Education

McMaster University, BA, 1987, summa cum laude University of Ottawa, LLB, 1990, magna cum laude 

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 1992

Kevin J. Zych

Partner
Co-Head of Restructuring + Insolvency Practice

T: 416.777.5738 / E: zychk@bennettjones.com

Toronto

Kevin Zych has a reputation that precedes him as a leading restructuring and insolvency lawyer in Canada and around the world. He possesses the leadership and knowledge needed to develop strategies that result in successful outcomes for his clients.

Kevin Zych is co-head of the Restructuring and Insolvency practice group in Toronto. His practice focuses on private loan workouts and judicially supervised restructurings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and the Canada Business Corporations Act, including related litigation, with an emphasis on cross-border restructuring.

Kevin's public engagements include:

For Lenders: Xplore Inc.; Loyalty Ventures (Air Miles); Source Energy Services; Sherritt International; Accel Energy; Jack Cooper Transport; Bellatrix Exploration; Concordia Healthcare; Tervita Corporation; Lightstream Resources; Connacher Oil and Gas; Twin Butte Resources; Nelson Education; OPTI Canada Inc.; Nortel; Trident Exploration Corp.; Ainsworth Lumber Co., Ltd.; Yellow Media; Stelco; Doman Industries Limited; Ivaco; Parmalat Canada; Pioneer Companies; AT&T Canada Inc.; Teleglobe; Laidlaw Inc.

For Borrowers: Coach USA/Megabus; Stoneway Capital Corporation; Calfrac Well Services; Bonavista Energy Corporation; Bumble Bee/Clover Leaf Seafoods; NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul; Sanjel Corporation; Quicksilver Resources Canada Inc.; Lone Pine Resources; Sino-Forest Corporation; Hollinger Canadian Publishing Holdings; Pillowtex Corporation; General Chemical Industrial Products.

For Estate Fiduciaries: Bed Bath & Beyond (Canada); Bridging Finance; Toys R Us; U.S. Steel Canada Inc.; CHC Helicopter; Smurfit-Stone; Québecor World; AbitibiBowater; Dura Automotive; Progressive Molded Products; TerreStar Networks; Cooper-Standard Automotive.

Recent Recognitions

• Lexpert Special Edition—Canada's Leading Restructuring and Insolvency Lawyers
  

  Recognized as a leading Restructuring and Insolvency lawyer

• Chambers Canada
  
  Ranked Band 1, Restructuring/Insolvency 
  
• Chambers Global
  
  Band 1, Restructuring/Insolvency
  
  
• The Legal 500 Canada
  
  Leading Lawyer, Restructuring and Insolvency
  
  
• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
  
  Consistently recommended, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring - Insolvency Litigation
  Consistently recommended, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring - Financial Restructuring
  
  
• Best Lawyers in Canada
  
  Recognized for Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law
  
  
• IFLR 1000 Finance and Corporate
  
  Recognized as a leading lawyer in Restructuring and Insolvency
  
  
• IFLR 1000 The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms
  
  Highly Regarded in Restructuring and Insolvency
  
  
• Benchmark Litigation: Canada
  
  Recognized as a Litigation Star
  
  
• Lexpert/ Report on Business Special Edition - Canada's Leading Corporate Lawyers
  
  Recognized as a leading corporate lawyer in Canada
  
  
• Lexpert Report on Business Special Edition - Canada's Leading Energy Lawyers
  
  Recognized as a leading energy lawyer in Canada
• Lexpert/ Report on Business Special Edition - Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers
  
  Recognized as a leading litigation lawyer in Canada
  
  
• Lexpert Special Edition—Canada's Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers
  
  Recognized as a leading Finance and M&A lawyer
• 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 insolvency and financial restructuring
  
  
• Lexpert Guide to the Leading U.S./Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada
  
  Recognized as one of Canada's leading cross-border litigators
  
  
• Who's Who Legal Canada
  
  Recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of insolvency and restructuring
  
  
• Who's Who Legal Restructuring Insolvency
  
  Recognized as one of the world's leading practitioners in restructuring and insolvency
  

