Best Lawyers in Canada for Mining Law
Practice Area Overview
Mining Law may be both domestic, where the project is in Canada or the mining company is Canadian, and foreign, where the project is outside Canada.
At the land acquisition stage, the mining lawyer works with the legal and regulatory regime for acquiring mineral title and surface access either directly from governmental authorities or, after appropriate title searches have been conducted, from third parties. The form and security of mineral and surface tenures and the method for obtaining them from a government vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In foreign jurisdictions the Canadian mining lawyer will help the client to understand the political or country risk and to engage local counsel to assist. The mining lawyer will be aware of foreign ownership restrictions and will work with tax specialists to structure the investment in the most efficient way. The mining lawyer also will advise on foreign corrupt practices legislation and relevant principles.
At the exploration stage, Mining Law may include the negotiation of option and exploration joint venture agreements. These agreements are very often between junior companies, which may have acquired the mineral property and carried out preliminary exploration work, and major companies which have the financial and technical strength to develop the project. The exploration stage also comprises obtaining requisite permits and authorizations under local law and advising on maintenance of title and reclamation and reporting obligations.
In the project development phase, the mining lawyer works on environmental assessment and regulatory permitting, impact benefit agreements with indigenous groups to obtain the project’s “social licence”, and support or stability agreements with local government. Human resources, industrial relations, and OH&S policies are developed by labour and employment lawyers, but in consultation with the mining lawyer. Litigation may arise as NGOs or other stakeholders oppose the project, and the mining lawyer will play an important supporting role.
Project development may also involve the mining lawyer working on arrangements for project financing, metal stream agreements and royalties, off-take agreements, and investments by strategic partners.
As the project moves from development to construction, the mining lawyer advises on engineering and procurement contracts, construction management contracts, and service agreements and other supply chain matters.
Once the project is in operation, the mining lawyer may work on custom milling, smelting and refining contracts, product sales agreements, transportation agreements, etc. There may be emergencies or other situations involving people or the environment that require response.
At closure, the mining lawyer will be involved in the legal aspects of site rehabilitation, closure of work permits and return of reclamation bonds, sale of plant and equipment, demobilization of the work force, and termination or wind down of contracts.
At some point in the life of the mine it may be sold or its ownership restructured. Mining Law includes mergers and acquisitions in this context.
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Khaled practises mining law and is the Co-Leader of the firm's Mining Group. He provides legal support for mineral exploration activities and mine development and operations. He advises on acquisitions and dispositions of mines and mining projects both domestically and around the world, mine financing, and on a broad range of mining matters, including the negotiation of earn-in, joint venture, strategic alliance, royalty and streaming agreements, and mineral title review. Khaled also practise...
Gesta Abols’ practice is focused on mergers & acquisitions (including private equity), strategic investments, corporate governance and shareholder activism. Gesta provides expert legal advice, superior service and structure to bring clarity to complex challenges. Gesta is the Co-Leader of the firm’s US Practice and on the executive of the firm’s Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions (CM and M&A) Committee. Gesta is consistently recognized as a leader in the ...
David Allman practices business law. His areas of focus include commercial real estate, natural resources (mining) and general corporate commercial law. David acts for clients who are active in these industry areas, and provides them with a broad range of legal advice. David’s mining law practice involves regularly advising senior, mid-tier and junior mining clients on domestic and international mineral resource property transactions, including option agreements, joint venture agreement...
Chris advises on acquisitions and dispositions of mines and mining companies, project development and mine operations throughout Canada and the world. He has assisted in the structuring and negotiation of hundreds of transactions, including farm-ins and joint ventures, corporate acquisitions and mergers and royalty sales. He has extensive experience with all legal aspects of the development, construction and financing of mines (including diamonds, coal and uranium), royalties, marketing contr...
Partner - Leader of the Business Law Group Josianne Beaudry is a member of the Business law group. Her practice is primarily focused on securities law, investment funds and mining law. She also advises financial sector participants on the application of regulations relating to securities and corporate governance. Ms. Beaudry assists clients carrying out public and private financings, corporate reorganizations, as well as mergers and acquisitions. She also helps publicly traded companies maint...
Sébastien Bellefleur specializes in business law, more specifically in securities, mergers, acquisitions, corporate governance and mining law. He also helps set up funding, whether in the form of loans or equity financings. He has drafted a number of complex transactions on behalf of public and private corporations, such as the purchase, sale, funding and restructuring of businesses throughout Canada and abroad. He has represented issuers and brokers in connection with initial public o...
