Christopher Anderson

Partner

Christopher Anderson

Christopher Anderson

Partner

“We have deep trust and respect for Chris. His knowledge of what works and how to deal with tax people is astoundingly broad. Chris brings an encyclopedia of tax knowledge to our matters, while also being business-minded and business-friendly”
Chambers

Chris focuses on Canadian and international tax planning for investment funds, financial institutions, pension funds, mining companies and high-net-worth individuals, including professional athletes and entertainers. He provides tax advice related to cross-border transactions, private and public mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, debt restructurings, insolvency proceedings, equity compensation plans and spinoffs. Chris also represents taxpayers in disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency and provincial authorities.

Chris is a co-author of the textbook Canadian Taxation of Trusts. Chris provides pro bono advice to UNITY, an organization that uses arts programming to help youth develop skills for success.

Christopher Anderson

Partner

“We have deep trust and respect for Chris. His knowledge of what works and how to deal with tax people is astoundingly broad. Chris brings an encyclopedia of tax knowledge to our matters, while also being business-minded and business-friendly”
Chambers

Chris focuses on Canadian and international tax planning for investment funds, financial institutions, pension funds, mining companies and high-net-worth individuals, including professional athletes and entertainers. He provides tax advice related to cross-border transactions, private and public mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, debt restructurings, insolvency proceedings, equity compensation plans and spinoffs. Chris also represents taxpayers in disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency and provincial authorities.

Chris is a co-author of the textbook Canadian Taxation of Trusts. Chris provides pro bono advice to UNITY, an organization that uses arts programming to help youth develop skills for success.

Third Eye Asset Management Inc.

Acted for Third Eye Asset Management Inc., an affiliate of Toronto-based alternative capital firm Third Eye Capital, in connection with the structuring, documentation and launch of TEC Credit Income Fund, an innovative, efficient investment structure that will provide investors with fixed-rate returns and first loss protection on credit losses from a portfolio of private loans. In addition to being open to Canadian accredited investors, the TEC Credit Income Fund has been structured to attract capital from investors globally.

Fortis Inc.

Acted for Fortis Inc. in establishing its at-the-market public offering of up to C$500-million of common shares, which may be sold through the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange or on any other marketplace in Canada or the United States on which the common shares are traded.

Shaw Communications Inc.

Acted for Shaw Communications Inc. in the acquisition by Rogers Communications Inc. of all of Shaw's issued and outstanding Class A and Class B shares in a transaction valued at approximately C$26 billion, including debt, representing a significant premium for Shaw's shareholders. This deal won M&A Deal of the Year at the 2024 Canadian Law Awards.

Lithium Royalty Corp

Acted for Lithium Royalty Corp. in its C$150-million initial public offering of common shares underwritten by a syndicate co-led by Canaccord Genuity Corp and Citigroup Global Markets Canada Inc.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in its agreements with the governments of Pakistan and Balochistan and three federal state-owned Pakistani entities to reconstitute the Reko Diq Project in the country's Balochistan province, which hosts one of the world's largest undeveloped open pit copper-gold porphyry deposits. The reconstituted project is held 50% by Barrick and 50% by Pakistani stakeholders. A separate agreement provided for Barrick's partner Antofagasta PLC to exit and be replaced by the Pakistani parties in the reconstituted project.

Ironbridge Equity Partners

Acted for Ironbridge Equity Partners in its acquisition and related financing of North American Produce Buyers Limited, a leading importer and distributor of premium fruit.

Fulcrum Capital Partners

Acted for Fulcrum Capital Partners in the merger of its portfolio company, Accucam Machining, with EQI Ltd., a portfolio company of Atlas Holdings, to create a leading global supply chain solution for metal products.

Enerflex Ltd.

Acted as Canadian financing counsel to Enerflex Ltd. in establishing a US$700-million revolving credit facility, a US$150-million term loan and a US$925-million bridge credit facility for its US$735-million business combination with Exterran Corporation to create a premier integrated global provider of energy infrastructure.

KKR

Acted as Canadian counsel to KKR, a leading global investment firm, in its equity investment in connection with the strategic merger of 123Dentist with Altima Dental and Lapointe Group. The merger creates one of the largest dental support organizations in Canada, with nearly 350 supported dental practices.

