Peter Dunne is a securities lawyer focusing on the Canadian investment industry, advising clients on securities regulatory matters, fund formation and capital raising. He is an expert on all categories of registration under Canadian securities legislation as well as the exemptions from registration.
One of the first lawyers in Canada to concentrate on the regulatory aspects of the investment industry, Peter acts for registered dealers, advisers and investment fund managers across the country as well as international firms operating in Canada. He represents parties buying or selling registered firms, including both public and private M&A transactions and reorganizations. He also has extensive experience representing clients in securities regulatory investigations and enforcement actions.
Peter provides guidance on the creation and operation of all types of funds, both public and private, with experience in capital raising, fund mergers, terminations and change of manager transactions. He also advises on the regulatory requirements for these transactions and represents public and private issuers.
Peter is a past director and current member of the Private Capital Markets Association of Canada (PCMA) and its predecessor organization, contributing almost 20 years to the association. Through this role, he is actively involved in shaping regulatory policy in the Canadian investment industry and is a frequent contributor to PCMA comment letters, publications and conferences.
He serves as a member of the Ontario Securities Commission’s Registrant Advisory Committee for the 2025–2026 term, participating in discussions about the challenges registrants face in interpreting and complying with Ontario securities law. In this role, he also provides feedback to the OSC on policy and rulemaking initiatives. Previously, Peter was a member of the Canadian Securities Administrators' implementation committee for the Client-Focused Reforms in 2020–2021 where he addressed challenges registrants faced during the phase-in period for the new requirements.
Peter has shared his expertise as a guest lecturer on investment funds for the LL.M. program at Osgoode Hall Law School (2014 and 2015), on business associations for the law program at Ryerson University (2017) and on the registration requirement of Canadian securities legislation for the securities course at the Faculty of Law, University of Windsor (2024).
A frequent speaker on securities regulatory matters at industry conferences and events, Peter also authored materials used in the exempt market products exam, one of the courses designated by Canadian securities regulators as an exam-based proficiency requirement for the registration of individuals with exempt market dealers in Canada.
Bennett Jones