Donald Belovich is a partner in the Capital Markets, Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups and Co-Head of the Cannabis Group. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, public financings and complex corporate reorganizations. Donald also acts as counsel to issuers and underwriters in connection with initial public offerings and other public offerings and private placements. He regularly advises issuers, boards of directors and special committees on the structuring of M&A...
Steven Bennett is a partner and Co-Head of the Mining Group. He is also a member of the Corporate, Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Groups and the firm's Emissions Trading & Climate Change practice. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities, private equity transactions, and general corporate and commercial law. Steven has significant experience representing domestic and international clients in inter-jurisdictional tra...
Bruce Blain’s broad business practice has included advice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, and debt and equity financings, as well as partnership, joint venture and shareholder arrangements. Bruce has been involved in the purchase and sale of businesses across a wide range of industries, including steel making, manufacturing, high tech, financial services and consulting and professional services. His experience also includes public markets financing, reorganizatio...
Michael Bourassa’s practice is focused in the mining industry. A member of the Global Mining Group, he acted as the group’s co-ordinator from 2004-2012. A recognized expert, Michael has accumulated extensive experience on both Canadian and international mining projects. Providing advice on public financings, commercial mining agreements, and corporate social responsibility, and litigation support, Michael also has significant expertise in international mining due diligence issues ...
William Braithwaite is senior counsel at the firm and was Chair of the firm from 2012 to 2018. He previously served on the firm’s Partnership Board and Executive Committee, and is the former Head of the Corporate Group in the Toronto office. Bill practises primarily in mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. In addition to acting on some of the most significant cross border merger transactions, he has acted as counsel to major Canadian corporations, boards of directors, and inst...
René Branchaud, partner and chairman of the board of directors of the firm, practises in the fields of securities, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate law. With more than thirty years’ experience, he advises companies on matters such as incorporation and organization, the drafting of shareholder agreements, private placements, public issues, going public, dispositions, and takeovers. His services are in demand with European entrepreneurs and investors, primarily in France, wi...
Stuart practises corporate and commercial law, with an emphasis on corporate finance and securities and mergers and acquisitions. Stuart has acted for domestic and international companies in a wide variety of transactions including equity and debt financings, business combinations, acquisitions and stock exchange listings. He also advises clients on corporate and securities regulatory compliance issues and corporate governance matters. Stuart has extensive experience acting for clients involv...
Colin Burn is a partner practising in the Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets, Securities and Mining Groups. His practice is primarily focused on corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on M&A, corporate finance, private equity, and stream and royalty finance, as well as corporate governance matters. Colin has extensive experience advising foreign and domestic clients, including private equity and other financial sponsors, in public and private merger and acquisition transa...
Jean-Philippe Buteau practises primarily in the area of business law. In particular, he assists private and public companies, public bodies, pension plans and other businesses with respect to their transactions, including investments, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations and their internal and operational affairs in general. Over the years, Mr. Buteau has advised clients on numerous cross-border transactions and has also participated in a number of commercial transactions, including init...
Geoff Clarke has over 25 years of experience in investment banking, financial advisory, corporate finance and securities law. Geoff is the Leader of Miller Thomson LLP’s Mining Law practice area. Geoff represents and advises public companies, institutional investors and investment banks in securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, shareholder activism, exchange sponsorships, fairness opinions, continuous disclosure, stock exchange matters, securities litigati...
Nancy Eastman’s practice is focused on securities, mergers and acquisitions and global mining. Working predominantly on mining issues, Nancy advises clients on royalty and stream financings, domestic and cross-border corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and regulatory compliance. Assisting clients with a variety of securities matters, Nancy has worked with both private and public companies on debt and equity financings, as well as on initial public offerings, reverse take-overs, ...
Rob Eberschlag is a Partner at WeirFoulds LLP with a practice that is focused on corporate, commercial and securities law. Rob has 20 years of experience advising clients on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, investment funds and corporate governance and compliance matters. His number one priority is helping his clients navigate complex and ever-changing nature of securities law. Rob has a knack for taking highly technical and complex information and pr...
Wayne Egan is the Co-Managing Partner at WeirFoulds LLP. He also practises in the area of securities and corporate law, focusing on advising clients involved in raising money, considering and implementing going public transactions and meeting legal obligations existing in the public markets. Wayne is experienced in advising private and public corporations on various financing and regulatory matters, including initial public offerings, private placements, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizati...
