Partner
Partner
“An excellent lawyer at the top of the game. Very highly regarded…He’s very much in the spotlight.”
Chambers Global 2019
Mark counsels clients – in Canada and internationally – on mergers and acquisitions, criminal cartel investigations, joint ventures, abuse of dominance, distribution and pricing practices, misleading advertising and compliance. He also advises clients on the regulation of foreign investments and ownership in Canada, including under the Investment Canada Act.
Clients appreciate Mark’s calm demeanour, his straightforward and personable approach and his common-sense advice on competition and foreign investment matters.
Mark is actively involved in the Canadian and American Bar Associations and writes and speaks frequently on Canadian competition and foreign investment review laws. Mark is also the co-author of The Competition Law Guide for Trade Associations in Canada.
Partner
“An excellent lawyer at the top of the game. Very highly regarded…He’s very much in the spotlight.”
Chambers Global 2019
Mark counsels clients – in Canada and internationally – on mergers and acquisitions, criminal cartel investigations, joint ventures, abuse of dominance, distribution and pricing practices, misleading advertising and compliance. He also advises clients on the regulation of foreign investments and ownership in Canada, including under the Investment Canada Act.
Clients appreciate Mark’s calm demeanour, his straightforward and personable approach and his common-sense advice on competition and foreign investment matters.
Mark is actively involved in the Canadian and American Bar Associations and writes and speaks frequently on Canadian competition and foreign investment review laws. Mark is also the co-author of The Competition Law Guide for Trade Associations in Canada.
Vance Street Capital
Acted for Vance Street Capital, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, and its portfolio company Polara Enterprises, in their acquisition of Carmanah Technologies, a Vancouver-based leading provider of solar LED pedestrian and traffic safety technology.
Cominar REIT
Acted for Cominar REIT, one of Canada's largest diversified real estate investment trusts and the largest commercial property owner in Québec, in its C$5.7-billion sale to Iris Acquisition II LP, which is an entity created by a consortium led by Canderel Real Estate Property Inc., one of Canada's largest privately held real estate companies.
Viking Global Investors LP
Acted for funds affiliated with Viking Global Investors LP in their acquisition of a minority stake in Valsoft Corporation Inc., whose business involves the acquisition and growth of vertical software businesses that provide mission-critical solutions to their clients.
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Acted for The Sherwin-Williams Company, a global leader in the coatings industry, in its acquisition of AquaSurTech, which primarily manufactures and distributes industrial coatings and related products.
ENGIE
Acting as Canadian regulatory counsel to ENGIE in the EUR7.1-billion sale of its global multi-technical services division, EQUANS, to Bouygues.
Thales Group
Acting as Canadian regulatory counsel to Thales Group in the EUR1.66-billion sale of its Ground Transportation Systems Global Business Unit to Hitachi Rail.
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.
Interfor Corporation
Acted for Interfor Corporation in its $490-million acquisition of 100% of the equity interests of Kelso & Company-backed EACOM Timber Corporation.
Kansas City Southern
Acted as Canadian counsel to Kansas City Southern in its transformative US$31-billion merger with Canada Pacific Railway to create the first U.S.-Mexico-Canada rail network.
CDW LLC
Acted as Canadian counsel for CDW LLC in its acquisition of Sirius Computer Solutions, Inc., for a purchase price of US$2.5 billion.
Blackstone Infrastructure Partners L.P.
Acted as Canadian counsel to Blackstone Infrastructure Partners L.P. in its acquisition of the majority interest of Carrix, Inc., one of the world's largest marine-terminal operators.
Danone
Acted as Canadian counsel to Danone, a leading French multi-local food and beverage company, in the sale of Vega, the North American plant-based nutritional products brand, to funds managed by WM Partners, a U.S.-based private equity investment firm focused on the health and wellness industry.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Acted as Canadian competition counsel for Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company focused on rare disorders therapies, in its US$39-billion acquisition by AstraZeneca plc, a UK-based biopharmaceutical company focused on prescription medicines.
RST Instruments Ltd. and Measurand Instruments Inc.
Acted for Vance Street Capital LLC, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, and its portfolio companies RST Instruments Ltd. and Measurand Instruments Inc., in their acquisition of 3v Geomatics Inc., a world leader in the use of radar satellite images to detect and measure ground and infrastructure displacement across large areas.
Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Acted for Bentley Systems, Incorporated, in its acquisition of Seequent Holdings Limited, a global leader in 3D modelling software for the geosciences, for US$1.05 billion.
Grimco Canada, Inc
Acted for Grimco Canada, Inc., a national wholesale sign supply manufacturer and distributor, in its acquisition of Cobalt Graphics Distribution, a division of Cansel Survey Equipment, Inc.
WESCO International Inc.
Acted for WESCO International Inc. in the sale of its legacy WESCO Datacom business in Canada to Guillevin International, a Canadian distributor of industrial products. This transaction fulfilled WESCO's commitment under its consent agreement entered into with the Canadian Competition Bureau as a condition for the latter's approval to WESCO's US$4.5-billion merger with Anixter International. Davies was Canadian competition counsel to WESCO in the Anixter transaction.
WESCO International Inc.
Acted for WESCO International Inc. in the sale of its legacy WESCO Utility business in Canada to Rexel Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of France's Rexel Group. This transaction fulfilled one of the commitments under WESCO's consent agreement entered into with the Canadian Competition Bureau as a condition for the latter's approval to WESCO's US$4.5-billion merger with Anixter International. Davies was Canadian competition counsel to WESCO in the Anixter transaction.
Hillrom
Acting as Canadian competition counsel to Hillrom, a global medical technology leader, in its proposed US$10.5-billion sale to Baxter International Inc., a leading global medical products company.
Medline Industries, Inc.
Acted as Canadian regulatory counsel to Medline Industries, Inc., the largest U.S.-based privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies with 2020 revenue of US$17.5 billion, in an investment by a private equity consortium comprising funds managed by Blackstone, Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman.
Mohawk Industries Inc.
Acting for Mohawk Industries Inc., the world's largest flooring company, in a proposed class action commenced in the Federal Court of Canada alleging that the defendants conspired to rig bids for condominium refurbishment services in the Greater Toronto Area between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2016.
S&P Global Inc.
Acted for S&P Global Inc. on Canadian regulatory matters in connection with its US$44-billion all-stock merger with IHS Markit.
Tryg A/S
Acted as Canadian counsel to Tryg A/S in connection with its £7.2-billion joint bid with Intact Financial Corporation to acquire RSA Insurance Group plc.
Foundation Building Materials, Inc. and Lone Star Funds
Acted for Foundation Building Materials, Inc. (FBM) and Lone Star Funds (LSF) in the US$1.37-billion acquisition of all outstanding FBM shares by an affiliate of American Securities LLC.
Xplornet Communications Inc.
Acted for Xplornet Communications Inc., a portfolio company of Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners and Canada's leading rural broadband provider, in its acquisition of Corridor Communications Inc., which operates CCI Wireless., a provider of broadband solutions to rural homes in Alberta, along with enterprise clients across western Canada.
Meggitt plc
Acted as Canadian counsel to Meggitt PLC, a U.K.-listed maker of components and sub-systems for the aerospace, defence and selected energy markets, in the US$146-million sale of its U.S. subsidiary, Meggitt Training Systems, to private equity firm Pine Island Capital Partners LLC.
McCain Foods Limited
Acted for McCain Foods Limited in its $70-million acquisition of Hillspring Farms Ltd., a Canadian farmer of potatoes, through a quick-flip sale in a receivership.
WESCO International, Inc.
Acted as Canadian competition counsel to WESCO International, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based distributor of electrical, industrial, and communications products, in its US$4.5-billion acquisition of Anixter International Inc.
Xplornet Communications Inc.
Acted for Xplornet Communications Inc., Canada's largest rural-focused broadband service provider, in its sale to Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners.
Celgene Corporation
Acted for Celgene Corporation, an integrated global biopharmaceutical company, on competition matters related to its US$74-billion sale to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Driven Brands Inc.
Acted for Roark Capital-backed Driven Brands Inc. in its acquisition of Clairus Canada Group, a major automotive parts, windshield repair and claims management business based in Québec.
Total System Services Inc. (TSYS)
Acted for Total System Services Inc. (TSYS), a leading global payments provider, on competition matters related to its US$26-billion merger of equals with Global Payments Inc., to create a global technology-enabled payments company.
Minto Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust
Acted for Minto Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in the $268-million acquisition from Rockhill Apartments Inc. of a multi-residential rental property comprising 1,004 suites in Montréal, Québec. The REIT, which co-acquired the property with Investors Real Property Fund, is the asset and property manager for the co-tenancy and is earning fees for these services.
Return Path, Inc.
Acted for Return Path, an email deliverability firm, in the sale of its business to Validity, a specialist in customer data management.
TransDigm Group Incorporated
Acted for TransDigm Group Incorporated, a global aerospace components manufacturer, on competition matters related to its US$4-billion acquisition of Esterline Technologies Corporation.
Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc.
Acted for Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. on competition matters in the US$265.5-million sale of its anti-vibration unit to Continental AG, a German automotive manufacturing company.
BASF SE
Acted for BASF SE on competition matters in the merger of its paper and water chemicals business with Solenis LLC to create a global specialty chemical company.
Michelin Group
Acted for the Michelin Group in its acquisition of Camso Inc., one of the global leaders in the design, manufacturing and distribution of off-road tires, wheels, tracks and conveyer belts, for a purchase price of US$1.7 billion. Camso has facilities in more than 25 jurisdictions world-wide.
Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Acted for Bentley Systems, Incorporated, a leading global provider of comprehensive infrastructure software solutions, in its acquisition of AIworx Inc., a Québec City based provider of machine learning and Internet of Things technologies and services.
PelicanCorp Pty Ltd.
Acted as counsel to Australia-based PelicanCorp in its acquisition of TelDig Inc., a Québec-based provider of damage-prevention software solutions doing business across Canada and the United States.
Vista Equity Partners III LLC
Acted for Vista Equity Partners in the carve-out sale of the vertical business applications group of its Aptean portfolio companies to a subsidiary of ESW Capital, LLC.
CHAMP Private Equity Pty. Limited
Acted as Canadian counsel for CHAMP Private Equity Pty. Limited in its acquisition of Cell Care and its subsidiary Insception Biosciences Inc., a consumer health company with operations across Australia and Canada that collects, processes and stores umbilical cord stem cells.
JAM Industries Ltd.
Acted for the shareholders of JAM Industries Ltd. in the sale of its majority interest to DCC Technology Holdings Canada Inc., a subsidiary of DCC plc.
Prysmian SpA
Acted for Prysmian SpA on competition and regulatory matters in its $1.5 billion acquisition of General Cable Corporation.
Brio Gold Inc.
Acted for Brio Gold Inc. in the US$264-million acquisition by Leagold Mining Corporation for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Brio Gold.
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
Acted for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited in its acquisition of all of the exploration assets of Canadian Malartic Corporation, including the Kirkland Lake and Hammond Reef projects, for an aggregate purchase price of US$325 million.
RELX Group plc
Acted for an affiliate of Elsevier, part of the RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries, in its acquisition of Science-Metrix Inc., which specializes in research evaluation and bibliometric analysis.
Safran SA
Acted for Safran SA on competition matters in its $8.7 billion takeover of Zodiac Aerospace.
Airbus SE
Acted as co-counsel to Airbus SE, a European leader providing tanker, combat and transport aircraft, as well as a global leader in aeronautic, space and related services, in its divestiture of Vector Aerospace Holding SAS to StandardAero Aviation Holdings, Inc.
Xplornet Communications Inc.
Acted for Xplornet Communications Inc. in its acquisition of the fixed wireless Internet access business of I-Netlink Incorporated and Manitoba Netset Ltd., operating in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan as NetSet Communications.
Whole Foods Market Inc.
Acted for Whole Foods Market Inc. on competition and regulatory matters in its $13.7-billion acquisition by Amazon.com Inc.
Medtronic plc
Acted as Canadian counsel to Medtronic plc on competition and regulatory matters in the US$6.1-billion acquisition of its patient care, deep vein thrombosis and nutritional insufficiency business by Cardinal Health.
TIO Networks Corp.
Acted for the Special Committee of the board of directors of TIO Networks Corp., in connection with its $304-million acquisition by PayPal Holdings, Inc. TIO is a North American cloud-based multi-channel bill payment processing and receivables management company.
KIK Custom Products Inc.
Acted for KIK Custom Products Inc. in its acquisition of Lavo Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of laundry detergent, household cleaners, fabric softeners and bleach in Canada.
Claridge Inc.
Acted for Claridge Inc. in connection with its sale to C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc. of Les Plats du Chef, a Canada-based frozen meal and snack business.