Recent Insights, News & Events

• Bennett Jones Lawyers Named Among Canada’s Top Litigators By Benchmark Canada
  Announcements / May 01, 2025
  Thirty-seven Bennett Jones lawyers have been recognized in the Benchmark Canada 2025 rankings, including 30 Litigation Stars and 10 Future Stars. Five of our lawyers were also named among the Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Canada.
• Chambers Global Ranks Bennett Jones Lawyers in 2025 Guide
  Announcements / February 13, 2025
  Bennett Jones has been recognized in the Chambers Global Guide 2025, with 49 lawyers ranked across 19 practice areas. Clients in Canada and around the world trust us to navigate their most complex legal matters. Our inclusion in Chambers Global Guide 2025 highlights our commitment to an exceptional client experience, deep industry knowledge and long-standing client relationships.
• Bennett Jones Recognized as Top-Tier Firm in Legal 500 Canada Rankings
  Announcements / November 14, 2024
  Bennett Jones has once again been recognized as a top-tier firm in five practice areas in the 2025 Legal 500 Canada guide. Known for our deep knowledge and client-focused approach, we consistently deliver strategic solutions that help clients solve their most complex legal matters. This recognition highlights our commitment to excellence and our dedication to achieving the best results for our clients.
• 10 Lawyers Recognized in Lexpert Special Edition: Restructuring and Insolvency 2024
  Announcements / October 17, 2024
  We are pleased to announce that 10 Bennett Jones lawyers have been ranked in the Lexpert Special Edition: Restructuring and Insolvency 2024, reflecting our team's deep expertise in handling complex insolvency and restructuring cases. This issue highlights how companies in Canada can navigate the mounting economic pressures.
• Bennett Jones Top Ranked in Chambers Canada 2025
  Announcements / September 26, 2024
  Bennett Jones is proud to have once again been recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms across 41 practice areas, with 135 lawyer rankings in Chambers Canada 2025. These rankings reflect the deep trust our clients place in us to solve their most complex legal matters and underscore our lawyers' extensive understanding of their industries and businesses, enabling us to consistently deliver an exceptional experience. In this year's guide, Bennett Jones has 10 Band 1 practice rankings, 20 Band 1 lawyer rankings and 10 newly-ranked lawyers. In addition to this year's rankings, Bennett Jones was awarded Class Action Law Firm of the Year and was a finalist for Real Estate Law Firm of the Year. 
• Bennett Jones Acts for Deal of the Year Winners at 2024 CLAs
  Announcements / May 10, 2024
  Bennett Jones acted for two Deal of the Year winners at the 2024 Canadian Law Awards. The annual gala awards ceremony was held in Toronto last night.
• Bennett Jones Earns Seven Excellence Awards In 2024 CLAs
  Announcements / April 17, 2024
  Bennett Jones is an Excellence Awardee in the Commercial Litigation Team of the Year category in the 2024 Canadian Law Awards. The firm is also acting for six clients who are Excellence Awardees in four separate Deals of the Year.
• Chambers Global Ranks Bennett Jones Lawyers in 2024 Edition
  Announcements / February 15, 2024
  Bennett Jones has 49 lawyer rankings across 19 practice areas in Chambers Global 2024. Chambers and Partners is an independent research company operating across 200 jurisdictions delivering 49 detailed rankings and insight into the world's leading lawyers. 
• Bennett Jones Top Ranked in Chambers Canada 2024
  Announcements / September 28, 2023
  Bennett Jones has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms across 39 practice areas, with 124 lawyer rankings in Chambers Canada 2024. In this year's guide, Bennett Jones has 11 Band 1 practice rankings, 21 Band 1 lawyer rankings and 10 newly-ranked lawyers. In addition to this year's rankings, Bennett Jones was awarded Real Estate Law Firm of the Year and was a finalist in Projects and Energy Law Firm of the Year.
• Bennett Jones Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2024
  Announcements / August 24, 2023
  104 Bennett Jones lawyers have been recognized across 46 practice areas in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada. The recognized lawyers work in Bennett Jones' offices across Canada in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver, highlighting the firm's national expertise.
• 12 Bennett Jones Lawyers Recognized in IFLR1000 Americas 2023
  Announcements / July 14, 2023
  IFLR1000 has recognized 18 Bennett Jones practice areas and 12 lawyers in the 2023 Americas rankings.
• Forty Bennett Jones Lawyers Recognized In Benchmark Canada 2023
  Announcements / April 26, 2023
  Bennett Jones is Highly Recommended in the 2023 Benchmark Canada rankings, with 40 individual lawyers ranked this year—30 Litigation Stars and 10 Future Stars. Benchmark Litigation's law firm and lawyer rankings based on extensive interviews with litigators, dispute resolution specialists and their clients as well as analysis of the market’s most important cases and firm developments.
• Chambers Global Ranks Bennett Jones Lawyers in 2023 Edition
  Announcements / March 06, 2023
  Bennett Jones has 50 lawyer rankings across 19 practice areas in Chambers Global 2023. Chambers and Partners is an independent research company operating across 200 jurisdictions delivering detailed rankings and insight into the world's leading lawyers.
• Bennett Jones Shines In Legal 500 Canada Rankings