Johanna Fipke is a prominent mining lawyer and a core member of Fasken’s Global Mining Group. She regularly advises major and junior mining companies, as well as private equity firms and lenders that do business in the mining space. Johanna often takes on lead advisory roles in multi-million and billion-dollar international transactions and is a stand out in the industry for her diplomatic, creative and flexible approach. Clients appreciate Johanna’s commitment to giving sensible,...
Paul Fornazzari’s practice is focused predominantly in the areas of corporate, commercial and securities law. Clients rely on his expertise in deal structuring, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, shareholder disputes, regulatory and stock exchange compliance and a wide variety of commercial arrangements. Advising boards, executive teams, entrepreneurs and investment dealers, Paul acts for domestic and foreign clients in various industries including mining, petrol...
Brad Freelan is a Partner in the firm’s Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions group with a practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, shareholder activism, corporate governance and corporate finance. Brad has significant experience representing acquirors and targets across a broad range of industries in both public and private M&A transactions, and frequently provides governance advice to boards and special committees. He has a particular expertise assisting clients with cont...
Andrew Gabrielson focuses his corporate/commercial practice in Vancouver within the mining and construction industries. As a former partner of a major national Australian law firm (prior to joining Fasken), and having practiced in Western Australia predominately in mining and resources, Andrew is highly sought after for his expertise. As a member of the firm's Global Mining Group, Andrew advises major and junior mining companies on a wide range of transactions relating to mineral exploration,...
Erik Goldsilver is a partner in the Securities and Capital Markets Group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP with specific expertise in the mining, natural resources and energy sectors. He regularly acts for Canadian and international mining companies on acquisitions and dispositions of mines, mining projects and mining companies; project development; and mine operations in Canada and throughout the world. Erik also advises on the structuring and negotiation of option and joint venture agreements, s...
Brian Graves advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, commercial and securities law matters. With a particular focus on cross-border transactions, Brian works mainly in the mining and natural resource industries and, in particular, is considered an authority on metal streaming transactions. Brian regularly acts as lead counsel on M&A deals for Canadian and foreign clients, advising on hostile and friendly take-over bids, reverse take-overs, plans of arrangement, ass...
Ivan Grbesic is a partner and Co-Head of the Mining Group. He is also a member of the Capital Markets, Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups. Ivan plays a leading role in the firm’s Latin American coverage group. Ivan’s practice focuses on corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on corporate finance transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate reorganizations. He regularly provides advice to issuers and underwriters in connection with initial public offe...
Andrew Grossman is an experienced client-focused deal advisor. He practises corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on M&A and corporate finance, and acts as strategic counsel to corporations and various market participants on significant multiparty transactions (see “Selected client work” below). He has a reputation for leading complex mandates and for delivering practical and timely solutions. Clients also frequently seek his guidance on most major decisions affecting...
For the past 20 years, Dave has been practicing corporate and securities law with a primary focus on capital market transactions and business law matters, including equity and debt financings, initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions. Dave provides ongoing advice to public and private companies regarding corporate governance, continuous disclosure obligations, and various other corporate and securities law compliance matters. In addition, he has extensive experience acting for Ag...
Based in Toronto, Ontario, Barbara Hendrickson , is the Managing Partner and Founder of BAX Securities Law. Barbara has practiced in the securities and corporate areas for nearly 30 years, including with a leading international law firm, a leading national law firm, a Vancouver based securities boutique law firm and as senior legal counsel with the Ontario Securities Commission and for the last 14 years her own boutique law firm. As a former regulator and experienced securities lawyer, Barbar...
Al Hudec currently focuses his practice on commercial transactions involving Indigenous parties and has been lead lawyer on many of Canada’s most significant Indigenous transactions over the last 12 years. He is also a prominent legal advisor to the BC wine industry, advising on purchase and sale transactions and regulatory matters. Al is an M&A and Corporate Governance practitioner with 40 years of experience in all legal aspects of securities and corporate finance, including merge...
Georald Ingborg is a Partner in our Securities and M&A Group in Vancouver. With expertise in domestic and international public and private financing (debt and equity), mergers and acquisitions and public company reporting and compliance, Georald’s services are highly coveted by issuers and financial institutions, primarily in the mining industry, as well as the technology, biotechnology and industrial sectors.