Reckitt Benckiser
Acted as Canadian counsel to Reckitt Benckiser, a global consumer health and hygiene company, on competition and regulatory matters in connection with its US$17.9-billion acquisition of U.S.-listed Mead Johnson Nutrition Company, a global leader in pediatric nutrition.
WestRock Company
Acted for WestRock Company on competition and regulatory matters in its $1.39 billion acquisition of Multipackaging Solutions International Ltd.
Joy Global Inc.
Acted for Joy Global Inc. on competition and regulatory matters in its proposed acquisition by Komatsu Ltd. in a transaction valued at approximately $3.7 billion.
Amcor Rigid Plastics USA, Inc.
Acted for Amcor Rigid Plastics USA, Inc. in connection with its US$280-million acquisition of the North American rigid plastics blow molding operations of Sonoco Products Company, a global packaging company based in the United States.
PPG Industries Inc.
Acted for PPG Industries in connection with its agreement to sell the assets of its flat glass manufacturing and glass coating operations to Vitro S.A.B. de C.V., a leading producer of flat glass and specialty products, for approximately US$750 million in gross cash proceeds.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Acted for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in its $1.175-billion acquisition of a 50% interest in Canadian office portfolio from Oxford Properties Group (Oxford). Oxford will continue to manage the properties on behalf of the partnership. The transaction brings the total size of the jointly owned Oxford-CPPIB office portfolio to over 12 million square feet.
Vista Equity Partners III, LLC
Acted for Vista Equity Partners portfolio companies in connection with (i) an acquisition by Aptean, Inc., a leading provider of enterprise software solutions and a Vista Equity portfolio company, of the Government & Enterprise Management Solutions Division from StarDyne Technologies Inc.; and (ii) an acquisition by PowerSchool Group LLC, the leading education technology platform for K-12 and another Vista Equity portfolio company, of the SRB Education Solutions Division of StarDyne Technologies Inc.
Communauto Inc.
Acted for Communauto Inc., one of the largest car-sharing services in the world, in connection with an investment by Automobiles Peugeot and MKB Partners Fund.
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.
Amcor Limited
Acted for Amcor Limited in connection with its acquisition of Alusa, a leading flexible packaging business in South America, with operations in Chile, Argentina, Peru and Colombia.
New Look Vision Group Inc.
Acted for New Look Vision Group Inc. in connection with its acquisition of retail optical outlets.
Peds Legwear Inc.
Acted for Peds Legwear Inc. in connection with its acquisition by Gildan Activewear Inc., for an acquisition cost of US$55 million.
Export-Import Bank of China
Acting for the Export-Import Bank of China in connection with the financing of the acquisition of Alter NRG Corp. by Harvest International New Energy, Co., Ltd.
La Coop fédérée
Acted for La Coop fédérée in connection with the combination of its Sonic division with Groupe Filgo for the purpose of merging their energy products distribution activities and their service stations operations.
Royal Greenland Seafood A/S
Acted for Royal Greenland Seafood A/S in connection with its investment in Canadian seafood producer Quin-Sea Fisheries Limited.
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.
Media Experts M.H.S. Inc.
Acted for the shareholders of Media Experts M.H.S. Inc. in connection with a sale of a majority interest to Interpublic Group of Companies Canada, Inc.
United Technologies Corporation (UTC)
Acted as Canadian counsel to United Technologies Corporation (UTC) on competition and regulatory matters in connection with the US$9-billion sale of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation to Lockheed Martin Corporation.
Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn. Bhd.
Acted for Malaysia's Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn. Bhd., one of the largest palm plantation operators in the world, in its sale of eastern Canada's largest oilseed processing plant to Viterra Inc. for $190 million.
PSP Investments
Acted for the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) in connection with the sale of a portfolio of real estate assets by joint ventures between affiliates of PSP Investments and affiliates of Starlight Investments to Northern Property Real Estate Investment Trust (NPR) concurrently with NPR's acquisition of True North Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust by way of plan of arrangement to form Northview Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust, which has an enterprise value in excess of $3 billion and is the third-largest publicly-traded multi-family REIT in Canada.
Locemia Solutions ULC
Acted for Locemia Solutions ULC in connection with the acquisition by Eli Lilly and Company of substantially all of Locemia's assets associated with the research and commercialization of the first needle-free rescue treatment of severe hypoglycemia.
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.
The MANN+HUMMEL Group
Acted as Canadian counsel to The MANN+HUMMEL Group of Ludwigsburg, Germany, in connection with its acquisition of the global filtration operations (excluding the South American operations) of Affinia Group for a purchase price of approximately US$1.335 billion (US$513 million for the equity and the assumption of US$822 million of debt).
Grafton-Fraser Inc.
Acted for Grafton-Fraser Inc., the owner and operator of Tip Top Tailors, in its acquisition, through a wholly owned subsidiary, of the Canadian retail assets of Jones Apparel (Canada) Ltd., a women's apparel retailer of the Jones New York brand.
Tippmann US Holdco, Inc. (part of the G.I. Sportz Group)
Acted for G.I. Sportz Inc. in connection with the acquisition of Kee Action Sports, a leading manufacturer and distributor of paintball sporting goods, equipment and apparel, based in New Jersey with distribution facilities located across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)
Acted for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in the $105-million acquisition from Minto Properties Inc. of an undivided 60% ownership interest in Minto High Park Village, a multifamily rental property comprising three apartment buildings and approximately 750 rental units. Minto will continue to own an undivided 40% interest in the property and will continue to oversee management and leasing on behalf of the co-owners. This transaction marks CPPIB's first direct investment in the Canadian multifamily real estate market.
H.J. Heinz Company
Acted for H.J. Heinz Company with respect to Canadian regulatory matters in connection with its acquisition of Kraft Foods Group, Inc., to create one of the world's largest food and beverage companies with combined sales of approximately US$28 billion.
Zoom Media Group Inc.
Acted for Zoom Media Group Inc. in the sale of its non-fitness indoor advertising business (consisting of campus, fashion, business, medical and golf networks) to Newad Media Inc. and in the acquisition of Newad Media Inc.'s fitness indoor advertising business.
Frutarom Industries Ltd.
Acted for Frutarom Industries Ltd., one of the world's 10 largest companies operating in the global flavours and fine ingredients markets, in connection with its acquisition of substantially all of the shares of Investissements BSA Inc., a developer, manufacturer and distributor of spices and seasoning blends, with a particular focus on the areas of processed meats and convenience foods, for $42,750,000.
Central National-Gottesman Inc.
Acted for Central National-Gottesman Inc., a global distributor of pulp, paper and forestry products, and its subsidiary Spicers Canada ULC in connection with the acquisition of the assets and business of Spicers Canada Limited, a distributor of fine paper, sign and display media, industrial packaging and graphic arts supplies, headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario and with locations across Canada, and the related financing with Bank of America, N.A. (Canada branch), as agent.
Endo International plc
Acted for Endo International plc in connection with its US$2.6 billion acquisition of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Covidien Plc
Acted as Canadian counsel to Covidien plc on competition and other regulatory matters in its acquisition by Medtronic, Inc. for approximately US$49.9 billion.
Vision 7 International ULC
Acted for Vision 7 International ULC, a fully integrated marketing communications company, whose two major brands include Canadian marketing communication agency leader Cossette and the international PR firm Citizen Relations, in connection with its acquisition by BlueFocus Communication Group Co., Ltd., the No. 1 integrated communication and marketing services group in China.
Selex Sistemi Integrati S.P.A.
Acted for Selex ES Ltd, a subsidiary of Leonardo S.p.A. in connection with its acquisition of TTI Tactical Technologies Inc., a developer and service provider of electronic warfare simulation software for the international electronic warfare market.
Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust
Acted for Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust in connection with the $1.527-billion acquisition of a portfolio of 11 shopping centres, three office properties and one industrial property from Ivanhoé Cambridge, the real estate subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. The firm also represented Cominar in financing the acquisition, through the issuance of $250 million of trust units to Ivanhoé Cambridge by way of private placement, the issuance of $250 million of trust units to the public by way of a bought deal, the establishment of new unsecured bridge facilities of up to $850 million, a $100-million unsecured credit facility, and mortgage financings of $250 million.
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).
McCain Foods
Acted for McCain Foods on the sale of its North American frozen pizza business to Dr. Oetker.
Fortress Investment Group, LLC and Holiday Retirement
Acted for Fortress Investment Group, LLC and Holiday Retirement in connection with the sale of 29 Canadian senior living communities to Ventas, Inc.
WSP Global Inc.
Acted for WSP Global Inc., a publicly traded global professional engineering services firm based in Montréal, Québec, in connection with its entering into of an arrangement agreement regarding the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Focus Group Holding Inc., a multi-disciplinary engineering and consulting firm based in Alberta principally serving oil, gas and civil markets in Western Canada, for an aggregate purchase price of $366,050,000.
TransMontaigne Inc.
Acted as Canadian counsel to TransMontaigne Inc., a US oil pipeline and terminal company, in connection with the sale of Canterm Canadian Terminals Inc., a company with two distribution terminals for the storage and handling of refined products in Montréal and Québec City, to Royal Vopak, the world's largest independent liquid bulk tank storage service by capacity.
Paladin Labs Inc.
Acted for Paladin Labs Inc. in connection with its acquisition by Endo Health Solutions Inc. in a stock and cash transaction valued at approximately $3 billion.
Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust
Acted for Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust in connection with its $228-million acquisition of a portfolio of 11 office properties in the Greater Toronto Area and in Montréal from Redbourne Realty Fund.
Rainy River Resources Ltd.
Acted as Ontario counsel to Rainy River Resources Ltd. in the acquisition by New Gold Inc. of Rainy River for $310 million.
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.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Acted for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in connection with a 50/50 Canadian retail joint venture with Oxford Properties Group. As part of the transaction, CPPIB acquired a 50% interest in the approximately 1 million square foot Upper Canada Mall, in Ontario, from Oxford Properties Group, and Oxford Properties Group acquired a 50% interest in the 1.5 million square foot Les Galeries de la Capitale shopping centre, in Québec, from CPPIB.
IMC International Metalworking Companies B.V.
Acted as Canadian counsel to IMC International Metalworking Companies B.V. in connection with its contemplated strategic arrangement with Woulfe Mining Corporation and its 100%-owned tungsten/molybdenum South Korean subsidiary, Sangdong Mining Corporation.
Hebei Iron & Steel Group Co., Ltd.
Acted for Hebei Iron & Steel Group Co., Ltd. in connection with its strategic investment in Alderon Iron Ore Corp. and its Kami iron ore project.
Rogers Communications Inc.
Acted for Rogers Communications Inc. with respect to competition and regulatory matters in connection with its joint acquisition with Bell Canada of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. from Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.
Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft mbH
Acted for Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft mbH in connection with its sale of its 50% interest in four prominent shopping centres located in Canada to Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc. for $508 million.
Dassault Systèmes SE
Acted for Dassault Systèmes SE in connection with its acquisition of the shares of Gemcom Software International Inc., a geological modeling and simulation company which is a world leader in mining industry software solutions with operations in 13 jurisdictions around the world, for approximately US$360 million.
Google Inc.
Acted as Canadian counsel to Google Inc. on competition and other regulatory matters in connection with its US$12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc.
Watsco, Inc.
Acted for Watsco, Inc. in its acquisition of 60% of Carrier's $330 million Canadian heating, ventilation and air conditioning distribution network in Canada, to form a joint venture with UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., under the name Carrier Enterprise Canada.
United Technologies Corporation
Acted as Canadian counsel to United Technologies Corporation on competition and other regulatory matters in connection with its acquisition of Goodrich Corporation in a deal valued at US$16.5 billion.
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
Acted for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited in connection with the acquisition of Grayd Resource Corporation by way of takeover bid for $275 million.
Twin Rivers Technologies - Entreprises de Transformation de Graines Oléagineuses du Québec Inc.
Acted for Twin Rivers Technologies - Entreprises de Transformation de Graines Oléagineuses du Québec Inc., a subsidiary of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd of Malaysia, in connection with its joint venture with Bunge North America to create Bunge ETGO L.P.
Bird Construction Inc.
Acted for Bird Construction Inc. in connection with its $78 million acquisition of all outstanding shares of H.J. O'Connell, Limited, a construction company with operations in Newfoundland and Labrador, Québec and Manitoba.
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.
AbitibiBowater Inc.
Acted for AbitibiBowater Inc. (now known as Resolute Forest Products) in connection with the sale of its 75% indirect interest in ACH Limited Partnership, which owns 8 hydroelectric generating facilities in Ontario, in a transaction valued at $640 million.
