He has tackled criminal prosecution, securities regulation for over 25 years
Former competition commissioner Matthew Boswell has become a partner in Norton Rose Fulbright’s antitrust and competition practice in Ottawa.
Boswell brings over 25 years of experience in private practice, criminal prosecution, securities regulation, and senior competition enforcement leadership. According to the firm, he joins the team as recent competition law amendments have enhanced enforcement mechanisms, broadened compliance requirements, and increased standards for companies operating throughout Canada.
"We’re at a pivotal moment for competition law in Canada. The legal framework has evolved, markets are changing quickly, and expectations around compliance are higher than ever. That creates challenges—but also opportunities—for businesses that want to get it right," Boswell said in a statement.
In his legal career, he has tackled complex competition and enforcement matters, concentrating on modernization, compliance, and regulatory decision-making. He served as competition commissioner from 2018 to 2025 and was the sole commissioner to be reappointed after his first five-year term.
Boswell ended his last run as competition commissioner, which was supposed to end in February, early and stepped down in December 2025. During his tenure at the Competition Bureau, he led reviews of complex and historic mergers and directed significant investigations into criminal cartels, deceptive marketing practices, and alleged abuse of dominance, according to LinkedIn.
He also supervised advocacy initiatives like frequent testimony before parliamentary committees and collaborated with global counterparts on global investigations and on developing competition policy and best practices. He was once senior litigation counsel for the Ontario Securities Commission and an assistant Crown attorney at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.
“As competition law continues to evolve, Matthew’s unique experience will enhance our ability to support businesses with clarity and assurance. This marks a significant step forward—turning regulatory shifts into opportunities for strategic growth,” said Jennifer Teskey, Norton Rose Fulbright’s Canada managing partner, in a statement.
