John Bodrug

Partner

John Bodrug

John Bodrug

Partner

“I think of John as one of the most brilliant minds in Canadian competition law.”
Client – Chambers Canada 2024

John uses his deep knowledge of competition law and foreign investment review to provide clients with creative solutions in their most business-critical matters.

He advises Canadian, U.S. and international corporations across a wide range of industries on all aspects of competition and foreign investment review, including mergers, price-fixing investigations and other pricing, distribution and advertising matters. John has obtained Competition Act and Investment Canada Act clearances for numerous merger transactions. Clients appreciate John’s vast expertise and practical, responsive manner. As one client says, “John is almost like a supercomputer – he takes in everything and gives you a clear answer and a wonderful reference point giving you a reality check. He is a wonderful resource.” (Chambers Canada 2021) Another client comments that “his ability to analyse and see through complicated issues as if they were transparent is uncanny.” (Chambers Canada 2024)

John has significant expertise in advising companies on the criminal provisions of Canada’s Competition Act. Clients regularly consult him on contested matters, immunity or leniency agreements, and resolutions prior to formal proceedings.

A frequent speaker at industry conferences, John also writes on topics related to competition and foreign investment review.

John Bodrug

Partner

“I think of John as one of the most brilliant minds in Canadian competition law.”
Client – Chambers Canada 2024

John uses his deep knowledge of competition law and foreign investment review to provide clients with creative solutions in their most business-critical matters.

He advises Canadian, U.S. and international corporations across a wide range of industries on all aspects of competition and foreign investment review, including mergers, price-fixing investigations and other pricing, distribution and advertising matters. John has obtained Competition Act and Investment Canada Act clearances for numerous merger transactions. Clients appreciate John’s vast expertise and practical, responsive manner. As one client says, “John is almost like a supercomputer – he takes in everything and gives you a clear answer and a wonderful reference point giving you a reality check. He is a wonderful resource.” (Chambers Canada 2021) Another client comments that “his ability to analyse and see through complicated issues as if they were transparent is uncanny.” (Chambers Canada 2024)

John has significant expertise in advising companies on the criminal provisions of Canada’s Competition Act. Clients regularly consult him on contested matters, immunity or leniency agreements, and resolutions prior to formal proceedings.

A frequent speaker at industry conferences, John also writes on topics related to competition and foreign investment review.

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.

Shaw Communications Inc.

Acted for Shaw Communications Inc. in its joint C$2.85-billion sale with Rogers Communications Inc. of Freedom Mobile Inc. to Videotron Ltd., a subsidiary of Québecor Inc.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in its historic joint venture with Newmont Mining Corporation, which combined their respective mining operations, assets, reserves and talent in Nevada to create the world's largest gold complex.

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.

Monsanto Company

Acted for Monsanto Company on competition and regulatory matters in its US$66-billion acquisition by Bayer AG.

Major public multinational firm

Acted for a major public multinational firm in an internal investigation involving numerous jurisdictions, coordinating assessments of foreign jurisdictions and leniency applications to Canadian competition authorities.

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Acted as co-counsel for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in respect of trademark claims and antitrust defences against certain provincial Chartered Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant institutes in Federal Court.

McKesson Corporation

Acted for McKesson Corporation, a leading international healthcare services and information technology company, in connection with its $3-billion acquisition of Rexall and Rexall Pharma Plus, which operate approximately 470 pharmacies in Canada, from Katz Group, one of Canada's largest privately owned enterprises.

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.

Article

Making Sense of the New Excessive and Unfair Pricing Provision in Canada’s Competition Act

Aug. 31, 2024 - The Antitrust Source, August 2024 (American Bar Association)
Download the article.

Speaking Engagement

CBA Competition Law Fall Conference, “Remedial Training: Remedying Remedies,”; Ottawa, ON

Oct. 27, 2023

Article

Interview with Olha Pishchanska, Chair of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine, interviewer

June 30, 2023 - Antitrust Magazine Online, June 2023 (American Bar Association)

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

A Revival or an Aberration? Prohibition Orders Without a Conviction for Cartel Offences Under the Competition Act, co-author

Dec. 02, 2019 - The Marker (Canadian Bar Association)
Read this article.

Article

Ontario Court of Appeal Upholds Application of Regulated Conduct Defence to Dismiss Class Action Alleging Conspiracy in Beer Industry, co-author

June 30, 2019 - Competition Policy International
Read the article.

Guide

Davies Governance Insights 2018

Oct. 03, 2018 - Davies’ annual Governance Insights reports analyze the top governance trends and issues important to Canadian boards, senior management, in-house counsel and governance observers...