Minmetals Exploration & Development (Luxembourg) Limited S.a.r.l.
Acted for Minmetals Exploration & Development (Luxembourg) Limited S.a.r.l. in connection with its acquisition, on a private placement basis, of 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of Century Iron Mines Corporation (formerly Red Rock Capital Corp.). In connection with the acquisition of shares, Davies also acted for Minmetals in respect of the material terms of an Offtake Agreement to be entered into between Minmetals and Century providing for the purchase by Minmetals of iron ore produced from Century's Duncan Lake Property.
OneSteel Limited
Acted as counsel for OneSteel Limited on Canadian Competition Act matters in connection with its US$932-million acquisition of the Moly-Cop and AltaSteel businesses from Anglo American Plc.
Canpages Inc.
Acted for Canpages Inc., a local search and directories publisher in Canada, in an acquisition by Yellow Media Inc. from an investor group led by private equity firm HM Capital Partners, in a deal valued at $225 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.
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.
Wells Fargo & Company
Acted as Canadian counsel to Wells Fargo & Company on Canadian regulatory matters in connection with its acquisition of Wachovia Corporation in a deal valued at US$11.7 billion.
Time Inc.
Acted as Canadian counsel for Time Inc. in its acquisition of QSP, Inc., in the United States, and Quality Service Products Inc., in Canada, from The Readers Digest Association Inc. in a transaction valued at US$110 million.
Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.
Acted for Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. (now known as Resolute Forest Products) in connection with the sale of a paper mill and timberlands in Fort Williams, Ontario.
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.
Thomas H. Lee Partners L.P. and Fidelity National Financial Inc.
Acted as Canadian counsel for Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and Fidelity National Financial Inc. in their acquisition of Ceridian Corporation in a transaction valued at US$5.3 billion.
Amcor Limited
Acted for Amcor Limited in the sale of its polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging operation in six countries in Europe to La Seda de Barcelona S.A. in a transaction valued at 430 million euros.
Vishay Intertechnology Inc.
Acted for Vishay Intertechnology Inc. in its acquisition of the Power Control Systems ("PCS") business from International Rectifier in a transaction valued at approximately US$290 million.
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.
GS Capital Partners
Acted for an investment group led by Joseph Neubauer and investment funds managed by GS Capital Partners, CCMP Capital Advisors, JP Morgan Partners, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Warburg Pincus LLC on Canadian regulatory matters in connection with the acquisition of ARAMARK Corporation in a transaction valued at US$8.3 billion.
Xstrata plc
Acted for Xstrata plc in its $6.2 billion all-cash friendly takeover bid to acquire LionOre Mining International. Following two interloper bids by MMC Norilsk Nickel, Xstrata received the largest percentage break fee (5%) in any Canadian deal valued at over $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.
Japan Airlines
Acted for Japan Airlines International Co., Ltd. in its defence of class actions across Canada alleging price fixing in respect of, among other things, fees for passenger airfares.
Barrick Gold Corporation
Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in its all-cash US$1.53-billion unsolicited takeover bid to acquire NovaGold Resources Inc.
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.
Minacs Worldwide Inc.
Acted for Minacs Worldwide Inc. in its auction process and the resulting negotiated all-cash takeover bid for Minacs by Transworks Information Systems Ltd. in a transaction valued at $196 million.
Amcor Limited
Acted for Amcor Limited in the sale of its White Cap business in Europe, Asia, Brazil and the US to Silgan Holdings Inc. for a base price of $230 million.
Barrick Gold Corporation
Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in its pre-bid agreement with Goldcorp Inc. to dispose of certain assets acquired by Barrick in its takeover bid for Placer Dome Inc. and in the subsequent disposition of US$1.6 billion of assets to Goldcorp.
Maytag Corporation
Acted for Maytag Corporation on Competition Act matters in connection with the US$2.7 billion acquisition of Maytag by Whirlpool Corporation.
Dubai Ports World
Acted for Dubai Ports World in its acquisition of The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company for US$6.8 billion.
Man Financial Inc.
Acted as Canadian counsel for Man Financial Inc. (now MF Global Ltd.), a global broker for exchange-traded futures and options, in its negotiated acquisition of the Canadian operations of Refco Group Ltd.
Mittal Steel
Acted as Canadian counsel to Mittal Steel in connection with its $37 billion bid for Arcelor.
Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.
Acted for Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. (now known as Resolute Forest Products) in connection with the sale of its shares in PanAsia Paper Company Pte Ltd. to Norske Skog in a transaction valued at US$600 million.
The Gillette Company
Acted as Canadian counsel for the The Gillette Company in connection with the acquisition of The Gillette Company by Procter & Gamble Co. in a transaction valued at approximately US$57 billion.
Vista Equity Partners
Acted for Vista Equity Partners on its acquisition of MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $77 million.
Metro Inc.
Acted for Metro Inc. on its acquisition of A&P Canada in a transaction valued at $1.7 billion.
SITQ Inc.
Acted for SITQ Inc. in its purchase of Deutsche Bank AG's 75% interest in the Steeles Technology Campus, a 635,626 sq. ft. campus-style suburban office development for $98.4 million.
GE Commercial Distribution Finance Canada
Acted for GE Commercial Distribution Finance on its acquisition of Bombardier Capital's Inventory Finance division in a transaction valued at US$2.3 billion.
Bain Capital
Acted for an affiliate of Bain Capital in the sale of its interests in Advertising Directory Solutions Inc. for a purchase price of approximately $2.55 billion.
Masonite International Corporation
Acted for Masonite International Corp. which was acquired by Stile Acquisition Corp. in a transaction valued at $3.1 billion.
Mark Katz Speaks to PaRR on Trends in National Security Reviews
Sept. 30, 2022 - Global news service PaRR (available to subscribers) featured Davies partner Mark Katz for his perspective on recent developments in national security reviews of foreign investments in Canada. Speaking on the increase in national security reviews in recent years, Mark noted the continuing debate on...
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian court upholds dismissal of hockey class action claim”
Aug. 19, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Cartel Leniency In Canada: Overview, co-author
July 01, 2022 - Practical Law Country Q&A 2022 (Thomson Reuters)
Download the 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.
Canada Joins the Labour Party: “Wage-Fixing” and “No-Poaching” Agreements are now Illegal Under the Competition Act
June 30, 2022 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
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...
Cartels 2022: Canada Trends and Developments
June 14, 2022 - Chambers Global Practice Guides (Chambers and Partners)
Read the article.
Canadian Control and Foreign Investments in the Canadian Airline Sector
June 10, 2022 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Interview, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, “Using omnibus budget bill to pass Competition Act changes 'snuffs out' debate, consultation: lawyers”
May 05, 2022 - Read the full article.
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canada seeks to increase abuse of dominance penalties”
Apr. 27, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canada settles waste management merger challenge with divestitures”
Apr. 14, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Panelist, World Law Group, Antitrust & Competition Group Meeting, “FDI Review in Canada – An Update”; Webcast
Apr. 05, 2022
Canada FDI control
Mar. 18, 2022 - LexisNexis (part of RELX (UK) Limited)
Download the article.
Canada merger control
Mar. 18, 2022 - LexisNexis (part of RELX (UK) Limited)
Download the article.
Canadian government imposes strict new rules on Russian FDI in Canada, co-author
Mar. 17, 2022 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Foreign Investment Review in Canada: Top Trends and Developments for 2022
Mar. 01, 2022 - The past year generated substantial interest in the operation of the Investment Canada Act (ICA), especially the national security review process, against the backdrop of changes in government policy that purport to articulate a more expansive view of Canada’s national security interests. ...
Merger Review under the Canada Transportation Act – The Interplay with Competition Act Review, co-author
Mar. 01, 2022 - The Pipeline, Spring 2022, Vol. 1, Issue 1 (American Bar Association)
Download the article.
Main Developments in Competition Law and Policy 2021 – Canada, co-author
Feb. 22, 2022 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian enforcer can seek emergency pause to mergers, appellate court says”
Feb. 14, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian government sets ‘the record straight’ on national security allegations”
Feb. 11, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian government signals antitrust reform on horizon”
Feb. 07, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Waste collector criticises market definition in Canada merger challenge”
Jan. 18, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
China Mobile Case Illustrates Breadth of Canada’s National Security Review Regime
Dec. 20, 2021 - After operating in Canada for five years, China Mobile International (Canada) Inc. (CMI) was ordered by the Canadian government in August 2021 to shut down or divest its Canadian operations because of national security concerns. CMI has applied for judicial review of the government’s decision and...
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Chinese telecoms company accuses Canadian government of bias in national security review”
Dec. 03, 2021 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian court rejects no-poach class certification”
Nov. 12, 2021 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
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...
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Boswell: ‘It’s time to make competition a priority’”
Oct. 21, 2021 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Foreign Investment Review in Canada: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Thereon
Sept. 01, 2021 - International Law News, Summer 2021, Vol. 48, Issue 4 (American Bar Association)
Download the article.
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canada seeks to block industrial waste disposal merger”
July 01, 2021 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
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...
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian enforcer says airline deal remedies are inadequate”
Feb. 18, 2021 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Mark Katz Talks to Global Competition Review About Bureau’s Decision to Drop Criminal Cartel Probe
Jan. 14, 2021 - Following the Bureau’s recent move to drop its criminal cartel investigation against Postmedia and Torstar, Davies partner Mark Katz spoke to Global Competition Review about the decision. In the article (available to subscribers), Mark said it’s positive that the Bureau has decided not to...
Canadian Government Blocks Foreign Acquisition of Canadian Gold Miner on National Security Grounds
Jan. 08, 2021 - The Canadian government has exercised its authority under the national security provisions of the Investment Canada Act (ICA) to prohibit Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd. (Shandong), a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE), from acquiring Canadian gold producer TMAC Resources Inc. (TMAC). ...
Main Developments in Competition Law and Policy 2020: Canada, co-author
Jan. 06, 2021 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
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.
Cartel Leniency in Canada: Overview, co-author
Nov. 01, 2020 - Practical Law – Cartel Leniency Global Guide (Thomson Reuters)
Download the article.
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...
American Bar Association, International Law Section, 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting, “Antitrust in 2020 and Beyond: Is It Up to the Task?”; Webcast
June 10, 2020
Apr. 07, 2020 - After the Competition Bureau’s announcement last week that the pre-merger notification threshold will remain the same as last year, Global Competition Review asked Mark Katz for his thoughts on the decision. “Although technically the Minister can decide not to follow that formula [set out...
The Davies Forecast of Top 5 Trends and Issues for Canadian Competition Law in 2020, co-author
Jan. 24, 2020 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Mark Katz Reflects on Competition Tribunal Review Process in Global Competition Review
Jan. 16, 2020 - In an article (available to subscribers) published this week in Global Competition Review, Mark Katz shared his perspectives on the Competition Tribunal’s recent order denying the Competition Bureau’s request to expedite its challenge of Parrish & Heimbecker’s grain elevator acquisition....
Jan. 15, 2020 - The official Annual Report under the Investment Canada Act (ICA) for the fiscal year 2018-19 was released at the end of 2019. This document sets out various statistics and other noteworthy developments during that time frame (i.e., April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019) relating to the two...
He Knows When You’ve Been Naughty: Canada’s Competition Commissioner Delivers Lumps of Coal to Merging Parties, co-author
Dec. 27, 2019 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Recent Developments in Abuse of Dominance Law in Canada: When is Anti-Competitive Conduct Justified?, co-author
Dec. 06, 2019 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Mark Katz Speaks to Global Competition Review About Canadian Anti-Cartel Enforcement
Nov. 28, 2019 - Following the recent sentencing of a fourth individual in a Gatineau bid-rigging cartel, Global Competition Review featured Mark Katz’s insights in an article (available to subscribers) about Canada’s treatment of conspiracy and bid-rigging offences. “Although the penalty handed down in...
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.
Sept. 11, 2019 - A recent article in Global Competition Review (available to subscribers) featured Mark Katz and Anita Banicevic’s reactions to the Competition Bureau’s call for businesses and consumers to report potentially anticompetitive conduct in the digital economy. Mark commented that there is “no...
Mark Katz Weighs In on Private Competition Claims in Global Competition Review
Aug. 12, 2019 - Global Competition Review recently featured Mark Katz’s insights into the private actions regime in Canada following the Competition Tribunal’s refusal to allow an abuse of dominance claim against a Québec Crown corporation. In the article (available to subscribers), Mark explains that...
