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Curtis A. Cusinato

Vice Chair and Partner

Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions Practice

Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions Practice |

T: 416.777.5774

Toronto

Cusinato Curtis
 
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

T: 416.777.5774


Toronto

  • Education
  • Bar Admissions
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

Curtis Cusinato practises corporate and securities law with a focus on cross-border M&A, private equity and capital markets transactions. He is highly respected for his legal and business acumen in Canada, the United States and globally.

Chambers Global

"[He's] brilliant, pragmatic and a deal-maker”

Curtis has been advising leading public and private companies and private equity groups on domestic and cross-border M&A, divestitures, leveraged and management buyouts, take-over bids, going private transactions, initial public offerings, strategic investments (PIPES) and other capital markets transactions, for more than 25 years.

His practice covers a range of industries and he serves various clients including multinational companies, Canadian chartered banks, investment and merchant banks, private equity groups, hedge funds and other varied funds, and emerging technology companies.

Prior to joining Bennett Jones, Curtis served as the Managing Partner and as a member of the Executive Committee and Partnership Board at another national law firm in Toronto, where he also previously served as the Head of the Corporate Group and Co-Chair of the M&A and Private Equity Group.

Curtis is actively involved in his community. He served on the board of the North York General Hospital Foundation and as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee and Governor’s Council. In 2018, Curtis supported the Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation, joining a team of cyclists as they undertook the Wellspring Peloton Challenge—riding from Toronto to Las Vegas and again in 2019, from Toronto to San Antonio.

In recognition of his achievements, Curtis is ranked as a leading lawyer in M&A, private equity, capital markets and corporate and commercial law in Canada, the United States and internationally in multiple legal directories. 

Curtis often participates as a speaker or panelist on a variety of Canadian corporate law topics, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, capital markets and corporate governance topics.

Curtis also acted as interim General Counsel for Waste Management, Inc. in Canada in 2000 and completed a secondment in Sydney, Australia, in 1997. He also completed the Michigan Bar in 1991.

Education

University of Ottawa, Hons. BComm, 1988 University of Detroit Mercy, JD, 1991 University of Windsor, LLB, 1991

