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Overview

Will Osler practices in the areas of public and private mergers and acquisitions, securities law, and corporate governance matters, with a particular focus on the oil and gas sector. Will has significant experience in domestic and cross-border joint bidding and co-ownership structures, including partnerships and joint ventures. His corporate governance advisory work includes advising corporations and boards of directors with respect to general compliance matters as well as specific issues arising out of transactions. Will works frequently on offerings of equity and debt securities, acting for both issuers and underwriters, as well as Canadian and international takeover bids, plans of arrangement, corporate reorganizations, divestitures and asset and share purchase transactions. He has represented clients in several of Canada's largest recent initial public offerings.

Will also advises clients on lobbyist registration and compliance matters federally and in Alberta.

Will is recognized by Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business for Corporate/M&A; the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Corporate Finance & Securities; the Lexpert/Report on Business Special Edition – Canada's Leading Energy Lawyers; the Lexpert/Report on Business Special Edition – Canada's Leading Infrastructure Lawyers; Who's Who Legal: Canada as a leading lawyer in Capital Markets; and Best Lawyers in Canada as one of Canada's leading Mergers and Acquisitions lawyers.

Will was formerly the co-head of the firm’s capital markets and mergers & acquisitions practice and a member of the firm’s partnership board. He is a Past President of the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede and currently sits on the boards of the Calgary Stampede Foundation, the Saddledome Foundation, MS Canada, the Kidney Foundation of Canada Southern Alberta Branch and is a member of the Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board. Will was appointed King’s Counsel in 2022, and in 2025 he was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to the community.

Client Work

Canadian Utilities in its C$175-million bought deal offering of preferred shares
CU in its C$370-million offering of 4.787% unsecured debentures
Canadian Utilities in its C$750-million offering of 5.45% fixed-to-fixed rate subordinated notes
The underwriters, led by ATB Securities, National Bank Financial and RBC Capital Markets, on their own behalf and on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters, comprised of Canaccord Genuity, Stifel Nicolaus Canada and Acumen Capital Finance Partners, in a bought deal public offering in Canada and private placement in the USA by InPlay Oil of subscription receipts for total gross proceeds of approximately C$32.8 million
Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. in its $100-million acquisition of a privately held oil and natural gas producer, through the acquisition, directly and indirectly, of all issued and outstanding common shares by way of takeover bid.
ATCO Power (2010) Ltd. in its restructuring and co-ownership, financing, and funding transactions related to Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations' participation in the Deerfoot and Barlow solar projects.

Recognitions & Awards

Chambers Canada

Corporate/Commercial - Alberta

Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business

Ranked, Corporate/M&A

The Legal 500: Canada

Recommended, Energy and Natural Resources: Oil & Gas

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Consistently Recommended, Corporate Commercial Law
Repeatedly Recommended, Corporate Finance & Securities

Lexpert Guide to the Leading U.S./Canada Cross-border Corporate Lawyers in Canada

Recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the area of corporate commercial
Recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the area of corporate finance and securities
Recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the area of mergers and acquisitions

Lexpert Special Edition—Canada's Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers

Recognized as a leading Finance and M&A lawyer

Education & Bar Admissions

Education

  • Queen's University, BA (Hons), 1988
  • University of Calgary, LLB, 1994

Bar Admissions

  • Alberta, 1995

Insights

CSA Continues Work to Modernize Continuous Disclosure for Investment FundsBlog

CSA Continues Work to Modernize Continuous Disclosure for Investment Funds

February 10, 2026
William S. Osler KCMia BacicTinashe Muzah
William S. Osler KC, Mia Bacic & Tinashe Muzah
Expanded Federal Lobbyist Registration RequirementsBlog

Expanded Federal Lobbyist Registration Requirements

February 6, 2026
William S. Osler KCDrew C. BroughtonAudrix Arce
William S. Osler KC, Drew C. Broughton & Audrix Arce
Alberta Expands ASC Powers to Address Financial MisinformationBlog

Alberta Expands ASC Powers to Address Financial Misinformation

December 23, 2025
William S. Osler KCDenise D. BrightOlu Akinniyi
William S. Osler KC, Denise D. Bright & Olu Akinniyi