Overview
Chris is a partner in a business law group at Goodmans. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and complex reorganizations, representing public and private buyers, sellers and issuers, as well as boards of directors and special committees. Chris has extensive experience in cross-border transactions involving private equity buyers and sellers.
Chris also advises bidders, targets and investors involved in hostile take-over bids, proxy contests, appraisal remedies and other contested situations. He is frequently asked to assist public companies with their corporate governance and disclosure obligations.
Chris is recognized as a leading lawyer by Chambers Canada, IFLR1000, The Legal 500 Canada, Best Lawyers in Canada, The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory , the Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A, and Lexpert Special Edition: Mining. In 2019, he was honoured as one of Lexpert’s Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40.
Featured Work
Chris’ recent transactional experience includes representing:
- Rogers Communications Inc. in connection with its $26 billion acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc., combining Canada’s two largest cable providers
- Blackstone Real Estate Investment Trust in its acquisition of WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust in a transaction valued at US$3.1 billion.
- The Special Committee of Sagen (formerly Genworth) MI Canada in connection with the acquisition of Sagen by a consortium led by Brookfield Business Partners
- Incline Equity Partners and its portfolio company, Profile Products, in connection with their acquisition of Sunterra Horticulture, a Canadian producer of professional grade sphagnum peat moss
- Wind Point Partners and its portfolio company, Voyant Beauty, in connection with their acquisition of the KIK Personal Care business from KIK Custom Products, a leading North American manufacturing partner and formulator for personal care, prestige beauty, over-the-counter and household products
- The Special Committee of Fairfax Africa Corporation in connection with its strategic transaction with Helios Holdings Limited to create a leading pan-African focused investment company
- Onex Corporation in its acquisition of WestJet Airlines Ltd. for CDN$5 billion
- Newmont Mining Corporation in its successful acquisition of Goldcorp Inc. for US$10 billion
- Newmont Mining Corporation in its successful creation of the world’s largest gold joint venture in Nevada with Barrick Gold Corporation
- The Special Committee of AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. in its $1.1 billion going-private transaction by a group of investors led by certain members of its management and including Fairfax Financial Holdings and Point North Capital
- Newmont Mining Corporation in connection with its acquisition from NovaGold Resources of a 50% interest in the Galore Creek Project joint venture with Teck Resources
- Pure Industrial REIT in connection with the acquisition of the REIT by Blackstone Property Partners
- InterOil Corporation in connection with its sale to Exxon Mobil Corporation
Awards & Recognition
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Chambers Canada Recognized, Corporate/Commercial Ontario 2025
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Chambers Canada Recognized, Corporate/Commercial Ontario 2024
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The Legal 500 Canada Recommended, Corporate and M&A 2024
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IFLR1000 Canada Highly Regarded, M&A 2024
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Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A Canada's Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers 2024
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory Recognized, Corporate Commercial Law, Corporate Finance & Securities, Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions 2024
Credentials
Professional Involvement
Chris is a member of the Securities Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). He is a regular guest lecturer at the University of Toronto, where he teaches on various corporate, securities and commercial law topics and is a frequent writer and speaker on a variety of corporate and securities law issues.
Credentials
- Canadian Securities Course, 2012, with Honours
- University of Windsor, LL.B., 2006, Gold Medalist
- Western University, B.A., 2003, with Honours
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
Call to Bar
- 2007 Ontario
Insights
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Capital Markets
New Guidance for Evaluating Poison Pills in Ontario
Eight years after the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) adopted fundamental amendments to Canada’s take-over bid regime in May 2016, regulators and other market participants continue to grapple… -
Capital Markets
Canadian Securities Regulators Moving Forward With Access Model for Delivery of Continuous Disclosure Documents
On November 19, 2024, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) announced they are moving forward with the previously announced access model (the “Access Model”) for non-investment fund reporting… -
Mergers and Acquisitions
Changes to Corporate Transparency Rules for CBCA Corporations on the Horizon
The federal government is amending the requirements of the Canada Business Corporations Act (“CBCA”) relating to the beneficial ownership registry most private federal corporations are required to… -
Capital Markets
Ontario Securities Commission Clarifies Ground Rules for Confidential Disclosure of Material Non-Public Information
In the recent decision of Kraft (Re), the Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) provided new guidance about when insiders and others can confidentially disclose material non-public… -
Capital Markets
CSA Provides Guidance on Listed Issuer Financing Prospectus Exemption
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) has provided new guidance on the use of the listed issuer financing prospectus exemption (the “Exemption”) in CSA Staff Notice 45-330 – Frequently Asked… -
Capital Markets
New CSA Exemption Clarifies Proxy Requirements for Uncontested Director Elections of CBCA Public Companies
On January 31, 2023, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) published an exemption (the “Exemption”) that exempts public companies incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA…
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… -
Mergers and Acquisitions
Chambers and Partners Once Again Honours Goodmans with Top-Tier Recognition
We are delighted to announce Goodmans LLP continues to receive top-tier recognition from Chambers and Partners in the Chambers Canada 2025 Guide.Recognition from Chambers and Partners is based on… -
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…