Centerra Gold Inc.

Acted for the special committee of independent directors of Centerra Gold Inc. in connection with its evaluation of strategic alternatives following the imposition by the Kyrgyz Republic of external management over the Kumtor Mine in May 2021.

The Pallinghurst Group

Acted for Pallinghurst Lithium Limited, a UK-based private investor in the global natural resources sector, in the exchange of its indirect 25% ownership interest in Québec-based Nemaska Lithium Inc. for shares of Livent Corporation.

Ironbridge Equity Partners

Acted for Ironbridge Equity Partners in the sale of its portfolio company, Thermogenics Inc., to Audax Private Equity.

Birch Hill Equity Partners

Acted for Birch Hill Equity Partners in its joint acquisition (and related financing) with Investissement Québec of Québec-based Polycor Inc., the largest quarrier of natural stone in the world.

Connor Clark & Lunn Infrastructure

Acted as tax counsel to Connor Clark & Lunn Infrastructure in its acquisition of Landmark Student Transportation, a leading student transportation businesses in North America.

Kroll

Acted for Kroll, a premier global provider of services and digital products related to valuation, governance, risk and transparency, in its acquisition of Security Compass Advisory, a leading Canadian provider of cyber security solutions and advisory services with operations in Canada, the U.S. and India.

The Pallinghurst Group

Acted for The Pallinghurst Group in its acquisition, through Pallinghurst Nickel International Limited, of a 19.2% interest in Talon Metals Corp. from Resource Capital Fund VI L.P. Talon Metals is a TSX-listed base metals company with a nickel-copper-cobalt project in the United States.

Onex Falcon

Acted as Canadian counsel to Onex Falcon in the formation of Onex Falcon Direct Lending Cayman Fund, a differentiated credit offering focused on principal preservation and downside protection via directly originated senior secured loan investments. Onex Falcon, together with Onex Credit Partners, constitutes the private and public credit platform of Onex Corporation.

Initial Purchasers

Acted as Canadian counsel to the initial purchasers, led by Barclays, in multiple private placements of senior notes and senior secured notes of GFL Environmental Inc., in an aggregate principal amount of over US$5 billion.

Management shareholders of Canadian Orthodontic Partners

Acted for the Management shareholders of Canadian Orthodontic Partners, the largest orthodontics-focused specialty dental support organization in Canada, in the strategic growth investment by Pamlico Capital.

Blackpoynt Inc.

Acted for BrandProject in connection with the formation of BrandProject Capital Fund LP, an early-stage venture capital fund focussed on making investments in next generation consumer product, service, and technology companies across North America.

The Pallinghurst Group

Acted for The Pallinghurst Group, a private investor in the global natural resources sector, in its joint 50-50 acquisition with Investissement Québec of Québec-based Nemaska Lithium Inc. pursuant to a sales process under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. The acquisition was structured as a credit bid with Nemaska's largest secured creditor, Orion Mine Finance, and achieved through a reverse vesting order granted by the Superior Court of Québec and upheld by the Québec Court of Appeal.

AirBoss of America Corp.

Acted for AirBoss of America Corp. in its acquisition of the 45% minority interest in AirBoss Defense Group that it did not own from Critical Solutions Holdings, LLC.

New Gold Inc.

Acted for New Gold Inc. in its sale of the Blackwater Project in British Columbia to Artemis Gold Inc. for $210-million and an 8% gold stream.

Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure Ltd.

Acted as tax counsel to Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure Ltd. in its acquisition of USA Rail, an operator of short-line rail terminals in Louisiana and Texas.

Google LLC

Acted for Google LLC in its acquisition of North Inc., a pioneer in human computer interfaces and smart glasses.

Axium Infrastructure Inc.

Acted for Axium Infrastructure Inc. in its acquisition from Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. of a 50% interest in a portfolio of nine solar farms located in Ontario.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in its earn-in arrangement with Precipitate Gold Corp. (PGC), under which Barrick was granted the right to acquire a 70% interest in PGC's Pueblo Grande project in the Dominican Republic, and a related subscription for common shares of PGC.

Management Shareholders of Give & Go

Acted for the Management Shareholders of Give & Go, a market leader in the North American bakery industry, in the sale by Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., of a significant majority interest in Give & Go to Mondelez International.

