• About
  • Offices
  • Careers
  • Students
  • Alumni
Background Image
Logo Bennett Jones
  • People
  • Expertise
  • Resources
  • Search
  • Menu
  • Search Mobile
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All

FEATURED AREAS

Energy
Funds & Finance
Mining
Capital Projects
All Industries
Crisis & Risk Management
Environmental, Social & Governance
Governmental Affairs & Public Policy
All Practices
Insights
Media
Events
Subscribe
COVID-19 Resource Centre
Business Law Talks Podcast
Kickstart
New Energy Economy Series
People
Featured Areas
All Practices
All Industries
About
Offices
Careers
Insights
Events
Search
Search
 

Banks & Financial Institutions

  • Download PDF
  • Key Contacts
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Download PDF
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events

Banks today are facing the most difficult credit and monetary environment that has been seen for decades. As a result, banks are racing to come up with innovative approaches to traditional lending practices and borrowers are striving to understand and benefit from these changes. This challenging environment calls for a multi-disciplinary approach from lawyers with experience and reach who can work together to find a viable path for both lenders and borrowers.

The multi-faceted nature of banking law today calls for lawyers with the resources to handle just about any commercial financial transaction. Acting as counsel to domestic and foreign chartered banks, trust companies, merchant banks, provincial treasuries, commercial credit grantors, income fund companies, foreign lending institutions and major corporate borrowers, Bennett Jones offers clients a broad spectrum of legal and advisory services geared toward the changing needs and demands of the financial services industry.

What Clients Say

"This firm gets work done to the highest quality and on a timely basis. They address all potential aspects of issues at hand and help us as a client to get to the most optimal solutions and arrangements... Their main strengths are their level-headed, optimal approach to very complicated issues and finding the most beneficial and risk-averse solutions to the issues or processes."

We routinely advise on the structuring and documentation of domestic and cross-border loan facilities. Our broad experience and expertise in this area ranges from large, syndicated cash-flow senior debt financings arranged by both domestic and foreign banks to mid-market asset based and senior and mezzanine commercial loan transactions. In recent years, our lawyers have been primary counsel, acting for lenders, sponsors and borrowers, on a number of the largest highly leveraged acquisitions in the Canadian market. We also have broad experience in project finance, public and private debt issues and restructurings.

Our complementary M&A, private equity, capital markets, tax and real estate expertise allow us to deliver to our clients the full spectrum of skills and experience necessary to ensure they are provided with thorough, knowledgeable and timely counsel for all aspects of their lending and other debt financing transactions.

What Clients Say

"The whole team is great to work with. They have a good understanding of business principles and what we are looking for as a client."

Financial Institutions Regulation

We regularly advise Canadian and foreign financial institutions on the multitude of regulation that is relevant to them, including:

  • The establishing, acquiring and divesting of federally and provincially regulated entities such as banks, trusts, insurance entities and credit unions;
  • Consumer and commercial finance companies;
  • Compliance and reputational risk;
  • Money laundering and FinTrac;
  • Privacy;
  • Payment processing, including credit and debit cards and money transmission;
  • Leasing and asset based lending; and
  • The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada.

In addition, we have extremely close relationships with a number of senior regulators including those at the Department of Finance and OSFI, FinTrac and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada.

Key Contacts

  • Patrick J. Brennan Q.C. Patrick J. Brennan Q.C., Partner
  • Karen J. Dawson Karen J. Dawson, Partner
  • J. Steven  Lutz J. Steven Lutz, Partner
  • Mark  Rasile Mark Rasile, Partner
  • Related Lawyers

