEnergy Capital Corp. in its $99 million acquisition by GMP Capital Inc..

Inter Pipeline Ltd.'s $600 million public offering

Counsel to Inter Pipeline Ltd. in a $600 million public offering of 22,430,000 subscription receipts.

$1 billion financing for Canadian Natural Resources Limited

Counsel to the underwriters in Canadian Natural Resources Limited's $1 billion offering of 3.31% medium term notes.

Axia NetMedia Corporation's $272 million acquisition

Counsel to Axia NetMedia Corporation in the $272 million acquisition by Partners Group in a going private transaction completed by plan of arrangement.

Yoho Resources Inc. going private transaction

Counsel to Yoho Resources Inc. in the $30.5 million going private transaction led by One Stone Energy Partners LP.

Raging River Exploration Inc.'s $108 million public offering

Counsel to Raging River Exploration Inc. in a public offering of 12,500,000 common shares, inclusive of an over-allotment of 1,500,000 common shares, for approximate total proceeds of $108 million.

MainSail Energy Ltd.'s $250 million private equity financing

Counsel to MainSail Energy Ltd. in the $250 million private equity financing with Warburg Pincus.

The Scoular Company asset acquisition from Legumex Walker Inc.

Counsel to The Scoular Company in connection with the $94 million acquisition of the assets of the Special Crops Division of Legumex Walker Inc.

Bellatrix Exploration Ltd. US$250 million note offering

Counsel to Bellatrix Exploration Ltd. in a US$250 million public offering of senior unsecured notes.

Freehold Royalties Ltd.'s $373 million public offering

Counsel to Freehold Royalties Ltd.in its $373 million public offering of 20,700,000 common shares and the $33 million private placement of 1,833,334 common shares.

Penn West Energy Trust's $10.5 billion conversion to Corporation

Counsel to Penn West Energy Trust with respect to its $10.5 billion conversion to a Corporation, Penn West Petroleum Ltd. completed by statutory plan of arrangement.

Multiple acquisitions by Command Fishing and Pipe Recovery Ltd.

Counsel to Command Fishing and Pipe Recovery Ltd. in the acquisition of three private wireline and fishing companies.

Sale of Pacer Construction Holdings Corporation

Counsel to Pacer Construction Holdings Corporation and its affiliated operating companies, a leading contractor in Western Canada, in connection with its US$213 million sale to MasTec, Inc.

Parex Resources Inc.'s acquisition of Verano Energy Limited

Counsel to Parex Resources Inc. in the $198 million acquisition of Verano Energy Limited.

PrairieSky Royalty Ltd.'s $1.67 billion IPO

Counsel to the underwriters in the initial public offering of PrairieSky Royalty Ltd. of common shares for a total of $1.67 billion conducted by way of secondary offering by Encana Corporation.

Baytex Energy Corp.'s $1.5 billion financing

Counsel to Baytex Energy Corp. in its $1.5 billion public offering of 38,433,000 subscription receipts.

Inter Pipeline Fund conversion to Inter Pipeline Ltd.

Counsel to Inter Pipeline Fund in its conversion to Inter Pipeline Ltd., a dividend paying corporation.

CNOOC Ltd.'s $15 billion acquisition of Nexen Inc.

Counsel to the board of directors of Nexen Inc. in Nexen's $15 billion acquisition by CNOOC Ltd.

Calgary Flames acquisition of the Calgary Stampeders

Counsel to the Calgary Flames in the acquisition of a majority interest in the CFL's Calgary Stampeders.

Athabasca Oil Corporation's $1.35 billion initial public offering

Counsel to Athabasca Oil Corporation in its $1.35 billion initial public offering of common shares.

Decisive Farming Corp.'s private placement of notes

Counsel to Decisive Farming Corp. regarding the private placement of 10.00% unsecured convertible redeemable notes

Parex Resources Inc.'s $302 million public offering of subscription receipts

Counsel to Parex Resources Inc. in the $302 million public offering of 31,000,000 subscription receipts.

Reorganizing VolkerWessels Canada Ltd.'s Canadian operations

Counsel to VolkerWessels Canada Ltd. in connection with a reorganization of its Canadian operations.

Strad Inc.'s Going Private Transaction

Counsel to Strad Inc. in its management led going private transaction.

Multiple Public Offerings and Private Placement Financings by PHX Energy Services Corp.

Counsel to PHX Energy Services Corp. in respect of multiple public offerings and private placements of Common Shares.

Crew Energy Inc.'s Senior Debt Offerings

Counsel to Crew Energy Inc. in multiple bond offerings including its most recent private offering of $300 million in senior unsecured notes.

CCAA proceedings concerning the disposition of a partially completed power project

Counsel to a bank in connection with the CCAA proceedings concerning Earth First Canada Inc. and the related asset disposition of a partially completed 144 MW wind-power project.

Acquisition of Kenn Borek Air Ltd.

Counsel to Don Wall and 11412175 Canada Ltd. on the acquisition of Kenn Borek Air Ltd.

Commercial agreements for Annex Ale Project

Counsel to Annex Ale Project with respect to advising on various corporate matters and commercial agreements.

Leasing aircraft for multiple international leasing companies

Special aviation counsel to various North American and International aviation leasing companies regarding leasing foreign owned aircraft to Canadian operators.

Avista Capital Partners acquisition of Top-Co LP

Counsel to Top-Co LP, a leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of float equipment and accessories servicing the global energy industry, in connection with its sale to Avista Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm.

Avmax Group Inc.'s corporate reorganization

Counsel to Avmax Group Inc., an aviation services and consulting company, on its corporate reorganization and investment by a confidential third party.

Bistow Group Inc.'s acquisition of Cougar Helicopters Inc.

Aviation counsel to Bistow Group Inc., a leading provider of helicopter services to the worldwide offshore energy industry, in the acquisition of an interest in Cougar Helicopters Inc. for approximately US$250 million.

Bonavista Energy Corporation's $345 million financing

Counsel to Bonavista Energy Corporation in the $345 million public offering of 20,930,000 common shares.

Canada Diagnostic Centres acquisition of an Alberta diagnostic imaging business

Counsel to Canada Diagnostic Centres, an Alberta based radiological imaging provider, in connection with its acquisition of the Alberta diagnostic imaging business of CML HealthCare Inc..

Raging River Exploration Inc.'s acquisition of Rock Energy Inc.

Counsel to Raging River Exploration Inc. in the $109 million acquisition of Rock Energy Inc. pursuant to a plan of arrangement.

Citadel Group of Funds contested unitholder meetings

Counsel to the independent director and the chairman in his administration of a series of contested unitholder meetings organized by the Citadel Fund Administrator.