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.

Syndicate of Underwriters

Acted for a syndicate of underwriters led by J.P. Morgan, BMO Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, RBC Capital Markets and Scotiabank on the US$2.2-billion cross-border initial public offering of subordinate voting shares and tangible equity units of GFL Environmental Inc., the fourth largest diversified environmental services company in North America. The offering is one of the largest IPOs in Canadian history.

Anson Advisors Inc. and Anson Funds Management LP

Acted for Anson Advisors Inc. and Anson Funds Management LP with the structuring and documentation of Anson North Star Tactical Equity Fund L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, with a Canadian feeder formed as a unit trust, a Canadian feeder formed as an Ontario limited partnership, a Cayman Islands feeder and potentially a U.S. feeder fund.

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company

Acted for The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company in its acquisition of a 50% interest in the York Energy Centre, a 400 MW natural gas fired power plant near Newmarket, Ontario.

Bank of Montreal

Acted for Bank of Montreal and a syndicate of lenders in the establishment of a $275-million revolving credit facility for Jamieson Laboratories Ltd. and its U.S. subsidiary.

Ironbridge Equity Partners

Acted for Ironbridge Equity Partners on the acquisition and related financing of Alumni Classroom Furniture Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of educational furniture for the pre-school through grade twelve market.

Fortis Inc.

Acted for Fortis Inc. in the sale of its 51% interest in the Waneta Expansion hydroelectric generating facility in British Columbia to Columbia Basin Trust and Columbia Power Corporation for approximately $1 billion.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in its proposed US$42-billion merger with Newmont Mining Corporation to combine the world's two largest gold companies.

Anson Advisors and Anson Funds Management

Acted for Anson Advisors and Anson Funds Management with the documentation of Anson East Master Fund L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership and a Cayman feeder fund. The funds will utilize a range of investment strategies, primarily including investments in publicly-traded equity securities (both short and long common stocks and equity options) to create a concentrated portfolio of best available opportunistic investments in special situations.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in an auction transaction for the sale of its 50% interest in Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines in Western Australia, resulting in the sale to Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited for US$750 million.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in its recommended US$18.3-billion share-for-share merger with Randgold Resources Limited. This complex and multijurisdictional transaction created an industry-leading gold company with the greatest concentration of tier one gold assets in the industry and a diversified asset portfolio positioned for growth.

Axium Infrastructure Inc. and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company

Acted for Axium Infrastructure Inc. and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company in their joint $1.4-billion acquisition of AltaGas Ltd.'s remaining 55% interest in three hydroelectric projects in northwest British Columbia: the 195 MW Forrest Kerr Hydroelectric Facility, the 66 MW McLymont Creek Hydroelectric Facility and the 16 MW Volcano Creek Hydroelectric Facility.

TD Securities Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Acted as Canadian counsel for the dealer managers, TD Securities Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, in Thomson Reuters' substantial issuer bid/tender offer for up to US$9 billion of its common shares and the subsequent US$2 billion return of capital by Thomson Reuters' effected by way of plan of arrangement.

Canadian Business Growth Fund

Acted for Canadian Business Growth Fund in connection with its investment in Lift Auto Group, a consolidator of automotive collision repair centres, and its investment in PayBright, a technology-enabled point-of-sale consumer payments and lending platform.

Shareholders of MedReleaf Corp.

Advised the shareholders of MedReleaf Corp. in catalyzing the sale of MedReleaf to Aurora Cannabis Inc., bringing together two of Canada's largest cannabis companies, in an all-share transaction valued at approximately $3.2 billion.

Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

Acted as Canadian counsel to a syndicate of underwriters, led by Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank Securities, in a US$950-million offering of The Stars Group Inc.'s common shares by way of a treasury and secondary offering in Canada and the United States under the multijurisdictional disclosure system. The net proceeds from the treasury offering were, together with debt financing and cash on hand, to fund the acquisition of Sky Betting & Gaming.

United Steelworkers Local 8782

Acted for United Steelworkers Local 8782, a limited partner of Legacy Lands Limited Partnership (the Partnership), with respect to the sale of approximately 3,000 acres of land beneficially owned by the Partnership in Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ontario on which Stelco Inc. conducts its manufacturing operations. Stelco granted a $114 million vendor take back mortgage to the Limited Partnership for the purchase price to be used to fund pension and other post-employment benefits to retirees of Stelco.

