Anita Banicevic

Partner

Anita Banicevic

Anita Banicevic

Partner

“She is an excellent lawyer; she is very smart and personable.”
Market Commentator – Chambers Canada

Anita provides creative solutions on all aspects of competition law and foreign investment review, with a particular focus on mergers, abuse of dominance, misleading advertising and criminal price-fixing investigations. Anita is frequently sought out to advise on some of the most closely watched and leading competition cases in Canada.

With extensive expertise in multinational mergers, Anita has secured Competition Act and Investment Canada Act clearance for numerous high-profile transactions of Canadian and international businesses in various industries. She regularly assists clients with contested proceedings before the courts and the Competition Tribunal, as well as negotiated resolutions and consent agreements.

Anita has held leadership positions within the Canadian Bar Association and American Bar Association. She served as Chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Competition Law Section from September 2017 to 2018.

Anita Banicevic

Partner

“She is an excellent lawyer; she is very smart and personable.”
Market Commentator – Chambers Canada

Anita provides creative solutions on all aspects of competition law and foreign investment review, with a particular focus on mergers, abuse of dominance, misleading advertising and criminal price-fixing investigations. Anita is frequently sought out to advise on some of the most closely watched and leading competition cases in Canada.

With extensive expertise in multinational mergers, Anita has secured Competition Act and Investment Canada Act clearance for numerous high-profile transactions of Canadian and international businesses in various industries. She regularly assists clients with contested proceedings before the courts and the Competition Tribunal, as well as negotiated resolutions and consent agreements.

Anita has held leadership positions within the Canadian Bar Association and American Bar Association. She served as Chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Competition Law Section from September 2017 to 2018.

Hellman & Friedman

Acting as Canadian counsel to Hellman & Friedman-backed AutoScout24, a European online automotive marketplace, in its acquisition of TRADER Corporation, a Canadian online marketplace also offering dealership and OEM software and lender services for the automotive sector, from Thoma Bravo.

Ali Holding S.r.l.

Acted as Canadian regulatory counsel to Ali Holding S.r.l. in its US$3.5-billion merger with Welbilt, Inc.

Knighthead Capital Management LLC and Certares Opportunities LLC

Acted as Canadian regulatory counsel to Knighthead Capital Management LLC and Certares Opportunities LLC in their successful US$6-billion bid with Apollo Capital Management, LP to acquire Hertz Corp.

SESAC

Acted as Canadian counsel to SESAC, a portfolio company of Blackstone, in its US$385-million acquisition of Entertainment One Music (eOne) from Hasbro, Inc.

Northleaf Capital Partners

Acted for Northleaf Capital Partners in its strategic sale of a non-controlling interest to Mackenzie Financial Corporation, a subsidiary of IGM Financial Inc., and Great-West Lifeco Inc.

Plenary Group

Acted for Plenary Group, a leading investor, developer and operator of public infrastructure in North America, in its sale to Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.

The Blackstone Group Inc.

Acted for real estate funds managed by The Blackstone Group Inc. and their affiliates in Blackstone's $6.2-billion all-cash acquisition of Dream Global Real Estate Investment Trust and the separation of its external asset manager, Dream Asset Management.

Blackstone Property Partners

Acted for an affiliate of Blackstone Property Partners in its joint venture with Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., to acquire the 1.45 million-square-foot Bentall Centre office and retail complex in Vancouver.

Enercare Inc.

Acted for Enercare Inc., one of North America's largest home and commercial services and energy solutions companies, in its $4.3-billion sale to Brookfield Infrastructure and its institutional partners by way of plan of arrangement.

Rogers Sugar Inc.

Acted for Rogers Sugar Inc. in connection with the acquisition of L.B. Maple Treat Corporation, one of the world's largest branded and private label maple syrup bottling and distribution companies, for $160.3 million.

DAK Americas LLC

Acted for DAK Americas LLC, a producer of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resins, in connection with its acquisition of a controlling interest in Selenis Canada from IMG Group. Selenis Canada operates a PET plant in Montréal.

Stericyle Inc.

Acted as Canadian counsel for Stericycle, Inc. in its acquisition of Shred-it International, a global secure information destruction services provider, for US$2.3 billion in cash.