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 1993

Recent Experience

Recent Transactions
Mergers & Acquisitions
Private Equity
Capital Markets
The York Group of Companies, in an investment from Fengate Asset Management, on behalf of the LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada, through its newly-formed limited partnership.
Dye & Durham Limited, a leading provider of cloud-based software and technology solutions for legal and business professionals, in its $530 million acquisition of DoProcess L.P., the leading provider of real estate practice management software in Canada and an affiliate of Teranet Inc., from OMERS Infrastructure, a leading global infrastructure investment manager and the infrastructure arm of one of Canada’s largest pension plans.
Third Eye Capital, Canada’s leading alternative capital provider, in connection with the management buyout and related financing of Cricket Energy Holdings Inc., a leading home services and smart energy solutions company in a transaction valued at over $200 Million.
York Group of Companies, a leader in the environmental and infrastructure industry, in connection with a strategic investment in York by Fengate Asset Management on behalf of LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada.
CMG Partners Inc. (Caliva), a leading single-state cannabis operator in California, as Canadian counsel, in connection with its approximately US$282.9 million merger with an affiliate of Subversive Capital Acquisition Corp., together with certain other related transactions with Left Coast Ventures, Inc., Shawn JAY-Z Carter and Roc Nation, LLC, to form TPCO Holding Corp., the largest integrated cannabis company in California and the largest cannabis SPAC in Canada.
Waterton Global on its sale of Trillium Mining Corp. to Alamos Gold Inc., and previously for Waterton Precious Metals Fund II, LP on its sale by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Clover Nevada LLC, of a 25% interest in the Hasbrouck gold project to West Vault Mining Inc.
Hut 8 Mining Corp., one of the world’s largest publicly traded cryptocurrency mining companies, on its $77.5-million private placement of common shares and warrants to US institutional investors, and previously on its overnight marketed underwritten public offering led by Stifel GMP.
Transflo, a True Wind portfolio company, and a mobile, telematics and business process automation provider for the transportation industry, in its acquisition of Microdea, a leader in document management and workflow automation solutions in the transportation and logistics industry.
Kensington Capital Partners and Kensington Private Equity Fund in its $35-million acquisition and related financing through its portfolio company, Clearpoint Health Network Inc., of the surgical and medical centres business of Centric Health Corporation, and, previously in its investment in LifeSpeak Inc., a leading North American digital education platform that caters to the mental health and wellness of employees, with Round 13 and Roynat Capital joining Kensington in the investment round for aggregate proceeds of $42 million.
Nexicom Inc., a leading independent Ontario-based telecom company in connection with the acquisition of Lansdowne Rural Telephone Co., an iconic 113-year-old independent Ontario phone company, by way of amalgamation.
Dye & Durham Ltd., a leading software provider for legal and business professionals, as special transaction counsel to the board of directors in connection with their $150-million initial public offering.
Bragg Gaming Group Inc., an innovative B2B online gaming solution provider, in its bought deal financing for gross proceeds of $20.7 million from a syndicate of underwriters led by Cormack Securities Inc. and Canaccord Genuity Corp., together with the completion of its reorganization with K.A.V.O. Holdings Ltd. and listing on the TSX.
Summa Linguae Technologies, a portfolio company of private equity firm Value 4 Capital (4VC) and a leading language solutions provider, in its acquisition of Globalme, a Canadian localizer and data annotator.
Medline Industries Inc. a global healthcare manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, as Canadian counsel in the US$167.5 million acquisition of the NAMIC fluid management business from AngioDynamics, and on various other acquisitions in Canada, including Medical Mart Supplies Limited, Dufort et Lavigne Ltée, NeuroGym Technologies, and Médi-Sélect Ltée.
Colfax Corporation, a leading diversified industrial technology company, as Canadian counsel in the US$1.8B sale of its Howden Air & Gas Handling business to an affiliate of KPS Capital Partners, LP, and on various other acquisitions in Canada, including previously acted as counsel on Advanced Combustion Inc. and Advanced Fan Systems, Simsmart Technologies, Inc. and Alphair Ventilating Systems Inc.
Shopify Inc., a leading multi-channel commerce platform, on various acquisitions, including Oberlo UAB, Alveo Inc. (Return Magic) and Boltmade Inc.
Pethealth Inc., an international leader in pet health insurance and other pet-related services, in the sale of all of its outstanding common shares to Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. in a going private transaction by plan of arrangement.
Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP, in its all-cash offer to acquire through its subsidiary, Waterton Precious Metals Bid Corp., all of the issued and outstanding shares of Chaparral Gold Corp. not already held by it and its affiliates.
Sysco Corporation and Sysco Canada Inc., the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products, in over two dozen acquisitions and divestitures in Canada, including the $440M acquisition of the assets of SERCA Foodservice Inc. from Sobeys Inc., and concurrent, $75M divestiture of the SERCA Pacific Division to GFS Holdings, Inc., and most recently the acquisition of Tannis Trading, Inc., a leading broadline food service distributor in Ottawa, Ontario.
EMC Corp., as Canadian counsel, to the newly merged Dell Inc. and EMC Corp., in the US$1.6-billion sale of its enterprise content division to Open Text Corp.