Gotham Green Partners, LLC

Acted as special tax and insolvency counsel for Gotham Green Partners, LLC, a New York-based private equity firm focused on global cannabis and cannabis-related enterprises, with respect to in its US$50-million investment in iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. (iAnthus), consisting of shares and warrants of iAnthus and high-yield senior secured notes of a subsidiary of iAnthus, which are exchangeable for shares of iAnthus. iAnthus owns, operates and partners with licensed cannabis operations throughout the United States.

The Cronos Group Inc.

Acted as tax counsel for The Cronos Group Inc. in the creation of Indigenous Roots, a first-of-its-kind joint venture that works with Canadian First Nations to build and operate licensed facilities and to provide medical cannabis to First Nations patients.

Real estate investment manager

Acted for the vendor in the $32-million acquisition by Fiera Capital Corporation of the 45% interest in Fiera Properties Limited it did not already own. The purchase price consisted of $31.5 million in cash and $500,000 in Fiera Capital shares.

Axium Infrastructure Inc.

Acted for Axium Infrastructure Inc. in its $540-million acquisition of TransCanada's Ontario solar portfolio, consisting of eight facilities totalling approximately 105 MW of installed capacity.

Zochem LLC

Acted for Zochem LLC (formerly Zinc Oxide LLC) in its acquisition of Zochem Inc. from American Zinc Recycling LLC, creating the largest producer of zinc oxide in North America.

The Cronos Group Inc.

Provided tax advice to The Cronos Group Inc., a Canadian licensed producer listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, in connection with the formation of a strategic joint venture in Israel for the production, manufacture and global distribution of medical cannabis.

20 VIC Management Inc.

Acted for the shareholders of 20 VIC Management Inc., one of Canada's leading commercial real estate management firms, in the sale of 20 VIC to Cushman & Wakefield.

United Steelworkers Union

Acted as co-counsel on behalf of the United Steelworkers Union in connection with the restructuring of Stelco Inc. under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and the establishment of Legacy Lands L.P.

Ironbridge Equity Partners

Acted for Ironbridge Equity Partners in connection with its acquisition and related financing of Avena Foods Limited, a leading supplier of gluten-free oats to the North American market.

Khan Resources Inc.

Acted for Khan Resources Inc. in the proposed acquisition by Arden Holdings Ltd. of all the shares of Khan by way of plan of arrangement.

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

Acted for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited in connection with its US$220-million direct registered offering of common shares to an institutional investor in the United States. The shares were sold pursuant to a cross-border shelf prospectus and prospectus supplement filed under the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system.

CASA Energy Services Inc. and West Face Capital Inc.

Acted for CASA Energy Services Inc. (CASA) and its 100% owner, West Face Capital Inc., in connection with an all-stock acquisition of CASA by Performance Energy Services Inc.

Management Shareholders of Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp.

Acted for the Management Shareholders of Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp., a market leader in the North American bakery industry, in connection with its sale by OMERS Private Equity and Management Shareholders to Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.

Waterton Global Resource Management

Acted as Canadian tax counsel to Waterton Global Resource Management in connection with the launch of its third private equity fund, Waterton Parallel Fund, with total capital commitments of US$725 million.

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company

Acted for The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company in connection with its acquisition of a 49% interest in Q Management LP, the multi-family asset and property management entity of Conundrum Capital Corporation.

Unique Fabricating, Inc.

Acted as Canadian counsel to Unique Fabricating, Inc. in connection with its $27.5-million acquisition of all of the assets of Intasco Corporation and all of the outstanding capital stock of Intasco-USA Inc., Intasco's U.S. affiliate, and in connection with a related US$62-million senior credit facility.

ISE Inc.

Acted for ISE Inc., a major supplier of ergonomic office and workstation products, in connection with the sale of its business to Workrite Ergonomics, LLC, a division of Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Co., a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners.

CAA Sports

Acted as Canadian counsel to CAA Sports, a division of leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), in connection with its acquisition of ICON Venue Group, an owner's representative and project management firm.

WIND Mobile Corp. and its shareholders

Acted for WIND Mobile Corp. (WIND) and its shareholders, including West Face Capital, in connection with the sale of WIND to Shaw Communications Inc. for approximately $1.6 billion.