In the News

John Bodrug Authors Globe and Mail Op-Ed on Lengthening Global Merger Reviews

Sept. 05, 2018 - Eyewear industry leaders Essilor and Luxottica recently completed regulatory clearances of their planned merger, more than 18 months after the deal was announced. In an article published in The Globe and Mail, Davies partner John Bodrug writes that this transaction reflects a trend toward...

Bulletin

Increased Filing Fees for Merger Reviews Under the Canadian Competition Act

Apr. 25, 2018 - The Canadian Competition Bureau has announced that the filing fee for merger reviews under the Competition Act (Act) will increase to $72,000, from $50,000, effective May 1, 2018. The fee will be adjusted for inflation annually thereafter. This 44% increase represents the first change to...

Bulletin

Canada Proposes Regime for Deferred Prosecution Agreements

Apr. 11, 2018 - The Canadian government recently tabled legislation to implement a regime for deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) for corporations accused of certain types of federal offences for which conviction would disqualify the corporation from federal government contracts. This proposal follows public...

Bulletin

Top Competition and Foreign Investment Review Trends and Issues for 2018

Jan. 31, 2018 - In our annual forecast of the year ahead for Canadian competition and foreign investment review law, we evaluate how developments in 2017 will influence these areas of the law in 2018. We discuss below the top issues and trends to watch for this year. New Leadership at the Bureau and a Year...

Bulletin

Anti-Corruption Legislation in Canada

Jan. 25, 2018 - This publication summarizes Canada’s foreign and domestic anti-corruption legislation in relation to dealings with public officials. It is relevant for both Canadian-based entities operating abroad and foreign and domestic businesses operating in Canada. Download our perspective.

In the News

Addressing Corporate Wrongdoing

Dec. 20, 2017 - In an article published by the Canadian Bar Association, John Bodrug commented on the CBA’s feedback on the federal government’s consultation on addressing corporate wrongdoing, including proposed revisions to the Integrity Regime and the possible introduction of deferred prosecution agreements....

Bulletin

Government of Canada Consults on Tools to Address Corporate Wrongdoing

Sept. 28, 2017 - Many jurisdictions around the world have implemented frameworks to deter and address the consequences of criminal and quasi-criminal business practices by corporations. In an effort to ensure that Canada has the right tools to address corporate crimes, on September 25, 2017, the Canadian...

Article

International Merger Enforcement — A Canadian Context

June 01, 2017 - This article, which was originally published on the CompLaw Blog, explores the different conclusions Canada and the U.S. arrived at in the review of that transaction and how the two countries differ on industrial review. This paper presented at the Antitrust in the Americas Conference of the...

Bulletin

Top Competition and Foreign Investment Review Trends and Issues for 2017

Jan. 20, 2017 - In our annual forecast of the year ahead for Canadian competition and foreign investment review law, we evaluate how developments in 2016 will influence these areas of the law in 2017. We discuss below the top issues and trends to watch for this year. Liberalization of Canada’s Foreign...

Bulletin

Top Competition and Foreign Investment Review Trends and Issues for 2016

Jan. 18, 2016 - In our annual forecast of the year ahead for Canadian competition and foreign investment review law, we evaluate how developments in 2015 will influence these areas of the law in 2016. Our top issues and trends to watch for this year include the following: The impact of the new federal...

Article

Navigating the Choppy Waters of Foreign Anticorruption Enforcement

June 01, 2015 - The first reported case of corporate foreign corruption dates back to the 16th century, when the British East India Company bribed Mogul rulers with “rare treasures, including paintings, carvings and costly objects made of copper, brass and stone” in consideration of a tax break on exports. ...

Speaking Engagement

Testimony, Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, Examination of the Competition Act (Part 12) contained in Bill C-10, the Budget Implementation Act, 2009; Ottawa, ON

May 14, 2009

Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Competition/Antitrust (Band 1)

Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Competition/Antitrust (Band 1)

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

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

The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory—Competition Law (Most Frequently Recommended)

The Best Lawyers in Canada—Advertising and Marketing Law; Competition and Antitrust Law (Lawyer of the Year 2017 and 2025, Toronto)

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

Expert Guides—Competition and Antitrust

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 1987

Education

University of Western Ontario, LLB, 1985

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association
Canadian Bar Association

Community Involvement

American Bar Association, Antitrust Section, The Antitrust Source Magazine, Editorial Board, co-chair
Canadian Bar Association, National Competition Law Section, former chair

Teaching Engagements

John has lectured on competition law at Western Law.