SkipTheDishes Restaurant Services Inc., in its $200-million sale to a subsidiary of Just Eat plc.
Verus Partners & Co. Inc., and its shareholders in the sale of shares to Lazard Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc., in the acquisition by AdGear Technologies Inc., a digital advertising technology company, and various other acquisitions.
Discovery Air Inc., a global leader in specialty aviation services, in various transactions, including in its sale to certain funds managed by the Clairvest Group Inc. in a going private transaction by plan of arrangement.
The Tramore Group Inc., in its sale to CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants Inc.
Yelp Inc., as Canadian counsel, in its $20M acquisition of Turnstyle Analytics.
Karrys Bros. Limited, a leading Ontario wholesale foodservice distributor, in the sale of substantially all of its assets to Core-Mark Holding Company, Inc., one of the largest marketers of fresh and broad-line supply solutions to the convenience retail industry in North America.
GoPivotal, Inc., in the acquisition of Xtreme Labs Inc., a leading mobile strategy and product development firm.
Swiss Herbal Remedies Limited, a leading nutraceutical company, in its sale to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.
Les Boris and Jacqueline Boris, minority shareholders of Mountain Cablevision Limited, an independent communications company, in the $300M sale by the Boris Family by way of a controlled auction to Shaw Communications Inc.
Zekelman Industries, Inc. (formerly JMC Steel Group, Inc.), the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America, in the acquisition of the debt and shares of Lakeside Steel Inc. in a going private transaction completed by way of plan of arrangement.
The Zekelman Family in the acquisition and redemption by Zekelman Industries, Inc. (formerly JMC Steel Group, Inc.), the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America, of The Carlyle Group’s majority stake, together with the completion of its related US$1.1B refinancing and recapitalization.
The Zekelman Family and Atlas Tube Inc., in its $1.5B merger with John Maneely Company, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, to form North America's largest steel tubing manufacturer.
The Zekelman Family, in the proposed sale of its interest in the proposed US$3.5B acquisition of The John Maneely Company, the largest independent tubular manufacturer in North America, by The Carlyle Group and other minority shareholders to NovoLipetsk Steel.
Atlas Tube Inc., in the US$350M acquisition of Copperweld Holding Company to form North America's largest manufacturer of Hollow Structural Sections (HSS), together with the US$177.8M concurrent divestiture of the Automotive and Mechanical Divisions of Copperweld to Dofasco Inc. and completion of related US$250M syndicated acquisition financing and structuring led by Comerica Bank, and the subsequent sale by Atlas Tube Inc. and Dofasco Inc, of Copperweld Bimetallics, LLC, the world's largest producer of bimetallic wire and strand products, by way of management buyout, to Copperweld Holdings LLC.
The Serruya Family in the acquisition of Promenade Shopping Centre in Thornhill, Ontario, from Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited.
Waste Management Inc., in numerous acquisitions and divestitures in Canada, including in its US$125M acquisition of Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc. from Allied Waste Industries, Inc.
Hearst Corporation, as Canadian counsel, in the acquisition of an 80% stake in Kubra Data Transfer Ltd., a leading provider of digital bill delivery and payment systems in North America, from Clairvest Group Inc., Clairvest Equity Partners III Limited Partnership and other management shareholders, and in the acquisition of a majority portion of the international magazine business of Lagardère SCA for a total purchase of approximately £640M.
TM Bioscience Corporation, in its all stock merger by way of plan of arrangement with Luminex Corporation.
United Dominion Industries Limited, in its stock merger by plan of arrangement with SPX Corporation with a transaction value of US$1.95B.
ONCAP, with its acquisition of a majority stake in Walter Surface Technologies, a leading provider of innovative solutions for the metal working industry, in partnership with Walter’s existing management team.
Skyservice Investments Inc., Canada’s largest FBO and the leader in the Canadian business aviation market, and certain of its shareholders, including Fulcrum Capital Partners Inc., as counsel in the sale of a majority equity interest of Skyservice to InstarAGF Asset Management Inc.
Skyservice Investments Ltd., a portfolio company of InstarAGF Asset Management Inc., in the acquisition of certain real property and assets of the Muskoka FBO business and the shares of Muskoka Aircraft Center Inc.
Serruya Private Equity and Kahala Brands, Ltd., one of the fastest growing franchise companies in the world, in the US$310-million sale of its shares by the selling shareholders to MTY Food Group Inc. by way of a merger with one of MTY's wholly-owned subsidiaries for $240 million in cash and the issuance of 2,253,930 shares of MTY to the sellers.
Bento Sushi, North America’s second largest sushi brand, in its dual track IPO and sale process, in its $100-million sale to YO! Sushi, a portfolio company of Mayfair Equity Partners, and concurrent re-investment in the combined company by Bento’s founders to create one of the largest sushi companies outside of Japan.
Armacell Group, a portfolio company of Blackstone and KIRK BI A/S, the leading global manufacturer of flexible foam products for equipment insulation and technical applications, in the acquisitions of TB Concept Inc., the Canadian innovator of Insurguard pipe support solutions, and Industrial Thermo Polymers Limited (ITP), a leading manufacturer of extruded polyethylene foam products in North America.
Third Eye Capital, through its affiliate Go Gel Holdings in its going private transaction of Tangelo Games Corp. by plan of arrangement, and the completion of various other senior and subordinated debt, equity and other strategic transactions.