Ironbridge Equity Partners

Acted for Ironbridge Equity Partners in its acquisition of Advance Engineered Products Ltd.'s tank production and services business under a sale proceeding conducted pursuant to the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. The assets purchased also include the mobile vacuum systems business carried on under the Westech Vac Systems name and the metal fabrication and machining business carried on under the Dumur Industries name.

KSV Kofman Inc. (now known as KSV Restructuring Inc.)

Acted for KSV Kofman Inc. (now known as KSV Restructuring Inc.) in connection with the purchase of all of the shares of Duff & Phelps Canada Restructuring Inc.

Birch Hill Equity Partners

Acted for Birch Hill Equity Partners in connection with its investment in Sigma Systems, a Toronto-based communications software company.

West Face Capital Inc.

Acted for West Face Capital Inc. in its acquisition, together with a consortium of investors including Globalive Capital, Tennenbaum Capital Partners and LG Capital Investors, of the interests of VimpelCom Ltd. in Globalive Wireless Management Corp. (doing business as WIND Mobile).

Fiera Axium Infrastructure Canada II L.P.

Acted for Fiera Axium Infrastructure Canada II L.P. on its 2014 acquisition of an equity interest in the Saint-Robert Bellarmin Wind Projects, which sells power to Hydro-Québec Distribution under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement, from EDF EN Canada Inc.

Spear Street Capital, LLC

Acted for Spear Street Capital, LLC in connection with its $305-million purchase of the majority of BlackBerry Limited's real estate holdings in Canada, including its global headquarters in Waterloo, Ontario. BlackBerry sold more than 3 million square feet of space as well as vacant lands, and leased back a portion of the space.

Waterton Global Resource Management

Acted as Canadian counsel to Waterton Global Resource Management in connection with the launch of its second private equity fund, Waterton Precious Metals Fund II, with total capital commitments of US$1.016 billion.

Diversified Global Asset Management Corporation

Acted for Diversified Global Asset Management Corporation, a global manager of hedge funds with more than $6.7 billion in managed and advised assets, in its acquisition by The Carlyle Group. 

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted as Canadian counsel to Barrick Gold Corporation in connection with Barrick's approximately US$3-billion bought deal public offering and associated tender offer for its outstanding debt securities.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

Acted for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in connection with the sale to Ivanhoé Cambridge of a 50% interest in Carrefour de l'Estrie shopping centre located in Sherbrooke, Québec, which is the largest shopping centre in Québec's Eastern Townships region, and the resulting joint venture.

Barrick Gold Corporation and Barrick North America Finance LLC

Acted as Canadian counsel for Barrick Gold Corporation and Barrick North America Finance LLC in connection with an offering of US$3-billion of debt securities comprised of US$650-million of notes due 2018 and US$1.5-billion of notes due 2023 of Barrick Gold Corporation and US$850-million of notes due 2043 of Barrick North America Finance LLC.

Shaw Communications Inc.

Acted for Shaw Communications Inc. in connection with the sale by Shaw of Mountain Cablevision, Shaw's cable system in Hamilton, Ontario, to Rogers Communications Inc., an option for Rogers to purchase Shaw's spectrum licenses for advanced wireless service, and the purchase by Shaw of a one-third interest in TVtropolis, a specialty TV network, from Rogers.

TELUS Corp.

Advised TELUS Corp. on empty-voting issues arising in connection with Mason Capital Management's opposition to TELUS's proposed collapse of its dual-class share structure.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in connection with the establishment of a US$4-billion unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of Canadian and international banks.

AMC Entertainment Inc.

Acted for AMC Entertainment Inc. in its divestiture of Canadian theatres to Cineplex Inc. and Empire Theatres Limited.

CIBC World Markets Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc.

Acted for a syndicate of underwriters co-led by CIBC World Markets Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc. in a $60-million offering of unsecured convertible debentures of Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust.

Russel Metals Inc.

Acted for Russel Metals Inc. in its $300-million bought deal private placement of high yield notes due April 19, 2022.

CIBC World Markets Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc.

