Osler, Blakes and Torys received awards
International Financial Law Review has honoured Canadian firms in its 2020 Americas Awards.
The awards aim to distinguish noteworthy cross-border transactions closed in 2019, as well as the participating firms.
IFLR named Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP the national firm of the year for Canada, as well as the national corporate firm of the year for Canada. IFLR listed numerous notable deals or private equity transactions where Osler was involved, including the Sundial Growers initial public offering, in which the firm acted for the underwriters; the acquisition of Entertainment One (eOne) by Hasbro, in which it represented eOne; the acquisition of Dream Global Real Estate Investment Trust (Dream Global REIT) by Blackstone, in which it advised Dream Global REIT; and the acquisition of Goldcorp by Newmont Mining Corporation, in which it acted on behalf of Goldcorp’s board of directors.
Among the category winners, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP received the award for being Canada’s national banking and finance firm of the year. The firm’s notable transactions included the rescue financing for McDermott International, in which the firm acted as Canadian counsel to the lenders, and the syndicated financing to Parkland Fuel, in which it acted as lead counsel to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, an administrative agent. The latter transaction helped in the financing of Parkland Fuel’s acquisition of Chevron Canada.
Lastly, IFLR recognized Torys LLP as Canada’s national capital markets firm of the year. The firm participated in prominent transactions concerning both the equity and debt spaces, such as the acquisition of Johnson Controls Power Solutions Business by Brookfield, in which it represented Brookfield, one of its regular clients. The firm was also involved in the Sundial Growers initial public offering, where it acted as local counsel to Sundial Growers in relation to the structuring and regulatory areas of its U.S. IPO.
Other “seven sisters” firms also played roles in some of the top deals on the list, including McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP. The internal judges for the awards included editors and journalists at IFLR.