Bentall Kennedy (Canada) Limited Partner

Acted for the Bentall Kennedy Group, a premier real estate investment management firm operating in Canada and the United States, in its acquisition by Sun Life Financial Inc. for a purchase price of $560 million.

Rogers Communications Inc.

Acted for Rogers Communications Inc. in connection with its successful defence in closely watched misleading advertising proceedings in the Ontario Superior Court brought by the Commissioner of Competition. The case concerned comparative performance-based advertising used by Rogers in connection with its launch in 2010 of Rogers' Chatr brand. This case gave rise to a lengthy trial fought over many weeks, and involved complex expert evidence concerning the testing and operation of wireless networks as well as constitutional challenges to the misleading advertising provisions of the Competition Act.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

Acted for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. on Canadian regulatory matters in connection with the $2.6 billion acquisition of Dollar Thrifty by Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. to form one of North America's largest car rental agencies. Davies also acted for Dollar Thrifty on regulatory matters arising from a rival bid for Dollar Thrifty by the Avis Budget Group Inc.

Maple Group Acquisition Corporation

Acted for Maple Group Acquisition Corporation (renamed TMX Group Limited), an entity whose shareholders consisted of five of Canada's largest pension funds, four Canadian bank-owned investment dealers, a leading independent broker dealer, Canada's largest financial co-operative group and a leading Canadian-based financial services group, in connection with its $3.8-billion acquisition of each of TMX Group Inc., The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited, Alpha Trading Systems Inc. and Alpha Trading Systems Limited Partnership, resulting in the creation of a new integrated clearing and exchange group. This deal was awarded Deal of the Year in 2012 by Lexpert magazine.

Schlumberger Limited

Acted for Schlumberger Limited in connection with its $240-million acquisition of CE Franklin Ltd. by National Oilwell Varco by way of plan of arrangement. Schlumberger was the 56% controlling shareholder of CE Franklin, a supplier to the Canadian energy industry.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

Acted for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. on Canadian Competition Act matters in connection with the acquisition of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. by Avis Budget Group Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion.

Eurocopter Holding SAS

Acted for Eurocopter Holding SAS, a subsidiary of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V., in connection with its acquisition of Vector Aerospace Corporation in a transaction valued at $635 million by way of a takeover bid.

Ivanhoé Cambridge Inc.

Acted for Ivanhoé Cambridge Inc. in the sale of its five Canadian shopping centres to Primaris Retail REIT for an aggregate price of approximately $572 million.

Audley Capital

Acted for Audley Capital, the principal shareholder of Western Coal Corp., in the acquisition of Western Coal by Walter Energy Inc. Walter Energy acquired Western Coal through the initial purchase of part of Audley Capital's block and subsequent acquisition of the remaining outstanding common shares by way of plan of arrangement, with a total value of $3.3 billion.

Ventana Gold Corp.

Acted for Ventana Gold Corp. in connection with the unsolicited $1.5-billion takeover bid by an affiliate of Eike Batista for all of the outstanding Ventana shares, which ultimately resulted in a supported transaction at a higher price.

The Cadillac Fairview Corporation

Acted for The Cadillac Fairview Corporation in the sale of Erin Mills Town Centre, Erin Mills Town Plaza and surrounding development lands to Ontario Pension Board for $370 million.

Wal-Mart Canada Realty Inc. and SmartCentres Realty Inc.

Acted for Wal-Mart Canada Realty Inc. and SmartCentres Realty Inc. in connection with the sale of a shopping centre in Ontario and a shopping centre in Québec to RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust for approximately $100.7 million.

Amcor Limited

Acted for Amcor Limited in its acquisition of Alcan Packaging operations from Rio Tinto plc in 31 countries for approximately US$2 billion. The acquisition enhances Amcor's position as one of the world's leading packaging companies.

Mill Road Capital, L.P.

Acted for U.S.-based private equity firm Mill Road Capital, L.P. in its successful "white knight" bid for Cossette Inc. for approximately $134 million.

Barzel Industries Canada Inc.

Acted for Barzel Industries Canada Inc. (formerly Novamerican Steel) in its cross-border restructuring proceedings involving independent proceedings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act run in parallel concert with U.S. Chapter 11 proceedings for the U.S. parent company and U.S. subsidiaries and implementing a cross-border "stalking horse" sale agreement, cross-border bidding and auction process and closing of such sale within 65 days of the initial filing.

