On March 20, 2025, the Government of Canada reached financial close on the co-development phase of the Alto High Speed Rail Project (formerly the High Frequency Rail Project), a transformative infrastructure initiative that will create a 1,000-kilometre electrified passenger-rail network connecting Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, and Québec City. Estimated at CAD$60 to $90 billion, the project is the largest infrastructure development in recent Canadian history. It is expected to introduce progressive procurement and delivery innovations never before attempted in the country. Notably, the project is structured as a revenue deal or concession—marking a significant shift from traditional Canadian public-private partnership models.
Dentons acted as legal counsel to the Department of Justice Canada and Transport Canada, advising on the project delivery model and procurement strategy, supporting the preparation and negotiation of procurement and project agreements, and providing governance, corporate, and financial legal support through to contract award. The team was led by Ilan Dunsky in Montreal, with Lampros Stougiannos in Ottawa and Charles Bardou in Montreal. Other key contributors included Paul Lalonde, Pierre Grenier, Guillaume Savard, Michael Ledgett, Aljosa Zenicanin, Sabrina Mach, Anoosh Loertscher, and Audréanne Poulin.
Other advisory firms involved in the project included EY as the primary process and financial advisor, BMO as the primary financial advisor, Arup as the technical advisor, and DLA Piper as legal counsel to VIA HFR Inc., along with multiple other advisory entities.
