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Christian P. Gauthier

Capital Markets and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver and Toronto

Partner

Kwang Lim

Corporate and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Vancouver Managing Partner

Generative AI is taking the venture capital world by storm. Despite the slump in overall VC funding, investor interest in AI is intensifying. PitchBook notes that "in the world of startup valuations, there's generative AI—and everything else." The Wall Street Journal describes the current environment as "ChatGPT fever . . . Amid broader venture-capital doldrums, it is boom times for startups touting generative artificial intelligence tech." As VC investors look to the generative AI market and companies seek funding, there are several things to consider including valuations, the ever evolving regulatory landscape and a heightened need for robust diligence and corporate governance processes.

Booming Venture Capital Investment in Generative AI Considerations for Investors and Companies

Booming Venture Capital Investment in Generative AI: Considerations for Investors and Companies

Gordon N. Cameron

Canadian Corporate and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones New York

Principal, Head of New York Office

Thomas A. Bauer

M&A, Corporate Reorganization, and Income Trust Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner 

Xenia Wong

Equity and Debt Securities New York Lawyer at Bennett Jones

Counsel

The special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) IPO boom of 2021 fizzled in 2022 as SPAC IPO activity declined sharply—a trend that will likely continue in 2023. In 2021, there were a record-breaking 613 SPAC IPOs whereas, as of March 2023, there have only been seven SPAC IPOs. This marked decrease in SPAC IPO activity has been driven by rising interest rates, inflation and changes in the regulatory landscape due to increased scrutiny by the SEC.

Canada CrossBorder DeSPAC Transactions What US Listed SPACs and Canadian Companies Need to Know

Canada Cross-Border De-SPAC Transactions: What U.S.-Listed SPACs and Canadian Companies Need to Know

Linda Misetich Dann

Securities, Corporate Finance, M&A and Mining Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Harinder S. Basra

Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Finance and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Calgary Managing Partner

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/practice-areas/corporate-commercial/ma-activity-slips-in-q3-but-year-to-date-numbers-better-than-before-pandemic-bennett-jones-lawyers/370559" target="_blank">Canadian Lawyer</a> reports on Bennett Jones' Q3 look at the M&A landscape. Linda Misetich Dann, Christian Gauthier and Harinder Basra say there is a lot of interest in dealmaking, with the latest numbers on M&A activity beating those from before the pandemic. M&A activity has slowed in the first nine months of 2022.

M A Activity YearToDate Is Better Than Before Pandemic

M&A Activity Year-To-Date Is Better Than Before Pandemic

While Canadian M&A activity slowed in Q3, many companies and investors continue to have the appetite and capital to do M&A transactions, including private equity funds who continue to seek accretive opportunities to deploy capital in a number of sectors in the Canadian economy. As was the case throughout the first half of 2022, deals are being done and opportunities are there, but investors are showing restraint and gone are the days of doing a deal at any cost.

Canadas M A Landscape Q3 2022 Its Not If Its When

Canada's M&A Landscape Q3 2022: It's Not If, It's When

Simon Grant

Banking & Finance Lawyer, Fintech Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Jessica B. Horwitz

International Trade Lawyer, Customs Lawyer, Regulatory Lawyer, Anti-Corruption and Economic Sanctions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Andrew Bozzato

Corporate, M&A, Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

FINTRAC imposed a record $176.9 million penalty on cryptocurrency exchange Cryptomus for thousands of AML/KYC violations. The case underscores regulators&rsquo; increasing focus on compliance, with additional sanctions from the BCSC for operating without registration. Exchanges serving Canadian clients must ensure strict adherence to AML, KYC and securities laws to avoid similar consequences.

176 9 million fine against cryptocurrency exchange from FINTRAC demonstrates costs of non compliance

C$176.9 Million Fine Against Cryptocurrency Exchange From FINTRAC Demonstrates Costs of Non-Compliance

David J. Wahl, FCIArb

Construction Arbitration & Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Christopher Petrucci

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Alex Payne

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

The Ontario Superior Court in Feldt Electric Ltd v Gorbern Mechanical Contractors held that non-compliance with an adjudicator&rsquo;s determination does not automatically invalidate a lien. The decision underscores the importance of jurisdiction and procedural fairness in construction disputes under Ontario&rsquo;s prompt payment and adjudication regime.

Liening on Fairness

Lorelei Graham

Food and Agribusiness Lawyer, IP Lawyer, Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Michelle Galati

Corporate Commercial and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

Investment in agribusiness experienced a boom in the early 2020s, when investor enthusiasm for food security, supply chain resilience and agricultural innovation surged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Venture capital deployed unprecedented levels of funding into agrifood technology, while private equity groups targeted food processing, logistics and packaging platforms. At its peak, Canadian venture funding across the economy reached record highs in 2021 and 2022, and agribusiness was a direct beneficiary of that exuberance.

AI and Tech Are Powering Agribusiness Deal Flow

Angela Blake

M&A, Securities and Corporate Finance Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Laura James

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

M&amp;A activity in Canada rebounded in Q3 2025, with total deal value rising sharply year-over-year. Our update explores shifting deal structures, the rise of earnouts, cross-border dynamics, and the sectors driving growth.

Canadas Q3 2025 MA Landscape

Canada's Q3 2025 M&A Landscape

Dominique Carli

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Wittington Investments has launched a C$100 million fund to support Canadian food producers with equity or debt financing. Success depends on legal readiness, from IP protection to governance, ensuring businesses are prepared to attract and secure investment.

Legal Readiness for Food Producers Navigating Wittington Investments C100M Fund

Legal Readiness for Food Producers: Navigating Wittington Investments’ C$100M Fund

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