IPC US Real Estate Investment Trust

Acted for IPC US Real Estate Investment Trust in its strategic process and ultimate sale of its assets to Everclear Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Behringer Harvard REIT I, in a US$1.4-billion all-cash transaction.

Barzel Industries Inc.

Acted for Barzel Industries Inc. (formerly Symmetry Holdings Inc.) in its acquisition of Novamerican Steel Inc. for a purchase price of US$585 million.

Cadim Inc.

Acted for Cadim Inc. (a division of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec) in connection with its partnership arrangements with Westmont Hospitality Group and Cadbridge Investors LP, and acted for Cadbridge and InnVest REIT in connection with their joint negotiated takeover bid for Legacy Hotels REIT in a transaction valued at approximately $2.5 billion.

EdgeStone Capital Equity Fund III, LP

Acted for private equity fund EdgeStone Capital Equity Fund III, LP in its $70-million negotiated takeover bid for Stephenson's Rental Services Income Fund.

Fortis Inc.

Acted for Fortis Inc. in its acquisition of Terasen Inc., the Canadian natural gas distribution business of Kinder Morgan, Inc., in a transaction valued at $3.7 billion, creating the largest investor-owned utility in Canada. Awarded 2007 Deal Team of the Year at the inaugural Canadian Dealmakers Gala.

Fortress Investment Group LLC

Acted as Canadian counsel for private equity funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC in their acquisition of substantially all of the North American operations and facilities of Holiday Retirement Corp., involving 299 seniors' living communities totalling over 35,000 living units, including 34 communities across Canada.

Fortress Investment Group LLC

Acted as Canadian counsel for private equity funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC in their acquisition of RailAmerica Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at US$1.1 billion.

INEOS

Acted for INEOS on Canadian regulatory matters in connection with the formation of a joint venture to combine the INEOS Silica business and PQ Corporation, both manufacturers of industrial silicates and silicas, in a transaction valued at US$1 billion.

Ivanhoé Cambridge Inc.

Acted for Ivanhoé Cambridge Inc. in its acquisition of the interests of The Mills Corporation in three shopping centres located in Vaughan, Ontario, Glasgow, Scotland and Madrid, Spain for US$988 million.

Unisource Canada, Inc.

Acted for Unisource Canada, Inc. in its defence of multiple class actions across Canada alleging a price-fixing conspiracy in respect of carbonless paper.

PetroKazakhstan Inc.

Acted for PetroKazakhstan Inc., a Canadian-listed energy company, in its US$4.18-billion acquisition by China National Petroleum Corporation by way of negotiated takeover bid.

Canada Pipe Company Ltd.

Acted for Canada Pipe Company Ltd. before the Competition Tribunal, Federal Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada with respect to the only fully contested abuse of dominance case to be decided in Canada in more than 15 years. This matter was decided in favour of Canada Pipe following a lengthy trial in the Competition Tribunal and against Canada Pipe in the Federal Court of Appeal. The matter was eventually resolved through a negotiated Consent Agreement in December 2007.

Speaking Engagement

CBA Competition Law Fall Conference, “Are we there yet? Assessing the Efficacy of our New Toolbox,”; Ottawa, ON

Oct. 26, 2023

Bulletin

Canadian Government Announces “First Set” of Competition Act Reforms

Sept. 19, 2023 - In a recent press release, Canada’s Prime Minister announced a “first set” of proposed changes to the Competition Act, with additional “comprehensive legislative reforms” to follow in the coming months. While the federal government launched a consultation process on Competition...

Article

Significant changes to Canadian competition law, co-author

Dec. 01, 2022 - Financier Worldwide Magazine
Read the article.

Article

New amendments to the Competition Act: What they mean for HR, co-author

June 30, 2022 - Human Resources Director Canada (Key Media)
Read the article.

Bulletin

Federal Government Enacts Significant Amendments to Canada’s Competition Act

June 24, 2022 - Significant amendments to Canada’s Competition Act (Act) were enacted on June 23, 2022, with the passing of the federal government’s 2022 budget implementation legislation. The amendments foreshadow more aggressive Competition Bureau (Bureau) enforcement of the Act, especially regarding...