The Clairvest Group, in the sale of shares of the Hudson Valley Waste Holdings, Inc. by Clairvest, other related funds and other shareholders to Waste Connections, Inc. for US$300M, and the sale of its interest in Winters Bros. Waste Systems to BFI Canada Ltd. (now Waste Connections, Inc.) for US$263M.
Bento Holdings Ltd., consisting of the original founder of Bento Nouveau Ltd., management and Aviro Ventures Limited Partnership II, in the acquisition of Bento Nouveau Ltd. from Whitecastle Private Equity Partners Fund LP and Oakwest Corporation Limited and other minority shareholders, and the completion of concurrent equity and debt financing transactions.
OrbiMed Asia Partners, L.P., OrbiMed Private Investments III, L.P., OrbiMed Advisors LLC, OrbiMed Advisors Ltd. and others, with its acquisition of Response Biomedical Corporation in a going private transaction by plan of arrangement.
Gaming Nation Inc., in its sale to OC Special Opportunities Fund, LP, a private investment fund managed by Orange Capital Ventures GP, LLC in a going private transaction by plan of arrangement.
Flipp Corporation, a mobile consumer marketplace, in a US$61M strategic investment by General Atlantic.
ONCAP Management Partners and EnGlobe Corp., an ONCAP portfolio company, in its acquisition of LVM Inc., a leading Canadian geotechnical, materials and environmental engineering firm, from Dessau Capital Inc. and completion of related senior and subordinated debt financings in a transaction supported by La Casisse De dépot et placement du Québec to create the largest Quebec-based provider of integrated environmental and technical services, and various other transactions including the acquisition of Biogenie.
Waterton Global Resource Management, together with subsidiaries of Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP in their $110M acquisition of Barrick Gold Corporation’s 70% interest in the Spring Valley project and 100% of the Ruby Hill mine.
Warburg Pincus Private Equity X, L.P. and Warburg Pincus X Partners, L.P., as Canadian counsel, in its investment of up to $35M in Protox Therapeutics Inc.
Triton Managers Ltd. and PPM Ventures, Ltd., the private equity arm of Prudential Corporation plc, as Canadian counsel, in the US$575M acquisition of the worldwide Pharmaceutical Diagnostic business from Pfizer Inc.
Avista Capital Partners, as Canadian counsel, in the US$525M acquisition of the medical imaging business unit of Bristol Myers Squibb Company.
Diamond Castle Holdings LLC, as Canadian counsel, in the acquisition of Label Corp. Holdings Inc. from Wind Point Partners.
The Carlyle Group, as Canadian counsel, in the US$1.5B acquisition of Niagara Holdings, Inc., the parent company of PQ Corporation.
Transcore Inc., a portfolio company of KRG Capital Partners, as Canadian counsel, in the acquisition of assets of Vistar Telecommunications Inc. and Vistar Datacom Inc. and the subsequent sale by certain Transcore subsidiaries of Roper Industries Inc. of its global satellite communications assets of Skywave Mobile Communications to Inmarsat plc.
Genstar Capital LLC, as Canadian counsel, in its sale of Fort Dearborn Holdings to KRG Capital Partners LLC, the acquisition and related financing of Kilian Manufacturing Corporation and Kilian Canada ULC from a subsidiary of Timken U.S. Corporation, and the acquisition of Cromedica International by PRA International, Inc., a portfolio company of Genstar.
Third Eye Capital Corporation, in various acquisitions and debt and equity transactions including the acquisition and financing by plan of arrangement of a leading global software and communications solutions company.
Shopify Inc., a leading cloud-based commerce platform, as Canadian counsel, in its dual-listed initial public offering of Class A subordinate voting shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange, and the US$330-million cross-border follow-on offering, and several subsequent acquisition and financing transactions.
Pinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc., a portfolio company of ONCAP, in its initial public offering and secondary offering for total group proceeds of $150 million and public listing on the TSX.
Zekelman Industries, Inc., the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America, in its withdrawn initial public offering on the NYSE and TSX.
Sysco Canada, Inc., in its inaugural offering of $500-million aggregate principal amount of 3.65 percent Series A Notes due 2025, which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Sysco EU II S.a.r.l. and Sysco Corporation, and previously in the establishment of a $500 million Canadian commercial paper program.
Hut 8 Mining Corp., one of the world’s largest publicly-traded cryptocurrency mining and blockchain infrastructure companies, in its reverse takeover and public listing on the TSXV and completion of private placement financings in excess of $100 million.
William Blair & Company LLC, the financial advisor to the board of directors of FirstService Corporation, in the plan of arrangement for FirstService to separate into two independent publicly-traded companies, Colliers International, one of the top three global leaders in commercial real estate and FirstService Corporation, the North American leader in residential property management and services.
A syndicate of underwriters led by GMP Securities L.P. and RBC Dominion Securities Inc. in various bought deal offerings by Russel Metals Inc., one of the largest metal distribution companies in North America, including a $300M 6% Senior Unsecured Notes bought deal financing, a $283.5M bought deal equity financing and a $175M 7.75% convertible unsecured subordinated debenture bought deal financing.
Deere & Co., in the establishment by John Deere Credit Inc. of a $1-billion Medium Term Note (MTN) Program and subsequent renewals thereof and the establishment by John Deere Credit Inc. and John Deere Limited of an unlimited Canadian commercial paper program and subsequent renewals thereof.