Recent Developments in Canadian Cartel Enforcement: Is Business Becoming Immune to the Competition Bureau’s Immunity/Leniency Programs?, co-author
Aug. 03, 2019 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Recent Developments in Canadian Merger Review: New Commissioner Means New Enforcement Agenda, co-author
July 26, 2019 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Canada’s Competition Bureau Releases Draft Model Timing Agreement for Merger Efficiencies Claims
July 22, 2019 - Canada’s Competition Bureau has released a draft model timing agreement for mergers where the parties wish to raise efficiencies claims. For context, Canada’s efficiencies defence provides that no remedy may be imposed in respect of a merger that substantially lessens competition when the...
Facing the Music: The Pitfalls of Obstruction Under Canada’s Competition Act
July 17, 2019 - Conventional wisdom (at least since Watergate) tells us that “it’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up.” In other words, it’s possible to violate the law by trying to conceal an alleged crime – even if it turns out that the allegation of criminal conduct is never substantiated…
C5’s European Forum on Foreign Investment Security Reviews and CFIUS, "National Security Reviews in Canada and Australia”; London, UK
June 20, 2019
Mark Katz Speaks to GCR About Monopoly Claims Against Canadian Crown Corporations
May 23, 2019 - In a recent article (available to subscribers) published by Global Competition Review, Mark Katz spoke about the application of Canada’s Competition Act to Crown corporations. Last month, the former owner of a private security company in Québec applied for permission to sue the statutory...
Moderator, Canadian Bar Association, Competition Law Spring Conference, “The Uncertain State of Immunity & Leniency”; Toronto, ON
May 07, 2019
Investment Canada Act: Guide for Foreign Investors in Canada, 2019 Edition
Feb. 02, 2019 - The regulatory landscape for foreign investments in Canada is constantly evolving. As a regular adviser on matters relating to the Investment Canada Act (ICA), Davies has updated this informative guide for foreign investors and their advisers, which provides an overview of the ICA and how...
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...
Compliance Alert: Competition Law Issues for HR Professionals in Canada
Dec. 21, 2016 -
Introduction On October 20, 2016, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (Antitrust Division) jointly issued special compliance guidelines (HR Guidelines)1 for human resource (HR) professionals and...
What Does CETA Mean for EU and Canadian Competition Policy?
Dec. 13, 2016 - With the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) having finally been signed by the EU and Canada on October 30, 2016, it’s worth exploring what it says about competition law and policy and how it may impact these issues on both sides of the Atlantic. Read more on What Does CETA Mean for...
Dec. 01, 2016 - In our recent e-communication Canada Lowers the Wall to Foreign Investment, we described steps taken by the Canadian government to create a more attractive and welcoming climate for foreign investment in Canada: lowering a key review threshold under the Investment Canada Act...
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...
Competition Law Considerations for the Franchise Industry in Canada
Oct. 22, 2016 - The Canadian franchise industry constitutes an important sector of the Canadian economy. The industry employs one in every 35 Canadian, generates approximately C$68 billion in revenues, and covers a wide variety of businesses (60% of franchisees are in non-food sectors and industries.) Franchising...
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...
International Cartel Enforcement
July 12, 2016 - Panelist: International Cartel Enforcement, Pages 209-224. Download this article.
July 05, 2016 - The integrity regime (then known as the integrity framework) was first adopted in November 2012, in response to the July 2012 conviction of a supplier of real estate advisory services for bid-rigging on a federal government contract. The regime has gone through several iterations since then with...
Canada, Competition and Fintech: A Review
June 29, 2016 - On May 19, 2016, Canada’s Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced that it is launching a “market study” into technology-led innovation in the Canadian financial services sector, also referred to as “fintech. ” The Bureau’s study will focus on how innovation is affecting the way consumers and...
Canadian Bar Association, Competition Law Spring Conference
May 19, 2016
May 13, 2016 - On April 4, 2016, the Canadian federal government amended its Integrity Regime, which governs the qualification of suppliers to enter into contracts with Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and a number of other federal departments and agencies. The amendments are intended to...
Reviewing the Situation: Is Canada Able to Enforce Its Anti-cartel Laws Effectively?
May 10, 2016 - Although the vast majority of cartel matters in Canada are resolved through negotiated pleas, parties will occasionally choose to fight rather than settle. Two such contested cases came to a close in 2015, with the accused parties prevailing in both instances. In the process, these cases have...
May 05, 2016 - Since its arrival in Canada in 2012, Uber has generated heated discussion among affected interests, notably the established taxi industry, regulatory bodies overseeing the industry, and municipal and provincial governments responsible for putting the existing regulatory frameworks into place. In...
Controlling the Housing Bubble
Apr. 22, 2016 - With the rising cost of real estate in Canada, affordability continues to be a hot topic. In Australia, foreigners are limited to acquisitions of new dwellings, with approval in advance from the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board. Canada and its cities are considering foreign investment...
Competition Law Considerations for H.R. Professionals
Mar. 23, 2016 - Do your company’s H.R. practices violate Canadian competition law? In this article from The Lawyer’s Weekly, Davies partner Mark Katz examines the ways in which competition claims can arise in the H.R. and employment contexts and the steps that H.R. professionals can take to avoid...
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 Canada’s competition authorities in two high-profile prosecutions. This article discusses these and other developments, following a brief overview of...
Canadian Society of Association Executives, CSAE Trillium Chapter Winter Summit, “The Competition Bureau’s New Approach to Compliance for Associations”
Feb. 04, 2016
Oct. 28, 2015 - “Abuse of dominant market position,” or “abuse of dominance” as it is more generally called, is considered one of the cornerstone provisions of the Competition Act. This chapter provides a detailed overview of the provision, including its origins, purpose, enforcement, elements, remedies,...
Sept. 30, 2015 - Canada’s Commissioner of Competition is armed with a variety of compulsory powers that he can use in pursuing investigations. One such power is the ability, with the permission of a court, to subpoena documents and information under section 11 of the Canadian Competition Act. Of late,...
Moderator, American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, “Whistleblowing in Antitrust: Prospects and Pitfalls”
Aug. 27, 2015
The Center for Modern Torah Leadership, “Entry and Competition in Jewish and Antitrust Law”
July 30, 2015
American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law Corporate Counseling Committee – June Antitrust Update
July 15, 2015
Federal Public Contracts Now Governed by New, More Flexible Integrity Provisions
July 14, 2015 - On July 3, 2015, the federal government implemented a new integrity regime (New Regime) governing suppliers’ capacity to enter into procurement contracts and real property transactions with Public Works and Government Services Canada. The New Regime will be rolled out to all federal departments...
Canadian Pre-Merger Notification: Overview
June 22, 2015 - The Competition Act R.S.C. 1985, c. C34 (Competition Act) requires that mergers, acquisitions and other business combinations that meet certain prescribed thresholds be notified to the Commissioner of Competition (Commissioner), who is the head of the federal Competition Bureau...
Apr. 06, 2015 - New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel is renowned for many things. An icon of glamour and luxury, the Waldorf Astoria was the tallest building in the world when constructed in 1931. It’s played host to numerous celebrities and is the reputed birthplace of such culinary dishes as eggs benedict,...
Mar. 17, 2015 - The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released its first decision in nearly 20 years regarding the Competition Act’s merger provisions on 22 January 2015. Its decision in Tervita Corp v Canada (Commissioner of Competition) is important because (1) it sets out the proper...
Canada Tackles Misleading Advertising and Business Promotions
Mar. 13, 2015 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog
Read more on Canada Tackles Misleading Advertising and Business Promotions.
Presentation: Doing Business in Asia - Merger Control
Mar. 02, 2015 - This presentation, moderated by Mark Katz and delivered at the ABA Asian Forum, provides an overview of merger control regimes, covers recent significant developments in this area, and touches on what to look forward to in 2015. Download this presentation.
Presentation: Canadian Competition Law Highlights
Feb. 27, 2015 - Davies partners Mark Katz and Elisa Kearney delivered a presentation on Canadian competition law highlights to the Antitrust Lawyers Study Group, Tokyo, Japan. Download this presentation.
Bridging the Gap? Canada Takes on Cross-Border Price Discrimination
Jan. 21, 2015 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog
Read more on Bridging the Gap? Canada Takes on Cross-Border Price Discrimination.
Jan. 01, 2015 - As described previously in “An Old Friend in New Clothes” CLI 10 June 2014, the Canadian government is determined to remedy what it (and many Canadians) regard as an unjustified gap between U.S. and Canadian prices for the same goods. In particular, the government has focused on what it...
The Ethics of Trade Association Codes of Ethics
Dec. 19, 2014 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog
Read more on The Ethics of Trade Association Codes of Ethics.
Canadian Society of Association Executives, National Conference and Showcase; October 29 to 31, 2014
Oct. 29, 2014
Federated Press, 2nd M&A Agreements Course, “Practical Advice on Negotiating and Structuring Key M&A Agreements”; Sept. 16 & 17, 2014
Sept. 16, 2014
Co-chair, American Bar Association and the International Association of Young Lawyers, Section of International Law and the International Association of Young Lawyers Joint Conference; Chicago, IL; June 06 & 07, 2014
June 06, 2014
Joint Ventures: Antitrust Analysis of Collaborations Among Competitors, 2nd ed., editorial contributor
Mar. 31, 2014 - ABA Book Publishing
Purchase a copy of Joint Ventures: Antitrust Analysis of Collaborations Among Competitors, 2nd ed.
The Commons Institute, International Trade Law and Regulation Conference, “Recent Developments in Foreign Investment Review” and “The Law and Regulation of International Trade”
Mar. 28, 2014
Federated Press, Partnerships, Limited Partnerships and Joint Ventures Conference, “Competition Law Considerations for Joint Ventures and Other Collaborations”; Mar. 27 & 28, 2014
Mar. 27, 2014
American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law, “Ethical Pitfalls in Merger Negotiations”
Feb. 26, 2014
Jewish Lawyers Network, Law Conference: Comparing Modern and Talmudic Legal Systems, “The Ethics of Competition: A Comparison Between Jewish and Antitrust Law”
Dec. 09, 2013
Osgoode Hall Law School, Osgoode Professional Development’s Competition Law Essentials for Corporate Counsel, Business Lawyers and Executives Program, “Agreements with Competitors: Structuring Collaborations and Strategic Alliances”
Dec. 03, 2013
Commerce Commission New Zealand, Commission Conference & Competition Matters, “Antitrust Sanctions and the Goal of Deterrence”; Oct. 17 & 18, 2013
Oct. 17, 2013
Federated Press, “Regulatory Issues in Drafting M&A Agreements”
Sept. 23, 2013
Federated Press, “Best Practices for Regulatory Investigations: Handling Cartel Investigations Under the Competition Act”
Sept. 13, 2013
Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, “Anticipating and Avoiding Post-Closing Issues”
June 05, 2013
Steptoe & Johnson LLP, webinar, “Competition Law Risk and Managing Employees in the US, EU, and Canada: Guidelines, Pitfalls, and Challenges”
Apr. 24, 2013
Canadian Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, “Competition Compliance Essentials: Trade Associations Under Scrutiny”
Apr. 17, 2013
Strafford Webinars, “Key Compliance Strategies to Avoid Misleading Advertising Violations in Canada”
Jan. 08, 2013
Canadian Society of Association Executives, CSAE National Conference & Showcase, “Competition Law and Associations in Canada”
Nov. 01, 2012
American Bar Association, Section of International Law 2012 Fall Meeting, “Global Economic Slowdown – What’s Its Impact on Regulatory Clearance for Mergers and Acquisitions?”; Oct. 16 to 20, 2012
Oct. 16, 2012
New York County Lawyers’ Association, Antitrust and Trade Regulation Committee, and American Bar Association Section of International Law, “The Ethics of Internal Investigations”
Oct. 15, 2012
Canadian Bar Association, 2012 Annual Competition Law Fall Conference; Sept. 20 & 21, 2012
Sept. 20, 2012
Moderator, American Bar Association Section of International Law and the Israel Bar Association, joint conference and meeting, “The ‘Nuts and Bolts’ of International Joint Ventures: Israel and the U.S./E.U.”
May 22, 2012
Global Competition Review, GCR Live: Law Leaders Asia & Pacific 2012, “Competition/IP & Technology”; Mar. 02 & 03, 2012
Mar. 02, 2012
Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Competition/Antitrust
Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Competition/Antitrust
GCR 100 Canada: A Guide to the World’s Leading Competition Law and Economics Practices—Competition and Foreign Investment Review
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory—Competition Law
The Best Lawyers in Canada—Advertising and Marketing Law; Competition and Antitrust Law
Who’s Who Legal: Canada—Competition; Who’s Who Legal: Competition
Expert Guides—Competition and Antitrust
Ontario, 1989
Osgoode Hall Law School, LLB, 1987
McGill University, BA, 1984
American Bar Association
Canadian Bar Association
American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, Trade, Sports and Professional Associations Committee, former vice-chair
American Bar Association, Section of International Law, International Antitrust law Committee, former co-chair
Avenue Road Hockey Association
Camp Massad of Québec
Israel Guide Dog Centre for the Blind
Mark was a co-lecturer for Federated Press’s 5th Negotiating and Drafting International Business Agreements course and the Conducting Regulatory Investigations course.