  Announcements / November 09, 2022
  Bennett Jones has been recognized as a top-tier firm in five practice areas in the 2023 Legal 500 Canada guide: Aviation, Cannabis, Dispute Resolution: Alberta, Environment and Oil and Gas.
• Stoneway: Use of the CBCA as a Cross-Border Restructuring Tool
  Blog / May 30, 2022
  In May 2022, the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) was used to implement a cross-border and international restructuring of a group of companies (collectively known as Stoneway), whose principal business is the operation of power generation facilities in Argentina. A CBCA Plan of Arrangement was utilized in parallel with a Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization under the United States Bankruptcy Code, and contained certain unique features in light of the intertwined cross-border proceedings of Stoneway. This case affirms the flexibility of the CBCA's arrangement provision and its utility as a cross-border and international restructuring tool.  
• Bennett Jones Highly Recommended in Benchmark Canada 2022
  Announcements / April 28, 2022
  Bennett Jones is Highly Recommended as a firm in the 2022 Benchmark Canada rankings, with 38 individual lawyers ranked this year—30 are Litigation Stars, with 5 ranked as a Top 50 Trial Lawyer, and 8 are Future Stars.
• Bennett Jones: "Top Tier" in Chambers Canada 2022
  Announcements / September 16, 2021
  Bennett Jones has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms across 38 practice areas, with 111 lawyer rankings in Chambers Canada 2022. Bennett Jones has 8 Band 1 practice rankings and 14 Band 1 lawyer rankings in this year's guide.
• Bennett Jones' Best Lawyers in Canada 2022
  Announcements / August 26, 2021
  146 Bennett Jones lawyers have been recognized across 48 practice areas in the Best Lawyers in Canada 2022 edition, with 44 lawyers having earned recognition in multiple practice areas. The recognized lawyers work in Bennett Jones' offices across Canada in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver, highlighting the firm's national expertise.
• Bennett Jones Highly Recommended in Benchmark Canada 2021
  Announcements / May 04, 2021
  Bennett Jones is Highly Recommended as a firm in the 2021 Benchmark Canada rankings, with 37 individual lawyers ranked this year—29 are Litigation Stars, 8 are Future Stars and 5 are Top 50 Trial Lawyers.
• New Alberta Energy Regulator Reporting Requirements: Implications for Transactions and Borrowing
  Blog / April 19, 2021
  On April 7, 2021, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) released a revised Directive 067: Eligibility Requirements for Acquiring and Holding Energy Licenses and Approvals, which is designed to enhance its ability to ensure that liabilities are properly managed by licensees. This follows other recent measures including amendments to its legislation to increase the ability of the AER to hold working interest participants accountable and to appoint receivers, as well as the introduction of a new liability management framework and licensee capability assessment.
• 36 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert's Special Edition on Finance and M&A
  Announcements / April 16, 2021
  Thirty-six Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the 2021 Lexpert Special Edition – Canada's Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers. 
• Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2021
  Announcements / February 21, 2021
  Bennett Jones has 51 lawyer rankings in 18 practice areas in Chambers Global 2021. Chambers and Partners is an independent research company operating across 200 jurisdictions delivering detailed rankings and insight into the world's leading lawyers.
• 40 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert's Special Edition on Litigation
  Announcements / November 26, 2020
  Forty Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the 2020 Lexpert Special Edition – Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers. This annual feature profiles Lexpert-ranked lawyers in business-related litigation and appears in the December issue of the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine.
• Bennett Jones Leads Canada in Energy Law
  Announcements / October 26, 2020
  Bennett Jones has 52 lawyers ranked in Lexpert's Special Edition: Energy 2020—more than any other law firm in Canada. Ranked lawyers provide services in oil & gas, electricity, alternative and nuclear energy. Bennett Jones has been intimately involved in virtually every major energy development project in Canada in the past 20 years, representing project proponents, investors and other stakeholders.
• Bennett Jones is Recognized in Chambers Canada 2021
  Announcements / September 10, 2020
  Bennett Jones has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms across 38 practice areas, with 115 lawyer rankings in Chambers Canada 2021.
• Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2020
  Announcements / February 13, 2020
  Bennett Jones has 50 lawyer rankings in 17 practice areas around the world in Chambers Global 2020. 
• Bennett Jones: Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers
  Announcements / November 29, 2019
  Thirty-five Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the Lexpert special edition of Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers. 
• Bennett Jones is Top-Tier in The Legal 500
  Announcements / November 18, 2019
  Bennett Jones has been recommended as a Top-Tier firm in 5 practice areas in The Legal 500 Canada 2020 guide.