Recent Experience

Stantec Inc., (NYSE, TSX: STN) with its $1.25-billion credit facilities to finance, in part, the successful acquisition of MWH Global, Inc. for approximately US$793 million.
Apex Capital Management, Inc., a prominent U.S. growth equity manager, with its acquisition by Fiera Capital Corporation, a leading North American independent asset management firm, for US$145 million paid in cash and Class A subordinate voting shares of Fiera.
The underwriters of Algonquin Power and Utilities Corp., co-led by CIBC World Markets Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc., with Algonquin's $1.15-billion offering of convertible debentures on an installment basis to partially finance its $3.4-billion acquisition of the Empire District Electric Company.
The underwriters, with multiple bond offerings by the Province of Alberta in aggregate principal amount of approximately $6.6 billion in 2015.
NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, with the $50.0 million bought deal prospectus offering of 5.50% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures in October, 2015– Counsel to the syndicate of underwriters co-led by BMO Capital Markets and RBC Capital Markets.
The agents with the $225-million green bond offering on security of the LEED Gold 47-storey TELUS Garden development in Downtown Vancouver.
A syndicate of underwriters led by Salman Partners Inc., with a $12.524 million bought deal offering of common shares of Vogogo Inc.
Noront Resources Ltd., with its acquisition of chromite properties in the Ring of Fire mineral region in northern Ontario from certain subsidiaries of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. for a purchase price of US$27.5 million pursuant to an Approval and Vesting Order granted by the Québec Superior Court on April 28, 2015.
On February 23, 2015, North West Redwater Partnership and NWR Financing Company Ltd., as co-issuers, issued $500 million of 2.10% Series C Senior Secured Bonds, due February 23, 2022 and $500 million of 3.70% Series D Senior Secured Bonds, due February 23, 2043 for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.0 billion.
Samson Capital Advisors LLC, a prominent U.S. fixed income investment management firm, with its acquisition by Fiera Capital Corporation, a leading North American independent asset management firm, for US$31.5 million.
Repsol S.A., with the proposed $15.1-billion acquisition of Talisman Energy Inc.
Duluth Metals Limited, with the acquisition by Antofagasta plc of all of the outstanding common shares of Duluth Metals Limited by way of a plan of arrangement for a total transaction value of approximately $104.6 million.
A syndicate of underwriters led by TD Securities Inc., with a $15,093,000 bought deal private placement of 12,900,000 flow-through common shares of Lake Shore Gold Corp.
Parkland Fuel Corporation, with its private placement by way of offering memorandum of $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.0% Senior Notes, due 2022.
ATCO Ltd., with the disposition of ATCO I-Tek Inc. and ATCO's Australian IT operations to affiliates of Wipro Ltd. ("Wipro") for aggregate sale proceeds of approximately $210 million.
ATCO Ltd., with the negotiation, structuring and other commercial matters relating to ATCO entering into a strategic alliance with Wipro including 10-year master service agreements governing the provision of IT services by Wipro to the ATCO Group of Companies valued at approximately $1.2 billion.
North West Redwater Partnership, with its $3.5-billion credit facility and $1.0-billion bond offering, the proceeds of which will contribute to the funding of the construction of North West's $8+ billion bitumen refinery in the Alberta Heartland. The project is supported by 30-year tolling commitments of the Government of Alberta and Canadian Natural.
Northern Frontier Corp., with its $27-million acquisition of Central Water & Equipment Services Ltd., a concurrent $21-million bought deal offering of common shares and warrants and the establishment of new senior credit facilities.
Lone Pine Resources Canada Ltd. and Lone Pine Resources Inc., with a $400-million cross-border recapitalization and restructuring transaction pursuant to a plan of compromise and arrangement under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) and ancillary proceedings under Chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.
Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, with its sale of Nexcap Corporation to Element Financial Corporation.
Drive Rental Corp. and various affiliates, with establishing credit facilities of up to $1,800,000 made available by HSBC Bank Canada.
The Catalyst Capital Group Inc., with the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Advantage-Rent-a-Car pursuant to a sale process under Section 363 of the US Bankruptcy Code.
Management Minority Shareholders, with sale of majority interest in A&B Rail Services Ltd. by Fulcrum Capital Partners, a private equity and mezzanine financing firm to a group of investors led by TorQuest Partners, a manager of private equity funds.
A syndicate of underwriters led by RBC and BMO, with the offering of $465 million of receivable-backed notes by CNH Capital Canada Receivables Trust.
Drive Rental Corp. and various affiliates, with the renewal and expansion of credit facilities of up to $3,671,000 made available by HSBC Bank Canada.
Lead investor, with the completion of a private placement by Xplornet Communications Inc. of $123 million of 13.0% unsecured notes due 2021 and $25 million of preference shares.
Underwriters, co-led by RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc., with the issuance of preferred shares by Pembina Pipeline Corporation for gross proceeds of $150 million.
Province of Alberta, with the issuance of $500-million aggregate principal amount of series DE bonds.
Bel Air Investment Advisors LLC and its affiliate Bel Air Securities LLC, with its US$125-million acquisition by Fiera Capital Corporation.
MonCana Bank of Canada, with the sale of all of its issued and outstanding shares to Canadian First Financial Holdings Limited.
Metropolitan Life Global Funding I, with its US$500-million bond offering.
The Province of Alberta, with an offering of $500 million principal amount of series DF 3.45% bonds.
Underwriters, with the issuance of $500-million aggregate principal amount of series DE bonds by the Province of Alberta.
Acquisition of 17 properties by a KingSett Capital-led consortium, with H&R Real Estate Investment Trust's acquisition of Primaris Retail Real Estate Investment Trust pursuant to a Plan of Arrangement. Bennett Jones acted for the consortium with respect to real estate and banking matters.
Province of Alberta–issuance of $750 million aggregate principal amount of series DD bonds–counsel to underwriters (February 2013).
Clarke Inc., with the approval of an amendment to extend the maturity date from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2018 at a special meeting of debenture holders of its 6.00% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures ($62.3 million outstanding).
ME Global BV, on its $450 million senior debt financing with a syndicate led by Mizuho.
Argent Energy Trust, with its $100 million public offering of trust units to finance an acquisition of oil and gas assets.