In the News

Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian bar urges government to suspend competition law changes”

June 06, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).

Speaking Engagement

American Bar Association, Antitrust Law Spring Meeting, “Canadian Competition Law – What’s Different Up North?”; Washington, DC

Apr. 06, 2022

Bulletin

Commissioner of Competition Urges Reboot of Canadian Competition Law

Oct. 28, 2021 - In his annual address to Canada’s competition bar last week, the Commissioner of Competition, Matthew Boswell, offered a full-throated defence of vigorous competition law enforcement as a key driver of Canada’s post-pandemic economic recovery. Rather than outlining the Competition Bureau’s...

Speaking Engagement

Moderator, Competition Policy International, “Frameworks of Inclusive Competition (Institutional, leadership)”; Webcast

July 19, 2021 - View the recording.

Article

Competition Policy International, Inclusive Competition issue, guest editor

Apr. 28, 2021 - Antitrust Chronicle, Spring 2021, Vol. 1
Read the issue (available to subscribers).

Guide

Pre-Merger Notification Guide: Canada’s Competition Act

Apr. 01, 2021 - Canada’s Competition Act provides that certain types of transactions exceeding monetary and other thresholds must be notified to the Competition Bureau prior to closing. Parties whose transactions exceed these thresholds and who fail to comply with the rules may face significant...

Article

The Dangers of No-Poaching and Other Agreements Between Employers

Mar. 02, 2021 - In this article, originally published in Human Resources Director Canada, Davies partners Mark Katz and Anita Banicevic discuss the anticompetitive risks of no-poaching, wage-fixing and other agreements between employers, and point out the key takeaways for HR professionals. Read the...

Article

Canadian Competition Bureau Issues Guidance on “No-Poach” and other “Buy-Side” Employment Agreements Between Competitors, co-author

Dec. 04, 2020 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Download the article.

Bulletin

Virtually There: Canada’s Competition Bureau Continues to Chart a Digital Course

Nov. 12, 2020 - While Canada’s Competition Bureau (Bureau) has been working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, its enforcement and activity levels have remained healthy and robust. The latest speech from the Commissioner of Competition (Commissioner) and the Bureau’s recent enforcement efforts both underscore...

Bulletin

Are You Prepared for a Search?

Oct. 23, 2020 - The Competition Act provides the Commissioner of Competition with a number of powerful investigative tools in respect of both criminal and civil matters, including the power to obtain and execute search warrants that allow Competition Bureau officers to enter premises and to seize...

Speaking Engagement

American Bar Association, “Competition & COVID-19: Mergers, Foreign Investment and Competitor Collaboration During the Pandemic”; Teleconference

May 15, 2020

Speaking Engagement

American Bar Association, Women in Antitrust Spotlight Series, “How to Thrive, Build Community and Develop a Personal Brand in the Antitrust World”

Jan. 16, 2020

Speaking Engagement

Canadian Bar Association, Competition Law Fall Conference, “Vertical , Conglomerate, National Champion and Killer Acquisitions: Has Merger Review Abandoned the Chicago School?”; Ottawa, ON

Oct. 17, 2019

Article

Recent Developments in Canada: Will the Competition Bureau Intrude on Privacy?, co-author

Sept. 24, 2019 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.

Bulletin

What’s FaceApp and Facebook Got to Do with Competition Compliance in Canada?

Aug. 06, 2019 - While summer can sometimes be a quieter time for antitrust enforcement, the debate about the role of antitrust in the tech sector is hotter than ever with a number of significant developments over the past few weeks. Among these developments, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently...

Bulletin

Canada’s New Competition Commissioner Announces Aggressive Enforcement Plans

June 17, 2019 - Last month, Canada’s newly appointed Commissioner of Competition, Matthew Boswell, promised to prioritize more aggressive competition law in Canada. In his first speech since he was appointed to the position for a five-year term, as well as in subsequent interviews and public pronouncements, the...

Article

Algorithms: Challenges and Opportunities for Antitrust Compliance, co-author

Dec. 12, 2018 - Compliance and Ethics Spotlight (American Bar Association)
Download this article.