“An excellent lawyer at the top of the game. Very highly regarded…He’s very much in the spotlight.”
Chambers Global 2019
Mark counsels clients – in Canada and internationally – on mergers and acquisitions, criminal cartel investigations, joint ventures, abuse of dominance, distribution and pricing practices, misleading advertising and compliance. He also advises clients on the regulation of foreign investments and ownership in Canada, including under the Investment Canada Act.
Clients appreciate Mark’s calm demeanour, his straightforward and personable approach and his common-sense advice on competition and foreign investment matters.
Mark is actively involved in the Canadian and American Bar Associations and writes and speaks frequently on Canadian competition and foreign investment review laws. Mark is also the co-author of The Competition Law Guide for Trade Associations in Canada.
Vance Street Capital
Acted for Vance Street Capital, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, and its portfolio company Polara Enterprises, in their acquisition of Carmanah Technologies, a Vancouver-based leading provider of solar LED pedestrian and traffic safety technology.
Cominar REIT
Acted for Cominar REIT, one of Canada's largest diversified real estate investment trusts and the largest commercial property owner in Québec, in its C$5.7-billion sale to Iris Acquisition II LP, which is an entity created by a consortium led by Canderel Real Estate Property Inc., one of Canada's largest privately held real estate companies.
Viking Global Investors LP
Acted for funds affiliated with Viking Global Investors LP in their acquisition of a minority stake in Valsoft Corporation Inc., whose business involves the acquisition and growth of vertical software businesses that provide mission-critical solutions to their clients.
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Acted for The Sherwin-Williams Company, a global leader in the coatings industry, in its acquisition of AquaSurTech, which primarily manufactures and distributes industrial coatings and related products.
ENGIE
Acting as Canadian regulatory counsel to ENGIE in the EUR7.1-billion sale of its global multi-technical services division, EQUANS, to Bouygues.
Thales Group
Acting as Canadian regulatory counsel to Thales Group in the EUR1.66-billion sale of its Ground Transportation Systems Global Business Unit to Hitachi Rail.
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.
Interfor Corporation
Acted for Interfor Corporation in its $490-million acquisition of 100% of the equity interests of Kelso & Company-backed EACOM Timber Corporation.
Kansas City Southern
Acted as Canadian counsel to Kansas City Southern in its transformative US$31-billion merger with Canada Pacific Railway to create the first U.S.-Mexico-Canada rail network.
CDW LLC
Acted as Canadian counsel for CDW LLC in its acquisition of Sirius Computer Solutions, Inc., for a purchase price of US$2.5 billion.
Blackstone Infrastructure Partners L.P.
Acted as Canadian counsel to Blackstone Infrastructure Partners L.P. in its acquisition of the majority interest of Carrix, Inc., one of the world's largest marine-terminal operators.
Danone
Acted as Canadian counsel to Danone, a leading French multi-local food and beverage company, in the sale of Vega, the North American plant-based nutritional products brand, to funds managed by WM Partners, a U.S.-based private equity investment firm focused on the health and wellness industry.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Acted as Canadian competition counsel for Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company focused on rare disorders therapies, in its US$39-billion acquisition by AstraZeneca plc, a UK-based biopharmaceutical company focused on prescription medicines.
RST Instruments Ltd. and Measurand Instruments Inc.
Acted for Vance Street Capital LLC, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, and its portfolio companies RST Instruments Ltd. and Measurand Instruments Inc., in their acquisition of 3v Geomatics Inc., a world leader in the use of radar satellite images to detect and measure ground and infrastructure displacement across large areas.
Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Acted for Bentley Systems, Incorporated, in its acquisition of Seequent Holdings Limited, a global leader in 3D modelling software for the geosciences, for US$1.05 billion.
Grimco Canada, Inc
Acted for Grimco Canada, Inc., a national wholesale sign supply manufacturer and distributor, in its acquisition of Cobalt Graphics Distribution, a division of Cansel Survey Equipment, Inc.
WESCO International Inc.
Acted for WESCO International Inc. in the sale of its legacy WESCO Datacom business in Canada to Guillevin International, a Canadian distributor of industrial products. This transaction fulfilled WESCO's commitment under its consent agreement entered into with the Canadian Competition Bureau as a condition for the latter's approval to WESCO's US$4.5-billion merger with Anixter International. Davies was Canadian competition counsel to WESCO in the Anixter transaction.
WESCO International Inc.
Acted for WESCO International Inc. in the sale of its legacy WESCO Utility business in Canada to Rexel Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of France's Rexel Group. This transaction fulfilled one of the commitments under WESCO's consent agreement entered into with the Canadian Competition Bureau as a condition for the latter's approval to WESCO's US$4.5-billion merger with Anixter International. Davies was Canadian competition counsel to WESCO in the Anixter transaction.
Hillrom
Acting as Canadian competition counsel to Hillrom, a global medical technology leader, in its proposed US$10.5-billion sale to Baxter International Inc., a leading global medical products company.
Medline Industries, Inc.
Acted as Canadian regulatory counsel to Medline Industries, Inc., the largest U.S.-based privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies with 2020 revenue of US$17.5 billion, in an investment by a private equity consortium comprising funds managed by Blackstone, Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman.
Mohawk Industries Inc.
Acting for Mohawk Industries Inc., the world's largest flooring company, in a proposed class action commenced in the Federal Court of Canada alleging that the defendants conspired to rig bids for condominium refurbishment services in the Greater Toronto Area between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2016.
S&P Global Inc.
Acted for S&P Global Inc. on Canadian regulatory matters in connection with its US$44-billion all-stock merger with IHS Markit.
Tryg A/S
Acted as Canadian counsel to Tryg A/S in connection with its £7.2-billion joint bid with Intact Financial Corporation to acquire RSA Insurance Group plc.
Foundation Building Materials, Inc. and Lone Star Funds
Acted for Foundation Building Materials, Inc. (FBM) and Lone Star Funds (LSF) in the US$1.37-billion acquisition of all outstanding FBM shares by an affiliate of American Securities LLC.
Xplornet Communications Inc.
Acted for Xplornet Communications Inc., a portfolio company of Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners and Canada's leading rural broadband provider, in its acquisition of Corridor Communications Inc., which operates CCI Wireless., a provider of broadband solutions to rural homes in Alberta, along with enterprise clients across western Canada.
Meggitt plc
Acted as Canadian counsel to Meggitt PLC, a U.K.-listed maker of components and sub-systems for the aerospace, defence and selected energy markets, in the US$146-million sale of its U.S. subsidiary, Meggitt Training Systems, to private equity firm Pine Island Capital Partners LLC.
McCain Foods Limited
Acted for McCain Foods Limited in its $70-million acquisition of Hillspring Farms Ltd., a Canadian farmer of potatoes, through a quick-flip sale in a receivership.
WESCO International, Inc.
Acted as Canadian competition counsel to WESCO International, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based distributor of electrical, industrial, and communications products, in its US$4.5-billion acquisition of Anixter International Inc.
Xplornet Communications Inc.
Acted for Xplornet Communications Inc., Canada's largest rural-focused broadband service provider, in its sale to Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners.
Celgene Corporation
Acted for Celgene Corporation, an integrated global biopharmaceutical company, on competition matters related to its US$74-billion sale to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Driven Brands Inc.
Acted for Roark Capital-backed Driven Brands Inc. in its acquisition of Clairus Canada Group, a major automotive parts, windshield repair and claims management business based in Québec.
Total System Services Inc. (TSYS)
Acted for Total System Services Inc. (TSYS), a leading global payments provider, on competition matters related to its US$26-billion merger of equals with Global Payments Inc., to create a global technology-enabled payments company.
Minto Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust
Acted for Minto Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in the $268-million acquisition from Rockhill Apartments Inc. of a multi-residential rental property comprising 1,004 suites in Montréal, Québec. The REIT, which co-acquired the property with Investors Real Property Fund, is the asset and property manager for the co-tenancy and is earning fees for these services.
Return Path, Inc.
Acted for Return Path, an email deliverability firm, in the sale of its business to Validity, a specialist in customer data management.
TransDigm Group Incorporated
Acted for TransDigm Group Incorporated, a global aerospace components manufacturer, on competition matters related to its US$4-billion acquisition of Esterline Technologies Corporation.
Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc.
Acted for Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. on competition matters in the US$265.5-million sale of its anti-vibration unit to Continental AG, a German automotive manufacturing company.
BASF SE
Acted for BASF SE on competition matters in the merger of its paper and water chemicals business with Solenis LLC to create a global specialty chemical company.
Michelin Group
Acted for the Michelin Group in its acquisition of Camso Inc., one of the global leaders in the design, manufacturing and distribution of off-road tires, wheels, tracks and conveyer belts, for a purchase price of US$1.7 billion. Camso has facilities in more than 25 jurisdictions world-wide.
Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Acted for Bentley Systems, Incorporated, a leading global provider of comprehensive infrastructure software solutions, in its acquisition of AIworx Inc., a Québec City based provider of machine learning and Internet of Things technologies and services.
PelicanCorp Pty Ltd.
Acted as counsel to Australia-based PelicanCorp in its acquisition of TelDig Inc., a Québec-based provider of damage-prevention software solutions doing business across Canada and the United States.
Vista Equity Partners III LLC
Acted for Vista Equity Partners in the carve-out sale of the vertical business applications group of its Aptean portfolio companies to a subsidiary of ESW Capital, LLC.
CHAMP Private Equity Pty. Limited
Acted as Canadian counsel for CHAMP Private Equity Pty. Limited in its acquisition of Cell Care and its subsidiary Insception Biosciences Inc., a consumer health company with operations across Australia and Canada that collects, processes and stores umbilical cord stem cells.
JAM Industries Ltd.
Acted for the shareholders of JAM Industries Ltd. in the sale of its majority interest to DCC Technology Holdings Canada Inc., a subsidiary of DCC plc.
Prysmian SpA
Acted for Prysmian SpA on competition and regulatory matters in its $1.5 billion acquisition of General Cable Corporation.
Brio Gold Inc.
Acted for Brio Gold Inc. in the US$264-million acquisition by Leagold Mining Corporation for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Brio Gold.
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
Acted for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited in its acquisition of all of the exploration assets of Canadian Malartic Corporation, including the Kirkland Lake and Hammond Reef projects, for an aggregate purchase price of US$325 million.
RELX Group plc
Acted for an affiliate of Elsevier, part of the RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries, in its acquisition of Science-Metrix Inc., which specializes in research evaluation and bibliometric analysis.
Safran SA
Acted for Safran SA on competition matters in its $8.7 billion takeover of Zodiac Aerospace.
Airbus SE
Acted as co-counsel to Airbus SE, a European leader providing tanker, combat and transport aircraft, as well as a global leader in aeronautic, space and related services, in its divestiture of Vector Aerospace Holding SAS to StandardAero Aviation Holdings, Inc.
Xplornet Communications Inc.
Acted for Xplornet Communications Inc. in its acquisition of the fixed wireless Internet access business of I-Netlink Incorporated and Manitoba Netset Ltd., operating in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan as NetSet Communications.
Whole Foods Market Inc.
Acted for Whole Foods Market Inc. on competition and regulatory matters in its $13.7-billion acquisition by Amazon.com Inc.
Medtronic plc
Acted as Canadian counsel to Medtronic plc on competition and regulatory matters in the US$6.1-billion acquisition of its patient care, deep vein thrombosis and nutritional insufficiency business by Cardinal Health.
TIO Networks Corp.
Acted for the Special Committee of the board of directors of TIO Networks Corp., in connection with its $304-million acquisition by PayPal Holdings, Inc. TIO is a North American cloud-based multi-channel bill payment processing and receivables management company.
KIK Custom Products Inc.
Acted for KIK Custom Products Inc. in its acquisition of Lavo Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of laundry detergent, household cleaners, fabric softeners and bleach in Canada.
Claridge Inc.
Acted for Claridge Inc. in connection with its sale to C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc. of Les Plats du Chef, a Canada-based frozen meal and snack business.
Reckitt Benckiser
Acted as Canadian counsel to Reckitt Benckiser, a global consumer health and hygiene company, on competition and regulatory matters in connection with its US$17.9-billion acquisition of U.S.-listed Mead Johnson Nutrition Company, a global leader in pediatric nutrition.
WestRock Company
Acted for WestRock Company on competition and regulatory matters in its $1.39 billion acquisition of Multipackaging Solutions International Ltd.