Acted for a syndicate of underwriters co-led by CIBC World Markets inc. and Scotia Capital Inc. in a $67.1-million bought deal public offering of trust units of Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Acted as Canadian counsel for a syndicate of underwriters led by Bank of America Merrill Lynch in connection with a US$80-million cross-border follow-on public offering of common shares of YM BioSciences Inc.

CIBC World Markets Inc. and TD Securities Inc.

Acted for a syndicate of underwriters co-led by CIBC World Markets Inc. and TD Securities Inc. in a $45-million bought deal public offering of units of Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust.

Avison Young

Acted for Avison Young in connection with Tricor Pacific Capital Inc.'s equity investment in Avison Young.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted as Canadian counsel for Barrick Gold Corporation, and its subsidiary Barrick North America Finance LLC, in connection with an offering of US$4 billion in debt securities comprised of US$700 million of 1.75% notes due 2014 and US$1.1 billion of 2.90% notes due 2016 of Barrick, as well as US$1.35 billion of 4.40% notes due 2021 and US$850 million of 5.70% notes due 2041 of Barrick North America Finance LLC.

Northern Iron Corp.

Acted for Northern Iron Corp. with respect to Canadian tax matters in connection with its public offering of Non Flow-Through Units and Flow-Through Units.

Fronteer Gold Inc.

Acted for Fronteer Gold Inc. in its $2.3-billion acquisition by Newmont Mining Corporation (now known as Newmont Goldcorp Corporation). The transaction was structured as a plan of arrangement providing for cash consideration and the spin off of shares of Pilot Gold Inc., a new TSX-listed company holding exploration assets, to the former shareholders of Fronteer Gold.

Onex Corporation

Acted for Onex Corporation in connection with a $2.4-billion refinancing of its U.S. subsidiary Carestream Health Inc., which funded a $725 million distribution by Carestream to its shareholders.

Ironbridge Equity Partners

Acted for Ironbridge Equity Partners in the purchase by Ironbridge of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Lafrentz & Christenson Trucking Ltd.

Ironbridge Equity Partners

Acted for Ironbridge Equity Partners in the purchase by Ironbridge of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Hank's Maintenance and Service Co.

Ironbridge Equity Partners

Acted for Ironbridge Equity Partners in the purchase by Ironbridge of all of the assets of Industrial Commercial Equipment Manufacturing Ltd. associated with its Frost Fighter business.

Huntingdon Real Estate Investment Trust

Acted for the Special Committee of Huntingdon REIT in its merger with IAT Air Cargo Facilities Income Fund ("IAT") by way of a unit-for-unit exchange through which IAT unitholders will receive 9.75 units of Huntingdon for each IAT unit held. The combined entity will have an enterprise value of $370 million and it will own, operate and lease 85 properties across Canada.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in connection with the private placement by its affiliate of US$1.25 billion of notes maturing in 2020 and 2039, each guaranteed by Barrick, and the subsequent exchange of such notes for registered securities.

Russel Metals Inc.

Acted for Russel Metals Inc. in its $175-million bought deal public offering of convertible debentures due 2016.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation on its US$750-million underwritten public offering of 6.95% notes due 2019 made in the United States pursuant to the Multi-jurisdictional Disclosure System and led by Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Avison Young

Acted for Avison Young in regard to the Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (B.C.) Inc., Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (Alberta) Partnership and Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (Ontario) Inc. merger which formed Canada's largest independently owned real estate services company in a deal valued at $36 million.

China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals Co., Ltd. and Jiangxi Copper Company Ltd.

Acted for China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals Co., Ltd. and Jiangxi Copper Company Ltd., both Chinese state-controlled corporations, in their takeover bid for Northern Peru Copper Corp. valued at $455 million.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in its $773-million negotiated all-cash takeover bid for Arizona Star Resource Corp.

Wega Mining ASA

Acted for Wega Mining ASA in its $118-million acquisition of Goldbelt Resources Ltd., the first time in Canada that a takeover bid was combined with a 19.9% private placement of shares of the target.

CIBC World Markets Inc. and RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

Acted for the agents, CIBC World Markets Inc. and RBC Dominion Securities Inc., in a $200-million private placement by Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority of 4.733% Revenue Bonds, Series D, due May 2, 2017.

In the News

Interview, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, “2024 budget contains a few surprises, says Davies tax partner Christopher Anderson”; Web Publication

Apr. 23, 2024 - Read the article.

