Overview
Celia Rhea is a partner in a business law group at Goodmans. Her practice encompasses corporate advice, financing, leveraged buyouts, private equity, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and restructuring.
Celia works with companies, private equity funds and hedge funds in financing and corporate transactions, including in the restructuring context, to find creative solutions to unique challenges in collaboration with clients and other professionals.
Celia has been recognized by IFLR1000 as Canadian Lawyer of the Year for Banking and in their Women Leaders guide as one of the most prominent female lawyers working in Canada. Celia is also recognized as a leading lawyer by various legal publications including Lexpert, Chambers, IFLR1000, The Legal 500 Canada, The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Lexology Index and Best Lawyers in Canada in the areas of Banking and Finance Law, Corporate, M&A, Leveraged Buyouts, Private Equity and Restructuring, and featured in the Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A.
Featured Work
Celia's representative work includes acting for:
Financing
- Penfund Capital in its $100 million 2nd lien credit facility to Goodlife Fitness
- Carlyle Group in its $225 million credit facility to Empire Communities
- Brookfield Principal Credit in its US$650 million credit facility to Bumble Bee Foods
M&A
- Onex Corporation in its acquisition of WestJet Airlines Ltd. for CDN$5 billion
- Berkshire Partners LLC in connection with its investment in VetStrategy and Groupe Daubigny, Canada’s leading and largest operator of veterinary clinics
- Roots Canada in the sale of majority ownership to Searchlight Capital
Restructuring
- Counsel to the Ad Hoc Committee of Lenders of Cirque du Soleil in the successful global transaction valued at approximately US$1.215 billion
- Toys ‘R’ Us Canada in its $300 million sale to Fairfax Financial Holdings
- Noteholders of Frontera Energy (f/k/a Pacific Exploration & Development Corporation) in Frontera’s US$5.4 billion restructuring
Awards & Recognition
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Chambers Global Band 3, Banking and Finance 2025
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Chambers Canada Band 3, Banking & Finance 2025
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The Legal 500 Canada Recommended, Banking and Finance 2025
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory Recognized, Banking & Financial Institutions, Corporate Finance & Securities, Mergers & Acquisitions 2025
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Best Lawyers in Canada Recognized, Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law 2025
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Chambers Global Recognized, Banking and Finance 2024
Credentials
Professional Involvement
Celia served as a director of People for Education from 2011 to 2018.
Credentials
- McGill University, LL.B., 1984
- Western University, B.A., 1980
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
Call to Bar
- 1986 Ontario
News & Events
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Aging and Health Care
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2025 Once Again Recognizes Goodmans
We are proud to announce Goodmans LLP continues to be recognized in the 2025 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.Congratulations to the 96 Goodmans lawyers recognized as leaders across… -
Banking and Financial Services
Chambers and Partners Once Again Honours Goodmans with Global Recognition
We are proud to announce Goodmans LLP continues to receive top-tier recognition from Chambers and Partners in the Chambers Global 2025 Guide released today.Recognition from Chambers and Partners is… -
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…