Anita Banicevic

Partner

Anita Banicevic

Anita Banicevic

Partner

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Bar Admissions
  • Ontario, 2000

“She is an excellent lawyer; she is very smart and personable.”
Market Commentator – Chambers Canada 2020

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. The only lawyer in Canada to be ranked in both Competition Law and Advertising and Marketing Law in the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 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 and is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee of the Antitrust Section of the ABA.

Anita Banicevic

Partner

“She is an excellent lawyer; she is very smart and personable.”
Market Commentator – Chambers Canada 2020

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. The only lawyer in Canada to be ranked in both Competition Law and Advertising and Marketing Law in the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 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 and is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee of the Antitrust Section of the ABA.

Northleaf Capital Partners

Acting 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 Americas

Acting for Plenary Americas, 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.

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.

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.

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...

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

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

GCR’s Women in Antitrust 2016

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 (Leading Individual)

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

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

Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A

Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation

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

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

The Best Lawyers in Canada—Advertising and Marketing Law; Competition/Antitrust Law

Who’s Who Legal: Canada—Competition; Who’s Who Legal: Competition; Who’s Who Legal: M&A and Governance—Foreign Investment Review

Who’s Who Legal and Global Competition Review’s Who’s Who Legal: Competition – Future Leaders 2017

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, 2017 Consumer Protection Conference, co-chair
American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, Compliance & Ethics Committee, former co-chair
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.

“She is an excellent lawyer; she is very smart and personable.”
Market Commentator – Chambers Canada 2020

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. The only lawyer in Canada to be ranked in both Competition Law and Advertising and Marketing Law in the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 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 and is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee of the Antitrust Section of the ABA.

Northleaf Capital Partners

Acting 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 Americas

Acting for Plenary Americas, 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.

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.

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.

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...

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

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

GCR’s Women in Antitrust 2016

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 (Leading Individual)

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

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

Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A

Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation

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

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

The Best Lawyers in Canada—Advertising and Marketing Law; Competition/Antitrust Law

Who’s Who Legal: Canada—Competition; Who’s Who Legal: Competition; Who’s Who Legal: M&A and Governance—Foreign Investment Review

Who’s Who Legal and Global Competition Review’s Who’s Who Legal: Competition – Future Leaders 2017

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, 2017 Consumer Protection Conference, co-chair
American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, Compliance & Ethics Committee, former co-chair
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.