Bulletin

Federal Budget 2024: How It Impacts You and Your Business

Apr. 16, 2024 - The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister of Finance, delivered the Liberal Party’s federal budget (Budget 2024) on April 16, 2024. Budget 2024 included a number of proposed changes to the Income Tax Act (ITA) and other tax legislation. The most...

Article

Canada’s Reportable Transaction Rules: A Measured Approach to Advisor Reporting, co-author

July 17, 2023 - Tax Notes
Read the article.

Article

Canada’s Budget Plan Hides Capital Gains, Stock Options Tax Hike, co-author

Apr. 28, 2023 - Bloomberg Tax, Daily Tax Report: International
Read the article.

Bulletin

Two Percent Tax on Share Buybacks by Public Companies

Apr. 18, 2023 - As part of the 2023 federal budget, tabled on March 28, 2023, the government has introduced draft legislation to implement a new 2% tax on share buybacks that was first announced in November 2022 as part of the government’s Fall Economic Statement. This tax (referred to below as the “Buyback Tax”)...

Bulletin

Canada Releases Revised Draft Legislation on New Interest Deductibility Rules

Dec. 08, 2022 - The Department of Finance (Canada) (Finance) has released revised draft legislation on the proposed rules regarding excessive interest and financing expenses limitation (EIFEL). The revised draft legislation, released on November 3, 2022, contains several significant updates to Finance’s initial...

Bulletin

Highlights of Canada’s Latest Legislative Tax Proposals

Aug. 23, 2022 - The Department of Finance recently released a package of materials containing potential changes to the Canadian tax system (Tax Proposals). The materials, released on August 9, 2022, include draft amendments to the Income Tax Act (Tax Act) to implement certain measures from the 2022...

Bulletin

Federal Budget 2022: Tax Highlights

Apr. 08, 2022 - On April 7, 2022 (Budget Day), the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister of Finance, delivered the Liberal Party’s federal budget (Budget 2022), the second budget since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the Trudeau government’s plan to “grow our...

Guide

Public Mergers and Acquisitions in Canada: Overview, co-author

Nov. 01, 2021 - Practical Law – Mergers and Acquisitions Global Guide (Thomson Reuters)
Read the chapter.

Article

The Permissibility of Surplus Stripping: A Brief History and Recent Developments, co-author

Apr. 28, 2021 - Canadian Tax Journal
Read the article.

Bulletin

2021 Federal Budget: Tax Highlights

Apr. 20, 2021 - The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, delivered the Liberal Party’s first federal budget (Budget 2021) in over two years and the first since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic. As part of a recovery plan for “jobs, growth and resilience,”...

Bulletin

Canada’s Fall Economic Statement: Tax Highlights

Dec. 01, 2020 - The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister of Finance, has released the Liberal Party’s first economic statement (Fall Economic Statement) since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic. A record deficit of over $381 billion is projected for 2020-2021. This...

Article

Canada chapter, co-author

June 15, 2020 - The Corporate Tax Planning Law Review, 2nd ed. (The Law Reviews)

Bulletin

Tax Issues for Distressed Corporations

Apr. 08, 2020 - The restrictions on social and commercial activity necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in unprecedented economic strain. Although governments have enacted equally unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimuli, businesses will be affected and some will need to restructure debts or take...

Bulletin

Canadian Tax Laws: A Review of 2019 and a Look Ahead to 2020

Jan. 30, 2020 - Each year at this time we look back at some of the more significant income tax developments in Canada affecting domestic and international business over the past year and look ahead to possible Canadian tax developments in the coming year. Review of Canadian Tax Developments in 2019 Tax...

Bulletin

Draft Legislation on the Taxation of Stock Options

June 19, 2019 - The federal government has released much anticipated draft legislation proposing changes to the rules relating to the taxation of stock options. The legislative proposals are expected to come into force on January 1, 2020, and to apply to option agreements entered into after 2019. The release, on...

Bulletin

2019 Federal Budget: Tax Highlights

Mar. 19, 2019 - Budget 2019 is the last federal budget of the current Liberal government before the upcoming federal election in October 2019. Tax-related measures are intended to advance the government’s stated priority of creating a fair tax system. Proposals include changes to the employee stock option rules,...