• Bennett Jones' Leading Lawyers in Chambers Canada 2020
  Announcements / September 19, 2019
  Bennett Jones has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms with over 100 recognized practitioners nationally in Chambers Canada 2020. Here are a few things clients have said: “The [...]
• Bennett Jones Leads Canada in Energy Law
  Announcements / September 02, 2019
  Bennett Jones has 49 lawyers ranked in Lexpert’s 2019 Special Edition—Canada’s Leading Energy Lawyers, more than any other firm. The rankings appear in the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine.
• Concordia Decision Expands Potential Scope of CBCA Plans of Arrangement
  Articles / May 01, 2019
  Kevin J. Zych, Sean Zweig and Preet K. Gill co-authored "Concordia Decision Expands Potential Scope of CBCA Plans of Arrangement" published in Banking & Finance Law Review, vol. 34.2.
• Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2019
  Announcements / February 14, 2019
  Bennett Jones has 48 lawyer rankings in 15 practice areas around the world in Chambers Global 2019. 
• Concordia: Novel Features in a CBCA Restructuring
  Articles / February 01, 2019
  Kevin J. Zych, Sean Zweig and Preet K. Gill co-author "Concordia Novel Features in a CBCA Restructuring" published in the National Insolvency Review, Vol. 36, No. 1.
• Bennett Jones—Lexpert’s Leading Canadian Litigation Lawyers
  Announcements / November 29, 2018
  27 Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the Lexpert special edition of Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers. The issue profiles Lexpert-ranked lawyers in business-related litigation and appears in December’s Report on Business Magazine in the Globe and Mail.
• Bennett Jones in Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2018
  Announcements / November 01, 2018
  64 Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in 19 areas of Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2018. The guide identifies the foremost legal practitioners in multiple areas of business law for their annual publication.
• Poseidon Plan of Arrangement Resolves Director and Auditor Liability Claims
  Blog / October 30, 2018
  The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench recently sanctioned the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act ("CCAA") plan of compromise and arrangement (the "Plan") of Poseidon Concepts Corp. and certain of [...]
• Equity Claims Relief Granted as Part of CBCA Restructuring
  Updates / September 07, 2018
  On June 26, 2018, Regional Senior Justice Morawetz of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted an order approving a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (“CBCA”), in respect of Concordia International Corp. and Concordia Healthcare (Canada) Limited (collectively, “Concordia”).1 The Concordia plan of arrangement, and the order approving it under subsection 192(4) of the CBCA, contained provisions which, in effect, limited recovery on equity claims embodied in class action proceedings which were extant to available insurance proceeds, and released all other equity claims against Concordia. Such provisions, while common in plans of arrangement under the Companies Creditors’ Arrangement Act (“CCAA”), had not previously been implemented within a CBCA plan of arrangement. The Concordia decision represents an example of the flexible use of the CBCA plan of arrangement provisions to implement balance sheet restructurings that would otherwise need to be implemented under the CCAA with the resultant increase in cost, delay and potential value destruction.
• Concordia International Corp. Completes US$4 Billion Recapitalization
  Articles / September 06, 2018
  Concordia International Corp. (TSX: CXR), an international specialty pharmaceutical company focused on becoming a leader in European specialty, off-patent medicines, completed the recapitalization of approximately US$4 billion of secured and unsecured debt in September 2018 pursuant to a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA).
• Ontario Court of Appeal Clarifies and Reaffirms Dynex: Gross Overriding Royalties and Interests in Land
  Blog / April 18, 2018
  In a decision of critical interest to the holders of overriding royalties in the mining and oil and gas sectors, the Ontario Court of Appeal has clarified the test used to determine when a royalty interest [...]
• Bennett Jones Litigation Lawyers—Lexpert’s Canadian Leaders
  Announcements / November 24, 2017
  18 Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the Lexpert special edition of Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers. The edition appears in the December edition of the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine.
• Bennett Jones US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers—Canadian Leaders
  Announcements / November 24, 2017
  Twenty Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in Lexpert’s Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada. The guide profiles peer-ranked lawyers in Competition/Antitrust Law, Insolvency and Financial Restructuring, Corporate Commercial, Securities, Intellectual Property, Corporate Tax, Defamation and Media, Product Liability and Class Actions as well as International Commercial Arbitration, Class Actions, and International Trade Regulation.
• Four Bennett Jones Practices Ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global 2017
  Announcements / March 16, 2017