Joy Global Inc.
Acted for Joy Global Inc. on competition and regulatory matters in its proposed acquisition by Komatsu Ltd. in a transaction valued at approximately $3.7 billion.
Amcor Rigid Plastics USA, Inc.
Acted for Amcor Rigid Plastics USA, Inc. in connection with its US$280-million acquisition of the North American rigid plastics blow molding operations of Sonoco Products Company, a global packaging company based in the United States.
PPG Industries Inc.
Acted for PPG Industries in connection with its agreement to sell the assets of its flat glass manufacturing and glass coating operations to Vitro S.A.B. de C.V., a leading producer of flat glass and specialty products, for approximately US$750 million in gross cash proceeds.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Acted for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in its $1.175-billion acquisition of a 50% interest in Canadian office portfolio from Oxford Properties Group (Oxford). Oxford will continue to manage the properties on behalf of the partnership. The transaction brings the total size of the jointly owned Oxford-CPPIB office portfolio to over 12 million square feet.
Vista Equity Partners III, LLC
Acted for Vista Equity Partners portfolio companies in connection with (i) an acquisition by Aptean, Inc., a leading provider of enterprise software solutions and a Vista Equity portfolio company, of the Government & Enterprise Management Solutions Division from StarDyne Technologies Inc.; and (ii) an acquisition by PowerSchool Group LLC, the leading education technology platform for K-12 and another Vista Equity portfolio company, of the SRB Education Solutions Division of StarDyne Technologies Inc.
Communauto Inc.
Acted for Communauto Inc., one of the largest car-sharing services in the world, in connection with an investment by Automobiles Peugeot and MKB Partners Fund.
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.
Amcor Limited
Acted for Amcor Limited in connection with its acquisition of Alusa, a leading flexible packaging business in South America, with operations in Chile, Argentina, Peru and Colombia.
New Look Vision Group Inc.
Acted for New Look Vision Group Inc. in connection with its acquisition of retail optical outlets.
Peds Legwear Inc.
Acted for Peds Legwear Inc. in connection with its acquisition by Gildan Activewear Inc., for an acquisition cost of US$55 million.
Export-Import Bank of China
Acting for the Export-Import Bank of China in connection with the financing of the acquisition of Alter NRG Corp. by Harvest International New Energy, Co., Ltd.
La Coop fédérée
Acted for La Coop fédérée in connection with the combination of its Sonic division with Groupe Filgo for the purpose of merging their energy products distribution activities and their service stations operations.
Royal Greenland Seafood A/S
Acted for Royal Greenland Seafood A/S in connection with its investment in Canadian seafood producer Quin-Sea Fisheries Limited.
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.
Media Experts M.H.S. Inc.
Acted for the shareholders of Media Experts M.H.S. Inc. in connection with a sale of a majority interest to Interpublic Group of Companies Canada, Inc.
United Technologies Corporation (UTC)
Acted as Canadian counsel to United Technologies Corporation (UTC) on competition and regulatory matters in connection with the US$9-billion sale of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation to Lockheed Martin Corporation.
Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn. Bhd.
Acted for Malaysia's Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn. Bhd., one of the largest palm plantation operators in the world, in its sale of eastern Canada's largest oilseed processing plant to Viterra Inc. for $190 million.
PSP Investments
Acted for the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) in connection with the sale of a portfolio of real estate assets by joint ventures between affiliates of PSP Investments and affiliates of Starlight Investments to Northern Property Real Estate Investment Trust (NPR) concurrently with NPR's acquisition of True North Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust by way of plan of arrangement to form Northview Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust, which has an enterprise value in excess of $3 billion and is the third-largest publicly-traded multi-family REIT in Canada.
Locemia Solutions ULC
Acted for Locemia Solutions ULC in connection with the acquisition by Eli Lilly and Company of substantially all of Locemia's assets associated with the research and commercialization of the first needle-free rescue treatment of severe hypoglycemia.
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.
The MANN+HUMMEL Group
Acted as Canadian counsel to The MANN+HUMMEL Group of Ludwigsburg, Germany, in connection with its acquisition of the global filtration operations (excluding the South American operations) of Affinia Group for a purchase price of approximately US$1.335 billion (US$513 million for the equity and the assumption of US$822 million of debt).
Grafton-Fraser Inc.
Acted for Grafton-Fraser Inc., the owner and operator of Tip Top Tailors, in its acquisition, through a wholly owned subsidiary, of the Canadian retail assets of Jones Apparel (Canada) Ltd., a women's apparel retailer of the Jones New York brand.
Tippmann US Holdco, Inc. (part of the G.I. Sportz Group)
Acted for G.I. Sportz Inc. in connection with the acquisition of Kee Action Sports, a leading manufacturer and distributor of paintball sporting goods, equipment and apparel, based in New Jersey with distribution facilities located across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)
Acted for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in the $105-million acquisition from Minto Properties Inc. of an undivided 60% ownership interest in Minto High Park Village, a multifamily rental property comprising three apartment buildings and approximately 750 rental units. Minto will continue to own an undivided 40% interest in the property and will continue to oversee management and leasing on behalf of the co-owners. This transaction marks CPPIB's first direct investment in the Canadian multifamily real estate market.
H.J. Heinz Company
Acted for H.J. Heinz Company with respect to Canadian regulatory matters in connection with its acquisition of Kraft Foods Group, Inc., to create one of the world's largest food and beverage companies with combined sales of approximately US$28 billion.
Zoom Media Group Inc.
Acted for Zoom Media Group Inc. in the sale of its non-fitness indoor advertising business (consisting of campus, fashion, business, medical and golf networks) to Newad Media Inc. and in the acquisition of Newad Media Inc.'s fitness indoor advertising business.
Frutarom Industries Ltd.
Acted for Frutarom Industries Ltd., one of the world's 10 largest companies operating in the global flavours and fine ingredients markets, in connection with its acquisition of substantially all of the shares of Investissements BSA Inc., a developer, manufacturer and distributor of spices and seasoning blends, with a particular focus on the areas of processed meats and convenience foods, for $42,750,000.
Central National-Gottesman Inc.
Acted for Central National-Gottesman Inc., a global distributor of pulp, paper and forestry products, and its subsidiary Spicers Canada ULC in connection with the acquisition of the assets and business of Spicers Canada Limited, a distributor of fine paper, sign and display media, industrial packaging and graphic arts supplies, headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario and with locations across Canada, and the related financing with Bank of America, N.A. (Canada branch), as agent.
Endo International plc
Acted for Endo International plc in connection with its US$2.6 billion acquisition of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Covidien Plc
Acted as Canadian counsel to Covidien plc on competition and other regulatory matters in its acquisition by Medtronic, Inc. for approximately US$49.9 billion.
Vision 7 International ULC
Acted for Vision 7 International ULC, a fully integrated marketing communications company, whose two major brands include Canadian marketing communication agency leader Cossette and the international PR firm Citizen Relations, in connection with its acquisition by BlueFocus Communication Group Co., Ltd., the No. 1 integrated communication and marketing services group in China.
Selex Sistemi Integrati S.P.A.
Acted for Selex ES Ltd, a subsidiary of Leonardo S.p.A. in connection with its acquisition of TTI Tactical Technologies Inc., a developer and service provider of electronic warfare simulation software for the international electronic warfare market.
Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust
Acted for Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust in connection with the $1.527-billion acquisition of a portfolio of 11 shopping centres, three office properties and one industrial property from Ivanhoé Cambridge, the real estate subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. The firm also represented Cominar in financing the acquisition, through the issuance of $250 million of trust units to Ivanhoé Cambridge by way of private placement, the issuance of $250 million of trust units to the public by way of a bought deal, the establishment of new unsecured bridge facilities of up to $850 million, a $100-million unsecured credit facility, and mortgage financings of $250 million.
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).
McCain Foods
Acted for McCain Foods on the sale of its North American frozen pizza business to Dr. Oetker.
Fortress Investment Group, LLC and Holiday Retirement
Acted for Fortress Investment Group, LLC and Holiday Retirement in connection with the sale of 29 Canadian senior living communities to Ventas, Inc.
WSP Global Inc.
Acted for WSP Global Inc., a publicly traded global professional engineering services firm based in Montréal, Québec, in connection with its entering into of an arrangement agreement regarding the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Focus Group Holding Inc., a multi-disciplinary engineering and consulting firm based in Alberta principally serving oil, gas and civil markets in Western Canada, for an aggregate purchase price of $366,050,000.
TransMontaigne Inc.
Acted as Canadian counsel to TransMontaigne Inc., a US oil pipeline and terminal company, in connection with the sale of Canterm Canadian Terminals Inc., a company with two distribution terminals for the storage and handling of refined products in Montréal and Québec City, to Royal Vopak, the world's largest independent liquid bulk tank storage service by capacity.
Paladin Labs Inc.
Acted for Paladin Labs Inc. in connection with its acquisition by Endo Health Solutions Inc. in a stock and cash transaction valued at approximately $3 billion.
Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust
Acted for Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust in connection with its $228-million acquisition of a portfolio of 11 office properties in the Greater Toronto Area and in Montréal from Redbourne Realty Fund.
Rainy River Resources Ltd.
Acted as Ontario counsel to Rainy River Resources Ltd. in the acquisition by New Gold Inc. of Rainy River for $310 million.
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.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Acted for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in connection with a 50/50 Canadian retail joint venture with Oxford Properties Group. As part of the transaction, CPPIB acquired a 50% interest in the approximately 1 million square foot Upper Canada Mall, in Ontario, from Oxford Properties Group, and Oxford Properties Group acquired a 50% interest in the 1.5 million square foot Les Galeries de la Capitale shopping centre, in Québec, from CPPIB.
IMC International Metalworking Companies B.V.
Acted as Canadian counsel to IMC International Metalworking Companies B.V. in connection with its contemplated strategic arrangement with Woulfe Mining Corporation and its 100%-owned tungsten/molybdenum South Korean subsidiary, Sangdong Mining Corporation.
Hebei Iron & Steel Group Co., Ltd.
Acted for Hebei Iron & Steel Group Co., Ltd. in connection with its strategic investment in Alderon Iron Ore Corp. and its Kami iron ore project.
Rogers Communications Inc.
Acted for Rogers Communications Inc. with respect to competition and regulatory matters in connection with its joint acquisition with Bell Canada of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. from Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.
Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft mbH
Acted for Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft mbH in connection with its sale of its 50% interest in four prominent shopping centres located in Canada to Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc. for $508 million.
Dassault Systèmes SE
Acted for Dassault Systèmes SE in connection with its acquisition of the shares of Gemcom Software International Inc., a geological modeling and simulation company which is a world leader in mining industry software solutions with operations in 13 jurisdictions around the world, for approximately US$360 million.
Google Inc.
Acted as Canadian counsel to Google Inc. on competition and other regulatory matters in connection with its US$12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc.
Watsco, Inc.
Acted for Watsco, Inc. in its acquisition of 60% of Carrier's $330 million Canadian heating, ventilation and air conditioning distribution network in Canada, to form a joint venture with UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., under the name Carrier Enterprise Canada.
United Technologies Corporation
Acted as Canadian counsel to United Technologies Corporation on competition and other regulatory matters in connection with its acquisition of Goodrich Corporation in a deal valued at US$16.5 billion.
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
Acted for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited in connection with the acquisition of Grayd Resource Corporation by way of takeover bid for $275 million.
Twin Rivers Technologies - Entreprises de Transformation de Graines Oléagineuses du Québec Inc.
Acted for Twin Rivers Technologies - Entreprises de Transformation de Graines Oléagineuses du Québec Inc., a subsidiary of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd of Malaysia, in connection with its joint venture with Bunge North America to create Bunge ETGO L.P.
Bird Construction Inc.
Acted for Bird Construction Inc. in connection with its $78 million acquisition of all outstanding shares of H.J. O'Connell, Limited, a construction company with operations in Newfoundland and Labrador, Québec and Manitoba.
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.
AbitibiBowater Inc.
Acted for AbitibiBowater Inc. (now known as Resolute Forest Products) in connection with the sale of its 75% indirect interest in ACH Limited Partnership, which owns 8 hydroelectric generating facilities in Ontario, in a transaction valued at $640 million.
Minmetals Exploration & Development (Luxembourg) Limited S.a.r.l.
Acted for Minmetals Exploration & Development (Luxembourg) Limited S.a.r.l. in connection with its acquisition, on a private placement basis, of 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of Century Iron Mines Corporation (formerly Red Rock Capital Corp.). In connection with the acquisition of shares, Davies also acted for Minmetals in respect of the material terms of an Offtake Agreement to be entered into between Minmetals and Century providing for the purchase by Minmetals of iron ore produced from Century's Duncan Lake Property.
