Norbert Knutel is a Partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in Toronto. He provides advice on all facets of securities laws with particular emphasis on public and private funds and other forms of structured products. He has extensive experience in structuring, development, offering and sale of both domestic and offshore funds, including alternative, closed-end, private equity, mortgage, infrastructure and real estate funds and other pooled investments. Norbert regularly provides advice to fund managers and dealers on securities registration, regulatory and compliance matters as well as environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies and criteria. Norbert has significant experience acting as counsel for purchasers and vendors in a wide range of purchase transactions and for many companies in connection with amalgamations, statutory arrangements and reorganizations in industries such as asset management, financial services, cannabis, cryptocurrency and digital assets, technology, gold and precious metals, and pharmaceutical. He has also acted as counsel to issuers and underwriters in public financings and private placements of equity and debt securities. Norbert has played a significant role in the development and growth of Canada’s special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sector, including advising on the first two initial public offerings of Canadian SPACs, and has acted as counsel to SPACs and targets on various qualifying transactions. He is a member of the Blakes Investment Products & Asset Management group and Cannabis group.