Brett Kagetsu is a partner in the firm's Vancouver office and is the former Vice-Chair of the firm's Corporate Finance, M&A and Private Equity Practice Group. Brett assists both issuers and underwriters with public offerings, private placements, reverse takeovers and Capital Pool Company qualifying transactions. Brett is often involved with plans of arrangement, amalgamations and spin-out transactions. Brett assists Canadian public companies with their regulatory compliance including with...
Jay Kellerman is a partner and member of the Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Markets Groups, and served as the Managing Partner of the firm’s Toronto office from 2012 to 2018. With more than 30 years of experience, Jay is widely recognized by market sources as a leading practitioner in his field. He is consistently sought out by senior management of companies, boards and investors for not only transactional assistance, but to advise on strategic direction and growth. Jay has earn...
Christine practices environmental and aboriginal law, providing advice in respect of major project development, environmental assessment, permitting, operational matters and acquisition and sale of industrial projects. She provides specialized mining industry advice, representing clients with respect to permitting and regulatory aspects of exploration, development, operation and closure of mining projects. Her other clients include energy, forestry and other natural resource sector companies,...
Cyndi Laval is a partner in Gowlings’ Vancouver office and co-leader of Gowlings' national Corporate Finance, M&A and Private Equity Group and Global Mining Group. She specializes in the areas of corporate finance, securities, mergers and acquisitions, and mining law. Cyndi’s practice involves advising both domestic and foreign companies regarding friendly and hostile merger transactions, corporate finance activities, such as equity and debt financings, stock exchange listings...
Amar Leclair-Ghosh practises in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, public financing, private placements, privatizations, shareholder disputes and general corporate matters. Mr. Leclair-Ghosh works with major Canadian public companies, international corporations and family-held businesses pursuing growth through acquisitions. He represents clients in a variety of industries including mining, financial services, forestry and wood products, and media/technology. Mr. Leclair-Ghosh acted as Mo...
Brian practices corporate and securities law with a primary focus on capital market transactions, including listing transactions, equity financings, and mergers and acquisitions. He also provides ongoing advice to public and private companies regarding corporate governance, continuous disclosure obligations, and various other corporate and securities law compliance matters. Brian was selected for inclusion in the 2023 Edition The Best Lawyers in Canada™ for his work in Mining Law.
Amanda Linett is a partner and Co-Head of the Mining Group. She is also a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity and Capital Markets Groups and a member of the Management Committee in the Toronto office. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions (cross-border and domestic), private equity and corporate finance transactions. Amanda has extensive experience advising senior management, boards of directors, special committees and other transaction participants in numerous...
Daphne MacKenzie is a partner in and former Head of the Banking & Finance Group and serves on the firm’s Partnership Board. Her practice focuses on banking, project finance, restructurings, insolvency and public debt securities. Daphne acts for financial institutions and borrowers in cross-border banking and project finance transactions, and for creditors, debtors, receivers and monitors in commercial insolvencies and restructurings. She acts for private equity funds in connection w...
Steve Malas practises in the area of corporate finance and securities, mergers and acquisitions, privatizations and corporate governance. He has extensive experience in M&A transactions, acting for both buyers and sellers in public and private transactions and advising boards of directors and special committees in such transactions. He also acts in Canadian and Canada/US cross-border offerings and private placements on behalf of issuers and underwriters. Mr. Malas frequently advises on di...
Frank Mariage practises in the areas of securities, corporate law and mining law. Over the course of his career, he has developed legal expertise on mining issues. Frank represents mining companies and guides them during the discovery, sale, and processing of mineral deposits, in Canada and elsewhere. He specializes in the legal issues and challenges faced by mining companies.
David Massé is a partner and Head of the Montréal office’s Securities Group. David has extensive experience focused primarily on corporate finance and securities, mergers and acquisitions, financial restructuring and corporate governance. He has been counsel to strategic purchasers, financial sponsors, private equity funds, pension funds and boards of directors in several complex domestic and cross-border transactions, including going private transactions and initial publi...
Grant McGlaughlin is co-leader of the Private Equity Group and practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, corporate finance, governance and sensitive and complex transactions. He provides superior service and expert legal advice to public and private issuers, underwriters and private equity funds in a broad range of industries including mining and natural resources, technology and industrial. Grant has an extensive corporate practice providing general legal and strate...