OneSteel Limited
Acted as counsel for OneSteel Limited on Canadian Competition Act matters in connection with its US$932-million acquisition of the Moly-Cop and AltaSteel businesses from Anglo American Plc.
Canpages Inc.
Acted for Canpages Inc., a local search and directories publisher in Canada, in an acquisition by Yellow Media Inc. from an investor group led by private equity firm HM Capital Partners, in a deal valued at $225 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.
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.
Wells Fargo & Company
Acted as Canadian counsel to Wells Fargo & Company on Canadian regulatory matters in connection with its acquisition of Wachovia Corporation in a deal valued at US$11.7 billion.
Time Inc.
Acted as Canadian counsel for Time Inc. in its acquisition of QSP, Inc., in the United States, and Quality Service Products Inc., in Canada, from The Readers Digest Association Inc. in a transaction valued at US$110 million.
Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.
Acted for Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. (now known as Resolute Forest Products) in connection with the sale of a paper mill and timberlands in Fort Williams, Ontario.
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.
Thomas H. Lee Partners L.P. and Fidelity National Financial Inc.
Acted as Canadian counsel for Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and Fidelity National Financial Inc. in their acquisition of Ceridian Corporation in a transaction valued at US$5.3 billion.
Amcor Limited
Acted for Amcor Limited in the sale of its polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging operation in six countries in Europe to La Seda de Barcelona S.A. in a transaction valued at 430 million euros.
Vishay Intertechnology Inc.
Acted for Vishay Intertechnology Inc. in its acquisition of the Power Control Systems ("PCS") business from International Rectifier in a transaction valued at approximately US$290 million.
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.
GS Capital Partners
Acted for an investment group led by Joseph Neubauer and investment funds managed by GS Capital Partners, CCMP Capital Advisors, JP Morgan Partners, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Warburg Pincus LLC on Canadian regulatory matters in connection with the acquisition of ARAMARK Corporation in a transaction valued at US$8.3 billion.
Xstrata plc
Acted for Xstrata plc in its $6.2 billion all-cash friendly takeover bid to acquire LionOre Mining International. Following two interloper bids by MMC Norilsk Nickel, Xstrata received the largest percentage break fee (5%) in any Canadian deal valued at over $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.
Japan Airlines
Acted for Japan Airlines International Co., Ltd. in its defence of class actions across Canada alleging price fixing in respect of, among other things, fees for passenger airfares.
Barrick Gold Corporation
Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in its all-cash US$1.53-billion unsolicited takeover bid to acquire NovaGold Resources Inc.
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.
Minacs Worldwide Inc.
Acted for Minacs Worldwide Inc. in its auction process and the resulting negotiated all-cash takeover bid for Minacs by Transworks Information Systems Ltd. in a transaction valued at $196 million.
Amcor Limited
Acted for Amcor Limited in the sale of its White Cap business in Europe, Asia, Brazil and the US to Silgan Holdings Inc. for a base price of $230 million.
Barrick Gold Corporation
Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in its pre-bid agreement with Goldcorp Inc. to dispose of certain assets acquired by Barrick in its takeover bid for Placer Dome Inc. and in the subsequent disposition of US$1.6 billion of assets to Goldcorp.
Maytag Corporation
Acted for Maytag Corporation on Competition Act matters in connection with the US$2.7 billion acquisition of Maytag by Whirlpool Corporation.
Dubai Ports World
Acted for Dubai Ports World in its acquisition of The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company for US$6.8 billion.
Man Financial Inc.
Acted as Canadian counsel for Man Financial Inc. (now MF Global Ltd.), a global broker for exchange-traded futures and options, in its negotiated acquisition of the Canadian operations of Refco Group Ltd.
Mittal Steel
Acted as Canadian counsel to Mittal Steel in connection with its $37 billion bid for Arcelor.
Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.
Acted for Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. (now known as Resolute Forest Products) in connection with the sale of its shares in PanAsia Paper Company Pte Ltd. to Norske Skog in a transaction valued at US$600 million.
The Gillette Company
Acted as Canadian counsel for the The Gillette Company in connection with the acquisition of The Gillette Company by Procter & Gamble Co. in a transaction valued at approximately US$57 billion.
Vista Equity Partners
Acted for Vista Equity Partners on its acquisition of MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $77 million.
Metro Inc.
Acted for Metro Inc. on its acquisition of A&P Canada in a transaction valued at $1.7 billion.
SITQ Inc.
Acted for SITQ Inc. in its purchase of Deutsche Bank AG's 75% interest in the Steeles Technology Campus, a 635,626 sq. ft. campus-style suburban office development for $98.4 million.
GE Commercial Distribution Finance Canada
Acted for GE Commercial Distribution Finance on its acquisition of Bombardier Capital's Inventory Finance division in a transaction valued at US$2.3 billion.
Bain Capital
Acted for an affiliate of Bain Capital in the sale of its interests in Advertising Directory Solutions Inc. for a purchase price of approximately $2.55 billion.
Masonite International Corporation
Acted for Masonite International Corp. which was acquired by Stile Acquisition Corp. in a transaction valued at $3.1 billion.
Mark Katz Speaks to PaRR on Trends in National Security Reviews
Sept. 30, 2022 - Global news service PaRR (available to subscribers) featured Davies partner Mark Katz for his perspective on recent developments in national security reviews of foreign investments in Canada. Speaking on the increase in national security reviews in recent years, Mark noted the continuing debate on...
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian court upholds dismissal of hockey class action claim”
Aug. 19, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Cartel Leniency In Canada: Overview, co-author
July 01, 2022 - Practical Law Country Q&A 2022 (Thomson Reuters)
Download the 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.
Canada Joins the Labour Party: “Wage-Fixing” and “No-Poaching” Agreements are now Illegal Under the Competition Act
June 30, 2022 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
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...
Cartels 2022: Canada Trends and Developments
June 14, 2022 - Chambers Global Practice Guides (Chambers and Partners)
Read the article.
Canadian Control and Foreign Investments in the Canadian Airline Sector
June 10, 2022 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Interview, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, “Using omnibus budget bill to pass Competition Act changes 'snuffs out' debate, consultation: lawyers”
May 05, 2022 - Read the full article.
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canada seeks to increase abuse of dominance penalties”
Apr. 27, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canada settles waste management merger challenge with divestitures”
Apr. 14, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Panelist, World Law Group, Antitrust & Competition Group Meeting, “FDI Review in Canada – An Update”; Webcast
Apr. 05, 2022
Canada FDI control
Mar. 18, 2022 - LexisNexis (part of RELX (UK) Limited)
Download the article.
Canada merger control
Mar. 18, 2022 - LexisNexis (part of RELX (UK) Limited)
Download the article.
Canadian government imposes strict new rules on Russian FDI in Canada, co-author
Mar. 17, 2022 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Foreign Investment Review in Canada: Top Trends and Developments for 2022
Mar. 01, 2022 - The past year generated substantial interest in the operation of the Investment Canada Act (ICA), especially the national security review process, against the backdrop of changes in government policy that purport to articulate a more expansive view of Canada’s national security interests. ...
Merger Review under the Canada Transportation Act – The Interplay with Competition Act Review, co-author
Mar. 01, 2022 - The Pipeline, Spring 2022, Vol. 1, Issue 1 (American Bar Association)
Download the article.
Main Developments in Competition Law and Policy 2021 – Canada, co-author
Feb. 22, 2022 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian enforcer can seek emergency pause to mergers, appellate court says”
Feb. 14, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian government sets ‘the record straight’ on national security allegations”
Feb. 11, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian government signals antitrust reform on horizon”
Feb. 07, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Waste collector criticises market definition in Canada merger challenge”
Jan. 18, 2022 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
China Mobile Case Illustrates Breadth of Canada’s National Security Review Regime
Dec. 20, 2021 - After operating in Canada for five years, China Mobile International (Canada) Inc. (CMI) was ordered by the Canadian government in August 2021 to shut down or divest its Canadian operations because of national security concerns. CMI has applied for judicial review of the government’s decision and...
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Chinese telecoms company accuses Canadian government of bias in national security review”
Dec. 03, 2021 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian court rejects no-poach class certification”
Nov. 12, 2021 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
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...
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Boswell: ‘It’s time to make competition a priority’”
Oct. 21, 2021 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Foreign Investment Review in Canada: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Thereon
Sept. 01, 2021 - International Law News, Summer 2021, Vol. 48, Issue 4 (American Bar Association)
Download the article.
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canada seeks to block industrial waste disposal merger”
July 01, 2021 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
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...
Interview, Global Competition Review, “Canadian enforcer says airline deal remedies are inadequate”
Feb. 18, 2021 - Read the full article (for subscribers).
Mark Katz Talks to Global Competition Review About Bureau’s Decision to Drop Criminal Cartel Probe
Jan. 14, 2021 - Following the Bureau’s recent move to drop its criminal cartel investigation against Postmedia and Torstar, Davies partner Mark Katz spoke to Global Competition Review about the decision. In the article (available to subscribers), Mark said it’s positive that the Bureau has decided not to...
Canadian Government Blocks Foreign Acquisition of Canadian Gold Miner on National Security Grounds
Jan. 08, 2021 - The Canadian government has exercised its authority under the national security provisions of the Investment Canada Act (ICA) to prohibit Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd. (Shandong), a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE), from acquiring Canadian gold producer TMAC Resources Inc. (TMAC). ...
Main Developments in Competition Law and Policy 2020: Canada, co-author
Jan. 06, 2021 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
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.
Cartel Leniency in Canada: Overview, co-author
Nov. 01, 2020 - Practical Law – Cartel Leniency Global Guide (Thomson Reuters)
Download the article.
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...
American Bar Association, International Law Section, 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting, “Antitrust in 2020 and Beyond: Is It Up to the Task?”; Webcast
June 10, 2020
Apr. 07, 2020 - After the Competition Bureau’s announcement last week that the pre-merger notification threshold will remain the same as last year, Global Competition Review asked Mark Katz for his thoughts on the decision. “Although technically the Minister can decide not to follow that formula [set out...
The Davies Forecast of Top 5 Trends and Issues for Canadian Competition Law in 2020, co-author
Jan. 24, 2020 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Mark Katz Reflects on Competition Tribunal Review Process in Global Competition Review
Jan. 16, 2020 - In an article (available to subscribers) published this week in Global Competition Review, Mark Katz shared his perspectives on the Competition Tribunal’s recent order denying the Competition Bureau’s request to expedite its challenge of Parrish & Heimbecker’s grain elevator acquisition....
Jan. 15, 2020 - The official Annual Report under the Investment Canada Act (ICA) for the fiscal year 2018-19 was released at the end of 2019. This document sets out various statistics and other noteworthy developments during that time frame (i.e., April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019) relating to the two...
He Knows When You’ve Been Naughty: Canada’s Competition Commissioner Delivers Lumps of Coal to Merging Parties, co-author
Dec. 27, 2019 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Recent Developments in Abuse of Dominance Law in Canada: When is Anti-Competitive Conduct Justified?, co-author
Dec. 06, 2019 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Mark Katz Speaks to Global Competition Review About Canadian Anti-Cartel Enforcement
Nov. 28, 2019 - Following the recent sentencing of a fourth individual in a Gatineau bid-rigging cartel, Global Competition Review featured Mark Katz’s insights in an article (available to subscribers) about Canada’s treatment of conspiracy and bid-rigging offences. “Although the penalty handed down in...
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.
Sept. 11, 2019 - A recent article in Global Competition Review (available to subscribers) featured Mark Katz and Anita Banicevic’s reactions to the Competition Bureau’s call for businesses and consumers to report potentially anticompetitive conduct in the digital economy. Mark commented that there is “no...
Mark Katz Weighs In on Private Competition Claims in Global Competition Review
Aug. 12, 2019 - Global Competition Review recently featured Mark Katz’s insights into the private actions regime in Canada following the Competition Tribunal’s refusal to allow an abuse of dominance claim against a Québec Crown corporation. In the article (available to subscribers), Mark explains that...
Recent Developments in Canadian Cartel Enforcement: Is Business Becoming Immune to the Competition Bureau’s Immunity/Leniency Programs?, co-author
Aug. 03, 2019 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Recent Developments in Canadian Merger Review: New Commissioner Means New Enforcement Agenda, co-author
July 26, 2019 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog (Wolters Kluwer)
Read the article.
Canada’s Competition Bureau Releases Draft Model Timing Agreement for Merger Efficiencies Claims
July 22, 2019 - Canada’s Competition Bureau has released a draft model timing agreement for mergers where the parties wish to raise efficiencies claims. For context, Canada’s efficiencies defence provides that no remedy may be imposed in respect of a merger that substantially lessens competition when the...