  The 2017 Chambers Global Rankings are out and Bennett Jones is once again noted as a top-ranked law firm. Forty-nine lawyers in 25 practice areas are recognized in the publication. Of particular note are the four practices and nine lawyers recognized in Band 1.
• 22 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert: Canada's Leading Corporate Lawyers
  In The News / May 27, 2016
  22 Bennett Jones Lawyers have been included in Lexpert's special edition on Canada's Leading Corporate Lawyers. For the full list, click here.
• Important Restrictions Placed on Use of CBCA for Debt Restructurings
  Articles / November 11, 2015
  In a recent unreported decision denying approval of a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) proposed by Connacher Oil and Gas Limited, Justice C.M. Jones of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench considered the solvency test that corporations must meet in order to obtain a final order approving a plan of arrangement under the CBCA. Prior to Justice Jones' decision, courts had not explicitly considered the issue of whether, in order to grant a final order approving a CBCA arrangement, the court first needed to be satisfied that the entity emerging from the CBCA proceedings would not be insolvent. Justice Jones opined on that novel issue and concluded that: 1) In order to make a final order under the CBCA plan of arrangement provisions, the court must be satisfied that the entity emerging from the proceeding will not be insolvent; and 2) It is not appropriate for the court to exercise its discretion to essentially "deem away" events of default which underlie the determination of whether the entity emerging from the proceeding will not be insolvent. Published in Volume 31, Number 1 of Banking & Finance Law Review by Carswell, a Division of Thomson Reuters Canada Limited.
• Important Restrictions Placed on Use of CBCA for Debt Restructurings BFLR
  Articles / November 01, 2015
  In a recent unreported decision denying approval of a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) proposed by Connacher Oil and Gas Limited, Justice C.M. Jones of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench considered the solvency test that corporations must meet in order to obtain a final order approving a plan of arrangement under the CBCA. Prior to Justice Jones' decision, courts had not explicitly considered the issue of whether, in order to grant a final order approving a CBCA arrangement, the court first needed to be satisfied that the entity emerging from the CBCA proceedings would not be insolvent. Justice Jones opined on that novel issue and concluded that: 1) In order to make a final order under the CBCA plan of arrangement provisions, the court must be satisfied that the entity emerging from the proceeding will not be insolvent; and 2) It is not appropriate for the court to exercise its discretion to essentially "deem away" events of default which underlie the determination of whether the entity emerging from the proceeding will not be insolvent. Published in Volume 31, Number 1 of Banking & Finance Law Review by Carswell, a Division of Thomson Reuters Canada Limited.
• Important Restrictions Placed on use of CBCA for Debt Restructurings
  Updates / May 21, 2015
  In a recent unreported decision denying approval of a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) proposed by Connacher Oil and Gas Limited, Justice C.M. Jones of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench considered the solvency test that corporations must meet in order to obtain a final order approving a plan of arrangement under the CBCA. Prior to Justice Jones' decision, courts had not considered the issue of whether, in order to grant a final order approving a CBCA arrangement, the court first needed to be satisfied that the entity emerging from the CBCA proceedings would not be insolvent. Reprinted in Volume 30, Number 2 of National Creditor Debtor Review by LexisNexis Canada Inc.
• Bennett Jones Receives Top Honours in Four Practice Areas by Chambers Global Rankings
  Announcements / March 18, 2015
  The 2015 Chambers Global Rankings have been published and once again Bennett Jones LLP remains one of the top ranked law firms in the country, with 18 rankings out of 28 categories and 60 individually ranked lawyers.
• New Concerns for Bondholders, Lenders and Other Creditors Following SCC's Indalex Decision
  Updates / February 12, 2013
  On February 1, 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released its much-awaited decision in the Indalex case. While the central issue in Indalex was the priority of wind-up deficiencies in defined benefit pension plans versus court-ordered debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing charges under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) (CCAA), the SCC also considered whether claims for wind-up deficiencies are covered by deemed trusts under the Ontario Pension Benefits Act (PBA). This issue is of particular importance to lenders, bondholders and other creditors both in the ordinary course and in an insolvency or restructuring.
• Insight Information's 9th Annual Advanced Mergers and Acquisitions Conference
  Speaking Engagements / December 06, 2011
  At the Insight Information's 9th Annual Advanced Mergers and Acquisitions Conference at the TELUS Convention Centre in Calgary, AB, Kevin Zych is part of a panel addressing the issues in the topic "Buying a Company Out of Insolvency: The CNOOC/OPTI Transaction" and Pat Maguire co-presents "Alternative M&A Transactions: Joint Ventures with International Partners". Full conference information is available from Insight's website.