Ron is the firm’s Securities Group leader. For over 25 years, his practise has focused on mergers & acquisitions (negotiated and unsolicited), equity and debt financings (public and private) and complex commercial transactions. Ron’s clients operate in a variety of industry sectors, including technology, life sciences and mining. They include public and private companies, limited partnerships, REITs, investment funds, portfolio managers and securities dealers. Ron has extensiv...
Alex Nikolic’s practice is focused on corporate and securities law. He regularly advises issuers, investment dealers, private equity and other investors in capital markets and mergers and acquisitions transactions. Frequently assisting clients on debt and equity financings, both domestic and cross border, Alex also works on private placements, public offerings, private equity transactions, take-over bids, plans of arrangement, and joint ventures. He also provides advice on reorganizatio...
D’Arcy Nordick is a corporate partner in the Toronto office. He is a member of the Management Committee and is the former Co-Head of the Capital Markets and Public Mergers & Acquisitions Groups in the Toronto office. He is also a member of the Private Equity, Mining and Financial Products & Services Groups. D’Arcy is one of the most well-regarded corporate and securities lawyers in Canada and has over 20 years’ experience advising both foreign and domestic clients in...
Kevin O'Callaghan is a respected litigator in British Columbia and Leader of the firm’s Indigenous Law group. He is also the regional Lead for the Corporate Social Responsibility Law group. Providing strategic advice on indigenous, regulatory, environmental and other corporate social responsibility issues, Kevin advises clients throughout Western and Northern Canada, and around the world. Kevin provides strategic advice on managing projects through environmental assessment and consultat...
Jonathan practises predominantly in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, capital markets and securities law. He has been involved in several high-profile commercial acquisition, financing and public offering transactions of Canadian and international clients. Jonathan has extensive experience acting for buyers, sellers and issuers, both public and private, in a variety of industries, including regulated professional practice acquisitions (i.e., roll-ups with respect to th...
Justin Parappally is a partner in the Banking & Finance Group. He has expertise in acquisition financing, leveraged buyout transactions, take-private financings, gold streaming transactions, mining debt finance, forward gold sales, debtor-in-possession financing, and asset-based lending transactions. Justin acts for financial institutions, non-bank lenders and borrowers in domestic, cross-border, and international banking and lending transactions. He acts for private equity funds in conne...
John is a partner in the Saskatoon office where he practices in the areas of securities law, natural resources law, and corporate commercial transactions. John has experience in the area of corporate commercial law with a focus on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and natural resources. He advises clients carrying on business in a broad range of industries, including mineral exploration, mining, oil & gas, transportation, waste disposal and agribusiness. John’s clients ran...
Brian Pukier is a partner in the Corporate Group, whose practice is focused primarily on cross-border M&A, private equity investments, corporate finance transactions, complex corporate reorganizations and public policy. He is also called upon by his clients to advise them on corporate governance and crisis management issues. Brian is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading corporate and M&A lawyers. He has extensive experience in counselling senior management and the b...
Kathleen Ritchie is a partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office and is the past leader of the firm's Corporate Finance, M&A and Private Equity Group (2010-2013). She practises securities and corporate law, and has almost 20 years of experience advising on public and private M&A and corporate finance transactions, as well as securities regulatory and corporate governance matters. Kathleen is known by her clients and colleagues for approaching her work with a great deal of intensity, inte...
John Sabetti practices primarily in the areas of securities, mergers, acquisitions and corporate commercial law. With significant experience in corporate finance and M&A transactions, John regularly assists clients with structuring and leading initial public offerings, private placements, acquisition financing, take-over bids, business combinations, debt offerings and redomiciling transactions. In his corporate commercial practice, John has acted for public companies and some of Canada&rs...
Jason Saltzman practises corporate finance and securities law, with an emphasis on securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, as well as all other aspects of corporate and securities law. Jason works with both established and emerging companies world-wide, primarily in the mining, technology, life science, cleantech (including renewable energy, water tech and ag tech), industrial, mid-tech and digital media and entertainment sectors. He as...
Virginia Schweitzer practices in the areas of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities, mining, energy and technology law. Regularly advising clients on public offerings, including IPOs, in Canada and the United States, Virginia has also assisted with private placements for technology, biotechnology and mining clients. Her expertise also extends to negotiating mergers, takeovers and acquisitions on behalf of both public and non-public companies. Virginia also advises corporatio...
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