Facing the Music: The Pitfalls of Obstruction Under Canada’s Competition Act
July 17, 2019 - Conventional wisdom (at least since Watergate) tells us that “it’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up.” In other words, it’s possible to violate the law by trying to conceal an alleged crime – even if it turns out that the allegation of criminal conduct is never substantiated…
C5’s European Forum on Foreign Investment Security Reviews and CFIUS, "National Security Reviews in Canada and Australia”; London, UK
June 20, 2019
Mark Katz Speaks to GCR About Monopoly Claims Against Canadian Crown Corporations
May 23, 2019 - In a recent article (available to subscribers) published by Global Competition Review, Mark Katz spoke about the application of Canada’s Competition Act to Crown corporations. Last month, the former owner of a private security company in Québec applied for permission to sue the statutory...
Moderator, Canadian Bar Association, Competition Law Spring Conference, “The Uncertain State of Immunity & Leniency”; Toronto, ON
May 07, 2019
Investment Canada Act: Guide for Foreign Investors in Canada, 2019 Edition
Feb. 02, 2019 - The regulatory landscape for foreign investments in Canada is constantly evolving. As a regular adviser on matters relating to the Investment Canada Act (ICA), Davies has updated this informative guide for foreign investors and their advisers, which provides an overview of the ICA and how...
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...
Compliance Alert: Competition Law Issues for HR Professionals in Canada
Dec. 21, 2016 -
Introduction On October 20, 2016, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (Antitrust Division) jointly issued special compliance guidelines (HR Guidelines)1 for human resource (HR) professionals and...
What Does CETA Mean for EU and Canadian Competition Policy?
Dec. 13, 2016 - With the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) having finally been signed by the EU and Canada on October 30, 2016, it’s worth exploring what it says about competition law and policy and how it may impact these issues on both sides of the Atlantic. Read more on What Does CETA Mean for...
Dec. 01, 2016 - In our recent e-communication Canada Lowers the Wall to Foreign Investment, we described steps taken by the Canadian government to create a more attractive and welcoming climate for foreign investment in Canada: lowering a key review threshold under the Investment Canada Act...
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...
Competition Law Considerations for the Franchise Industry in Canada
Oct. 22, 2016 - The Canadian franchise industry constitutes an important sector of the Canadian economy. The industry employs one in every 35 Canadian, generates approximately C$68 billion in revenues, and covers a wide variety of businesses (60% of franchisees are in non-food sectors and industries.) Franchising...
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...
International Cartel Enforcement
July 12, 2016 - Panelist: International Cartel Enforcement, Pages 209-224. Download this article.
July 05, 2016 - The integrity regime (then known as the integrity framework) was first adopted in November 2012, in response to the July 2012 conviction of a supplier of real estate advisory services for bid-rigging on a federal government contract. The regime has gone through several iterations since then with...
Canada, Competition and Fintech: A Review
June 29, 2016 - On May 19, 2016, Canada’s Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced that it is launching a “market study” into technology-led innovation in the Canadian financial services sector, also referred to as “fintech. ” The Bureau’s study will focus on how innovation is affecting the way consumers and...
Canadian Bar Association, Competition Law Spring Conference
May 19, 2016
May 13, 2016 - On April 4, 2016, the Canadian federal government amended its Integrity Regime, which governs the qualification of suppliers to enter into contracts with Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and a number of other federal departments and agencies. The amendments are intended to...
Reviewing the Situation: Is Canada Able to Enforce Its Anti-cartel Laws Effectively?
May 10, 2016 - Although the vast majority of cartel matters in Canada are resolved through negotiated pleas, parties will occasionally choose to fight rather than settle. Two such contested cases came to a close in 2015, with the accused parties prevailing in both instances. In the process, these cases have...
May 05, 2016 - Since its arrival in Canada in 2012, Uber has generated heated discussion among affected interests, notably the established taxi industry, regulatory bodies overseeing the industry, and municipal and provincial governments responsible for putting the existing regulatory frameworks into place. In...
Controlling the Housing Bubble
Apr. 22, 2016 - With the rising cost of real estate in Canada, affordability continues to be a hot topic. In Australia, foreigners are limited to acquisitions of new dwellings, with approval in advance from the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board. Canada and its cities are considering foreign investment...
Competition Law Considerations for H.R. Professionals
Mar. 23, 2016 - Do your company’s H.R. practices violate Canadian competition law? In this article from The Lawyer’s Weekly, Davies partner Mark Katz examines the ways in which competition claims can arise in the H.R. and employment contexts and the steps that H.R. professionals can take to avoid...
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 Canada’s competition authorities in two high-profile prosecutions. This article discusses these and other developments, following a brief overview of...
Canadian Society of Association Executives, CSAE Trillium Chapter Winter Summit, “The Competition Bureau’s New Approach to Compliance for Associations”
Feb. 04, 2016
Oct. 28, 2015 - “Abuse of dominant market position,” or “abuse of dominance” as it is more generally called, is considered one of the cornerstone provisions of the Competition Act. This chapter provides a detailed overview of the provision, including its origins, purpose, enforcement, elements, remedies,...
Sept. 30, 2015 - Canada’s Commissioner of Competition is armed with a variety of compulsory powers that he can use in pursuing investigations. One such power is the ability, with the permission of a court, to subpoena documents and information under section 11 of the Canadian Competition Act. Of late,...
Moderator, American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, “Whistleblowing in Antitrust: Prospects and Pitfalls”
Aug. 27, 2015
The Center for Modern Torah Leadership, “Entry and Competition in Jewish and Antitrust Law”
July 30, 2015
American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law Corporate Counseling Committee – June Antitrust Update
July 15, 2015
Federal Public Contracts Now Governed by New, More Flexible Integrity Provisions
July 14, 2015 - On July 3, 2015, the federal government implemented a new integrity regime (New Regime) governing suppliers’ capacity to enter into procurement contracts and real property transactions with Public Works and Government Services Canada. The New Regime will be rolled out to all federal departments...
Canadian Pre-Merger Notification: Overview
June 22, 2015 - The Competition Act R.S.C. 1985, c. C34 (Competition Act) requires that mergers, acquisitions and other business combinations that meet certain prescribed thresholds be notified to the Commissioner of Competition (Commissioner), who is the head of the federal Competition Bureau...
Apr. 06, 2015 - New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel is renowned for many things. An icon of glamour and luxury, the Waldorf Astoria was the tallest building in the world when constructed in 1931. It’s played host to numerous celebrities and is the reputed birthplace of such culinary dishes as eggs benedict,...
Mar. 17, 2015 - The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released its first decision in nearly 20 years regarding the Competition Act’s merger provisions on 22 January 2015. Its decision in Tervita Corp v Canada (Commissioner of Competition) is important because (1) it sets out the proper...
Canada Tackles Misleading Advertising and Business Promotions
Mar. 13, 2015 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog
Read more on Canada Tackles Misleading Advertising and Business Promotions.
Presentation: Doing Business in Asia - Merger Control
Mar. 02, 2015 - This presentation, moderated by Mark Katz and delivered at the ABA Asian Forum, provides an overview of merger control regimes, covers recent significant developments in this area, and touches on what to look forward to in 2015. Download this presentation.
Presentation: Canadian Competition Law Highlights
Feb. 27, 2015 - Davies partners Mark Katz and Elisa Kearney delivered a presentation on Canadian competition law highlights to the Antitrust Lawyers Study Group, Tokyo, Japan. Download this presentation.
Bridging the Gap? Canada Takes on Cross-Border Price Discrimination
Jan. 21, 2015 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog
Read more on Bridging the Gap? Canada Takes on Cross-Border Price Discrimination.
Jan. 01, 2015 - As described previously in “An Old Friend in New Clothes” CLI 10 June 2014, the Canadian government is determined to remedy what it (and many Canadians) regard as an unjustified gap between U.S. and Canadian prices for the same goods. In particular, the government has focused on what it...
The Ethics of Trade Association Codes of Ethics
Dec. 19, 2014 - Kluwer Competition Law Blog
Read more on The Ethics of Trade Association Codes of Ethics.
Canadian Society of Association Executives, National Conference and Showcase; October 29 to 31, 2014
Oct. 29, 2014
Federated Press, 2nd M&A Agreements Course, “Practical Advice on Negotiating and Structuring Key M&A Agreements”; Sept. 16 & 17, 2014
Sept. 16, 2014
Co-chair, American Bar Association and the International Association of Young Lawyers, Section of International Law and the International Association of Young Lawyers Joint Conference; Chicago, IL; June 06 & 07, 2014
June 06, 2014
Joint Ventures: Antitrust Analysis of Collaborations Among Competitors, 2nd ed., editorial contributor
Mar. 31, 2014 - ABA Book Publishing
Purchase a copy of Joint Ventures: Antitrust Analysis of Collaborations Among Competitors, 2nd ed.
The Commons Institute, International Trade Law and Regulation Conference, “Recent Developments in Foreign Investment Review” and “The Law and Regulation of International Trade”
Mar. 28, 2014
Federated Press, Partnerships, Limited Partnerships and Joint Ventures Conference, “Competition Law Considerations for Joint Ventures and Other Collaborations”; Mar. 27 & 28, 2014
Mar. 27, 2014
American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law, “Ethical Pitfalls in Merger Negotiations”
Feb. 26, 2014
Jewish Lawyers Network, Law Conference: Comparing Modern and Talmudic Legal Systems, “The Ethics of Competition: A Comparison Between Jewish and Antitrust Law”
Dec. 09, 2013
Osgoode Hall Law School, Osgoode Professional Development’s Competition Law Essentials for Corporate Counsel, Business Lawyers and Executives Program, “Agreements with Competitors: Structuring Collaborations and Strategic Alliances”
Dec. 03, 2013
Commerce Commission New Zealand, Commission Conference & Competition Matters, “Antitrust Sanctions and the Goal of Deterrence”; Oct. 17 & 18, 2013
Oct. 17, 2013
Federated Press, “Regulatory Issues in Drafting M&A Agreements”
Sept. 23, 2013
Federated Press, “Best Practices for Regulatory Investigations: Handling Cartel Investigations Under the Competition Act”
Sept. 13, 2013
Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, “Anticipating and Avoiding Post-Closing Issues”
June 05, 2013
Steptoe & Johnson LLP, webinar, “Competition Law Risk and Managing Employees in the US, EU, and Canada: Guidelines, Pitfalls, and Challenges”
Apr. 24, 2013
Canadian Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, “Competition Compliance Essentials: Trade Associations Under Scrutiny”
Apr. 17, 2013
Strafford Webinars, “Key Compliance Strategies to Avoid Misleading Advertising Violations in Canada”
Jan. 08, 2013
Canadian Society of Association Executives, CSAE National Conference & Showcase, “Competition Law and Associations in Canada”
Nov. 01, 2012
American Bar Association, Section of International Law 2012 Fall Meeting, “Global Economic Slowdown – What’s Its Impact on Regulatory Clearance for Mergers and Acquisitions?”; Oct. 16 to 20, 2012
Oct. 16, 2012
New York County Lawyers’ Association, Antitrust and Trade Regulation Committee, and American Bar Association Section of International Law, “The Ethics of Internal Investigations”
Oct. 15, 2012
Canadian Bar Association, 2012 Annual Competition Law Fall Conference; Sept. 20 & 21, 2012
Sept. 20, 2012
Moderator, American Bar Association Section of International Law and the Israel Bar Association, joint conference and meeting, “The ‘Nuts and Bolts’ of International Joint Ventures: Israel and the U.S./E.U.”
May 22, 2012
Global Competition Review, GCR Live: Law Leaders Asia & Pacific 2012, “Competition/IP & Technology”; Mar. 02 & 03, 2012
Mar. 02, 2012
Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Competition/Antitrust
Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Competition/Antitrust
GCR 100 Canada: A Guide to the World’s Leading Competition Law and Economics Practices—Competition and Foreign Investment Review
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory—Competition Law
The Best Lawyers in Canada—Advertising and Marketing Law; Competition and Antitrust Law
Who’s Who Legal: Canada—Competition; Who’s Who Legal: Competition
Expert Guides—Competition and Antitrust
Ontario, 1989
Osgoode Hall Law School, LLB, 1987
McGill University, BA, 1984
American Bar Association
Canadian Bar Association
American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, Trade, Sports and Professional Associations Committee, former vice-chair
American Bar Association, Section of International Law, International Antitrust law Committee, former co-chair
Avenue Road Hockey Association
Camp Massad of Québec
Israel Guide Dog Centre for the Blind
Mark was a co-lecturer for Federated Press’s 5th Negotiating and Drafting International Business Agreements course and the Conducting Regulatory Investigations course.
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