Speaking Engagement

Chair, Law Society of Ontario, Taxation Issues for Real Estate Lawyers 2018; Toronto, ON

Nov. 20, 2018

Bulletin

2018 Federal Budget: Tax Highlights

Feb. 27, 2018 - As anticipated, today’s federal budget (Budget 2018) focuses on a few targeted areas, including the taxation of passive investments made by private corporations, and does not contain any measures in response to the enactment of tax reform in the United States or relating to the OECD BEPS...

Bulletin

Department of Finance Releases Revised Income Splitting Rules

Dec. 13, 2017 - Earlier this year, the Department of Finance released a set of far-reaching proposals affecting the taxation of private businesses and their shareholders. Only Rip Van Winkle missed the firestorm reaction to these proposals from a broad range of affected parties. Ultimately, the Government...

Speaking Engagement

International Fiscal Association Canada, 2017 IFA International Tax Conference, “YIN In-Depth: F/X Essentials”; Toronto, ON

Apr. 25, 2017

Bulletin

2017 Federal Budget: Tax Highlights

Mar. 22, 2017 - The Liberal government’s second budget (Budget 2017) comes during a period of exceptional global political and economic uncertainty. Of particular importance from a Canadian economic and tax policy perspective is the uncertainty about how the Trump administration’s agenda will unfold in the coming...

Guide

Canadian Taxation of Trusts, co-author

Dec. 31, 2016 - (Toronto: Canadian Tax Foundation)

Bulletin

Upcoming Changes to Ontario Land Transfer Tax Rates

Nov. 25, 2016 - The province of Ontario is proposing to increase land transfer tax rates with effect from January 1, 2017. The Building Ontario Up for Everyone Act (Budget Measures), 2016 received first reading on November 16, 2016 and is expected to come into force before the end of the year. For...

Speaking Engagement

Chair, The Law Society of Upper Canada, “Taxation Issues for Real Estate Lawyers 2016”; Toronto, ON

Nov. 08, 2016

Bulletin

The Federal Court of Appeal Permits Use of Mark-To-Market Tax Accounting

June 24, 2016 - The Federal Court of Appeal has held in the Kruger Inc. v. Canada decision published yesterday, that Kruger Inc. was entitled to use the mark-to-market method in computing its income for federal income tax purposes.   As a result, for income tax purposes it was entitled to recognize an...

Bulletin

To Go or Not to Go? The 30% Rule for Canadian Pension Funds

June 06, 2016 - Canadian pension funds and their subsidiaries are subject to a rule that prohibits them from investing in shares of a corporation having more than 30% of the votes for the election of directors, except in the case of qualifying real estate, resource and investment subsidiaries (the so-called 30%...

Bulletin

2016 Federal Budget: Tax Highlights

Mar. 22, 2016 - The new Liberal governments first budget (Budget 2016) has been the subject of anticipation and speculation, much of it apprehensive. Unusually, Budget 2016 is noteworthy for what it does not contain. Budget 2016 does not introduce changes to increase the tax rate on employee stock...

Bulletin

2015 Federal Budget: Tax Highlights

Apr. 21, 2015 - As has been widely predicted, today’s federal budget (Budget 2015) delivered a handful of tax goodies in the lead-up to the coming election. It also includes a number of important proposed changes to the corporate tax rules. They are noteworthy, although not as...

Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Tax

Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Tax

International Tax Review’s World Tax: The Comprehensive Guide to the World’s Leading Tax Firms—General Corporate Tax, Transfer Pricing (Highly Regarded)

The Legal 500 Canada—Tax (Next Generation Partner)

Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40

Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A

Lexpert Special Edition: Restructuring and Insolvency

The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory—Corporate Tax; Investment Funds & Asset Management: Tax; Private Equity

The Best Lawyers in Canada—Tax Law

Expert Guides’ Rising Stars

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 2006

Education

Osgoode Hall Law School, LLB, 2005
University of Toronto, BComm (with High Distinction), 2002

Professional Affiliations

Canadian Tax Foundation

Community Involvement

Canadian Tax Foundation, Toronto Young Practitioners Group Steering Committee
The Law Society of Ontario, Taxation of Real Estate Transactions Conference, former chair
UNITY

Teaching Engagements

Chris taught the International Tax Course at Osgoode Hall Law School.