Recent Recognition

Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business
Ranked, Corporate/M&A – Canada
Chambers Canada: Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business
Ranked, Corporate/Commercial – Ontario
The Legal 500 Canada
Recommended, Corporate and M&A
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Most frequently recommended, Corporate Commercial, Corporate Mid-Market and Private Equity
Consistently recommended, Corporate Finance & Securities, Mergers & Acquisitions
The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
Ranked, Corporate Commercial
Ranked, Corporate Finance
Ranked, Corporate Mid-Market
Lexpert Guide to the Leading U.S./Canada Cross-border Lawyers in Canada
Recognized as a leading cross-border lawyer in M&A
Who's Who Legal: Canada
Ranked, Mergers & Acquisitions
The Best Lawyers in Canada
Ranked, Corporate
Ranked, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity
Ranked, Mergers & Acquisitions
Lexpert Special Edition on Agribusiness & Cannabis
Recognized as one of Canada's leading lawyers in Agribusiness and Cannabis
Lexpert Special Edition on Technology
Recognized as one of Canada's leading lawyers in Technology
Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Energy Lawyers
Recognized as a leading Energy lawyer in Canada
Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Corporate Lawyers
Recognized as a leading Corporate lawyer in Canada
Lexpert/ROB Special Edition: Leading Canadian Lawyers in Global Mining
Recognized as a leading Mining lawyer in Canada
IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms
Ranked, Capital Markets: Equity
Ranked, Mergers and Acquisitions
Ranked, Private Equity

Insights, News & Events

Announcements

Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2021

February 22, 2021
       

Announcements

Twenty-Five Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert/ALM 500 Directory

December 17, 2020
       

In the News

Curtis Cusinato on U.S. Election and M&A

November 03, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones is Recognized in Chambers Canada 2021

September 10, 2020
       

Announcements

21 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert's Agribusiness and Cannabis 2020

June 11, 2020
       

Announcements

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

May 13, 2020
       

Blog

COVID-19 Considerations for Directors

March 12, 2020
       

Blog

Big Trends in Canada's Private Equity Bull Market

March 04, 2020
       

In the News

Curtis Cusinato on Private Equity in Lexpert

February 19, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2020

February 13, 2020
       

Announcements

Twenty-three Bennett Jones Lawyers in Leading 500 in Canada

December 13, 2019
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones is Top-Tier in The Legal 500

November 18, 2019
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones' Leading Lawyers in Chambers Canada 2020

September 19, 2019
       

Announcements

Lexpert's 2019 Guide to U.S./Canada Cross-Border Lawyers

June 14, 2019
       

Announcements

136 Lawyers in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

May 06, 2019
       

Announcements

Curtis Cusinato Joins Bennett Jones as Partner

March 06, 2019
       

Related Services

Mergers & Acquisitions
Commercial Transactions
Banks & Financial Institutions
Technology, Media & Entertainment
Private Equity & Investment Funds
Corporate Governance
Biotech, Pharma & Lifesciences
Securities Litigation
Capital Markets
Agribusiness, Food & Beverage
Gaming & Hospitality

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