Speaking Engagement

Advertising & Marketing Law: Social, Digital, Online Compliance - Legal Issues For 2018 And Beyond, “Enforcement and Regulatory Trends: What’s New?”; Toronto, ON

Oct. 04, 2018

Speaking Engagement

Canadian Bar Association, Competition Law Fall Conference, “Closing Plenary Session: If I Were Commissioner…..”; Ottawa, ON

Sept. 28, 2018

Bulletin

Canada’s Competition Bureau Releases Draft Fintech Report: What’s Next?

Dec. 07, 2017 - In May 2016, Canada’s Competition Bureau announced that it was launching a market study into technology-led innovation in the Canadian financial services sector, also known as “fintech. ” Eighteen months later, in November 2017, the Bureau released a detailed draft report for comment. Below we...

Bulletin

Suspension of Private Relief: CASL’s Private Right of Action Delayed

June 09, 2017 - Since its implementation in July 2014, Canada’s anti-spam law, or CASL, has continued to generate a fair amount of controversy due to its broad application and the availability of significant administrative monetary penalties. As we described in prior publications (The Other Shoe Drops: The...

Article

The Cartels and Leniency Review: Canada

Jan. 31, 2017 - The Competition Act (Act) is Canada’s key antitrust legislation. The stated purpose of the Act is to maintain and encourage competition in Canada to promote the efficiency and adaptability of the Canadian economy. Within this federal legislation are provisions dealing with reviewable...

Bulletin

Canada Lowers the Wall to Foreign Investment

Nov. 11, 2016 - At a time when trade globalization is attracting new controversy, the Canadian government has taken steps to encourage increased foreign investment in Canada. These measures promise a more attractive and welcoming foreign investment climate. First, the Canadian government has announced that one...

Article

Chemical Reaction: Canada and United States Differ on Industrial Review

Aug. 03, 2016 - Over the years, Canada’s Competition Bureau (Bureau) has developed a close working relationship with its counterpart agencies in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as agency coordination can lead to consistent...

Article

Recent Developments in Canadian Cartel Enforcement

Mar. 18, 2016 - 2015 saw a number of interesting developments in cartel enforcement in Canada, the most important of which were setbacks suffered by Canadas competition authorities in two high-profile prosecutions. This article discusses these and other developments, following a brief overview of...

Speaking Engagement

Moderator, American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law Corporate Counseling Committee – June Antitrust Update

July 15, 2015

Bulletin

First Penalty Issued Under Canada’s New Anti-Spam Law

Mar. 11, 2015 - On March 5, 2015, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issued its first Notice of Violation under Canada’s anti-spam legislation (known as CASL), which came into force on July 1, 2014. Despite its name, CASL is not limited to what one might normally consider spam...

Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Competition/Antitrust

Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Competition/Antitrust

Global Competition Review—Women in Antitrust (2016, 2021)

GCR 100 Canada: A Guide to the World’s Leading Competition Law and Economics Practices

Global Competition Review’s “40 Under 40” (2012)

The Legal 500 Canada—Competition and Antitrust (Hall of Fame)

The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada—Competition Law

Lexpert Zenith Award—Celebrating Change Agents in Law (2019)

Lexpert Guide to US/Canada Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada—Regulatory

The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory—Competition Law (Most Frequently Recommended); Advertising and Marketing Law

The Best Lawyers in Canada—Advertising and Marketing Law (Lawyer of the Year 2022, Toronto); Competition/Antitrust Law

Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders Competition; Who’s Who Legal: Foreign Investment ControlWho’s Who Legal: Competition;Who’s Who Legal: Canada—Competition

Expert Guides’ Women in Business Law; Expert Guides—Competition and Antitrust

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 2000

Education

Queen’s University, LLB, 1998
Queen’s University, BA, 1995

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association
Canadian Bar Association

Community Involvement

American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, Long Range and Strategic Planning Committee, co-chair
American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, 2017 Consumer Protection Conference, co-chair
American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, Compliance & Ethics Committee, past co-chair
American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, Influence Task Force, member
American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Committee, vice-chair
Canadian Bar Association, Competition Law Section Executive Committee, past chair
International Competition Network, non-governmental adviser

Teaching Engagements

Anita has lectured on competition law at Queen’s University Faculty of Law.