Davies is a leading law firm in the global mining sector. We act for both Canadian and offshore companies in connection with projects and operations located around the world. The Mining practice at Davies brings together corporate, securities, tax, environmental and other experts with extensive experience in the issues facing mining companies today. Our experience in this sector allows us to understand our clients' needs and help them to negotiate business arrangements, execute transactions and find practical solutions to legal and regulatory issues.

We have been involved in some of the most complex mergers and acquisitions transactions that have shaped the mining industry worldwide, such as BHP Billiton's proposed US$147 billion acquisition of Rio Tinto, Xstrata's $24.1 billion acquisition of Falconbridge and Barrick Gold's US$10.4 billion acquisition of Placer Dome. In addition, we have worked with many smaller mining companies on a wide variety of transactions to help them advance their exploration and development plans through joint ventures, private placements, public offerings, project financings, commodity stream arrangements and numerous other transactions. Our breadth of experience and range of expertise enables us to provide advice on every step in the acquisition, growth and financing of mining companies and the exploration, development, financing and operation of mining properties.

Our Clients

We represent senior, mid-tier and junior companies engaged in all aspects of the mining industry. Our clients include many of the largest Canadian and international mining companies. In addition, we regularly act for junior and mid-size producers and for exploration and development companies. On the finance side, we also act for investment banks, lenders and other parties that support mining companies in raising capital.

We assist clients in a wide range of areas including:

• Mergers and acquisitions, including takeover preparation and defence;
• Securities offerings, private placements, strategic investments and project finance;
• Stock exchange listings and reverse takeovers;
• Property purchases and dispositions;
• Joint ventures, strategic alliances, earn-ins, royalties and property options;
• General securities law matters, such as governance, disclosure and compliance;
• Legal risk assessment, dispute resolution and litigation;
• Fiscal stability agreements and other means of mitigating political risk;
• Tax structuring and property, mining, commodity and income tax;
• Environmental and aboriginal matters.

Our clients rely on us to organize and coordinate teams of legal, financial, accounting and technical experts from around the world to successfully complete their transactions. In addition to Canadian mining projects, we regularly assist our clients with investments and projects in the United States and in countries as diverse as Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Tanzania, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Finland, Russia, Mongolia and Indonesia. Our international tax experts coordinate the development of tax-effective investment and transaction structures, which frequently involves the linking of tax treaties through various countries around the world in order to achieve tax efficiencies and enhance returns.

Recognition

The firm's success in producing outstanding results for our clients has led to Davies being consistently recognized by independent rating agencies around the world as a market leader in each of our core practice areas. The 2013 edition of Chambers Global recognizes Davies as a leading firm in the mining sector. Members of our Mining group are consistently ranked as practice area leaders by IFLR 1000, Expert Guides' The Best of the Best, The Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada and the ^PLCWhich Lawyer? Yearbook.