Overview
Andrew Harmes is a partner in the Restructuring Group at Goodmans, which is consistently and widely recognized as Canada’s best and leading corporate restructuring practice.
Andrew practices in the areas of corporate and commercial law, with an emphasis on corporate restructurings and related transactions. His experience includes recapitalizations, acquisitions, commercial financing transactions, receivership proceedings, and corporate and insolvency restructurings.
Andrew has represented debtors, secured and unsecured lenders and bondholders, court-appointed officers, plan sponsors, purchasers and other key stakeholders advising in a range of complex restructurings, financings, acquisitions and related transactions.
Andrew is recognized as a “Next Generation Partner” by The Legal 500 Canada and as a “Rising Star” by IFLR1000 and Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides. Andrew is also recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada for Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law.
Featured Work
Andrew’s representative work includes:
- Endo Pharmaceuticals – representing Endo and its Canadian affiliates in connection with the company’s cross-border restructuring proceedings to address its US$8.15 billion in debt obligations
- MJardin Group – representing the Monitor in MJardin’s ongoing CCAA proceedings
- Harte Gold – representing the Monitor of Harte Gold in its CCAA proceedings, which included the sale of the company in a reverse vesting transaction valued at $200 million
- Forever 21 – representing the Monitor in Forever 21’s CCAA proceedings
- Bellatrix Exploration – representing Bellatrix in its CCAA proceedings, which included the sale of the company’s oil and gas business to Spartan Delta
- Sherritt International – representing Sherritt in connection with its debt restructuring pursuant to the CBCA
- Goodlife Fitness – representing the existing second-lien lender in connection with Goodlife Fitness’ $310 million loan from Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corp. under the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility program
- Tailored Brands – representing the ad hoc term lenders of Tailored Brands in connection with the group’s US$1.4 billion refinancing and restructuring under Chapter 11 and CCAA proceedings
- Stoneway Capital Corporation – representing the Plan Sponsors (private equity firms as mezzanine lenders) of Stoneway’s $1 billion restructuring pursuant to the CBCA
- Bondfield Construction – Representing the agent under Bondfield’s senior-secured credit facility in connection with Bondfield’s CCAA proceeding, including a related DIP litigation financing loan
- Skillsoft Corporation – representing Skillsoft’s first lien lenders in connection with the company’ US$2.1 billion Chapter 11 plan of reorganization and related CCAA recognition proceedings
- Metro 360 – counsel to Metro 360 in its restructuring under the CCAA
- DEL Equipment – counsel to DEL Equipment, Canada’s leading truck equipment up-fitter, in its CCAA proceedings, including the successful sale of its business to Drive Products
- Jupiter Resources – representing the private equity plan sponsor of Jupiter Resources’ $1 billion restructuring pursuant to the CBCA
- Zenabis Global – counsel to a private equity group in connection with the notes offering of Zenabis Global (formerly Sun Pharm)
- Carillion Canada – counsel to the purchaser in connection with its acquisition of Carillion Canada’s services business
- RGL Reservoir Management – representing RGL in connection with its $400 million restructuring pursuant to the CBCA
Awards & Recognition
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The Legal 500 Canada Next Generation Partner, Restructuring and Insolvency 2025
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Best Lawyers in Canada Ones to Watch, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring Law 2025
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The Legal 500 Canada Rising Star, Restructuring and Insolvency 2024
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IFLR1000 Canada Rising Star, Restructuring and Insolvency 2024
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Best Lawyers in Canada Ones to Watch, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring Law 2024
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IFLR1000 Canada Rising Star, Restructuring and Insolvency 2023
Credentials
Professional Involvement
Andrew is the co-author of the Canada chapters of the 2022 edition of “ICLG – Restructuring & Insolvency Laws & Regulations” and the 2nd Edition of INSOL International’s book “Treatment of Secured Claims in Insolvency and Pre-Insolvency Proceedings II”, and papers presented at the 2022, 2018 and 2016 Six-Minute Debtor-Creditor and Insolvency Lawyer seminars. Andrew also was a moderator at the Ontario Bar Association’s Murray Klein Award panel “From the Brink – Asset Backed Commercial Paper and 3rd Party Releases.” Andrew is a past winner of the Insolvency Institute of Canada Law Student Writing Award.
Andrew is a member of the social media committee of the Turnaround Management Association (Toronto chapter) and a past member of the executive committee of the Big Brother’s Big Sisters of Toronto Young Leaders organization.
Credentials
- Osgoode Hall Law School, J.D.
- Dalhousie University, B.A.
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canada Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- Turnaround Management Association
Call to Bar
- Ontario
Insights
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Restructuring
International Comparative Legal Guide - Restructuring & Insolvency 2024, Canada Chapter
Joseph Pasquariello and Andrew Harmes co-authored the Canada Chapter of International Comparative Legal Guide - Restructuring & Insolvency 2024. The Canada chapter covers common issues in… -
Restructuring
ICLG - Restructuring & Insolvency Laws & Regulations Canada 2023-2024
Joseph Pasquariello and Andrew Harmes co-authored the Restructuring & Insolvency Laws & Regulations Canada 2023-2024.This chapter covers common issues in restructuring and… -
Restructuring
International Comparative Legal Guide - Restructuring & Insolvency 2023, Canada Chapter
Joseph Pasquariello and Andrew Harmes co-authored the Canada Chapter of International Comparative Legal Guide - Restructuring & Insolvency 2023. The Canada chapter covers common issues in… -
Restructuring
ICLG - Restructuring & Insolvency Laws & Regulations - Canada Chapter
Joseph Pasquariello and Andrew Harmes co-authored the Canada Chapter of ICLG - Restructuring & Insolvency Laws & Regulations - 16th Edition.The chapter covers common issues… -
Restructuring
2nd Edition INSOL International Book; Treatment of Secured Claims in Insolvency and Pre-Insolvency Proceedings II - Canada Chapter
Brian Empey and Andrew Harmes authored the Canada Chapter of the 2nd Edition INSOL International Book; Treatment of Secured Claims in Insolvency and Pre-Insolvency Proceedings II. This book covers a…
News & Events
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Banking and Financial Services
IFLR1000 2024 Recognizes Goodmans Lawyers and Practices
We are proud to announce Goodmans continues to be recognized by IFLR1000 in its annual guide.Recognition in IFLR1000 is based on a combination of in-depth qualitative research and direct client… -
Banking and Financial Services
Goodmans Once Again Receives Top-Tier Recognition from The Legal 500 Canada
We are pleased to announce Goodmans LLP has once again received top-tier recognition from The Legal 500 Canada in their 2025 Guide released today.Recognition from The Legal 500 is based on independent… -
100+ Goodmans lawyers recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada: 2025 Edition
We are delighted to share Goodmans has once again been recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada with 105 lawyers featured across 43 practice areas.Congratulations to Andrew Brodkin…