Recent Recognition

Chambers Canada
Ranked, Banking & Finance
Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business
Ranked, Banking & Finance
Chambers Fintech Guide
Ranked, Chambers Fintech
The Legal 500 Canada
Ranked, Banking and Finance
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Repeatedly recommended, Banking & Financial Institutions, Toronto
Consistently recommended Banking & Financial Institutions, Calgary
IFLR 1000 Finance and Corporate
Ranked, Banking
Ranked, Banking Capital Markets
Ranked, Banking Mergers and Acquisitions

Insights, News & Events

Announcements

Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2021

February 22, 2021
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Acts for Cenovus in $23.6-billion Combination with Husky

October 27, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Advises on $3.2-Billion Agreement to Acquire K+S Americas Salt Business, Including Morton Salt and Windsor Salt

October 05, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones is Recognized in Chambers Canada 2021

September 10, 2020
       

Blog

Ontario Superior Court Narrows Foreign Exchange Class Action

May 26, 2020
       

Announcements

Fifteen Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert's Special Edition on Technology

May 13, 2020
       

Articles

Duncan Card on Bermuda’s Payments Experience

March 24, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2020

February 13, 2020
       

Announcements

John Teolis and Suzana Lobo Join Bennett Jones

January 06, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones is Top-Tier in The Legal 500

November 18, 2019
       

Blog

Technology and Cybersecurity Incident Reporting: New Guidance from OSFI

January 31, 2019
       

Announcements

Getting the Deal Through: Asset Recovery 2019

December 03, 2018
       

Blog

SCC Renders Judgment on Cooperative National Securities Regulator

November 12, 2018
       

Blog

Bank Loan Repayments May Be Seized Due to Super Priority of Crown for GST/HST

October 16, 2018
       

Articles

Global Legal Insights on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Legislation

September 24, 2018
       

Announcements

Bank of Canada Board of Directors

June 28, 2018
       

In the News

Bennett Jones Lawyers: The Client’s Choice

February 09, 2018
       

Articles

6 Ways to Avoid Legal Peril

November 2017
       

Blog

Australian Securities Exchange Selects Distributed Ledger Technology to Replace CHESS

December 19, 2017
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Joins Enterprise Ethereum Alliance

November 27, 2017
       

Blog

Ontario Securities Commission Approves Initial Token Offering

October 26, 2017
       

Speaking Engagements

2017 Celero FinTech Conference

October 3-6, 2017
       

In the News

David Dodge on BNN Growth in a Radically Uncertain Economy

September 20, 2017
       

In the News

David Dodge on CBC TV on Hidden Debt and Currency Risk

September 18, 2017
       

Blog

Government of Ontario Proposes Amendments to Payday Loans Act

July 19, 2017
       

Announcements

Four Bennett Jones Practices Ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global 2017

March 16, 2017
       

Blog

Blockchain and Secured Lending in Canada

March 06, 2017
       

The firm that businesses trust with their most complex legal matters.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use

© Bennett Jones LLP 2021. All rights reserved. Bennett Jones refers collectively to the Canadian legal practice of Bennett Jones LLP and the international legal practices and consulting activities of various entities which are associated with Bennett Jones LLP

Logo Bennett Jones