Lexpert puts the spotlight on Montréal’s private equity lawyers as we unveil the results of our extensive yearly peer survey. Check out the complete line-up of the Québec’s most recommended lawyers and law firms in the field on our practice area rankings.
Private equity law is the branch legal profession covering private equity companies that pool investments of pension funds and other large investors to purchase assets and other companies. Lawyers in this practice assist in the formation of funds and negotiating contract terms.
Most frequently recommended private equity lawyers
Michel Boislard
Law firm: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Year called to the bar: 1989
Michel Boislard is a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. He is an expert in commercial law, primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate financing, investment funds and securities. Boislard advises clients from the high technology and biotechnology sectors. He also represents several public and private corporations in complex domestic and international cross-border transactions. Boislard acquired extensive experience in cross-border transactions while working as resident partner at the firm’s New York office. He often acts on behalf of investment funds during acquisitions.
Read more about Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP in the risks and rewards of cryptocurrencies
Patrick Boucher
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the bar: 1996
Patrick Boucher is a partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s business law group in Montréal and co-head of the national capital markets practice. He specializes in the areas of securities and corporate law, concentrating on mergers and acquisitions, takeover bids and public financings. Boucher has acted as counsel to issuers and underwriters in various public offerings and private placements of publicly listed issuers. He has also participated in numerous takeover bids and going-private transactions of publicly listed issuers and has acted as counsel to independent committees in connection with various transactions.
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Peter Castiel
Law firm: Stikeman Elliott LLP
Year called to the bar: 1993
Peter Castiel is a partner at the corporate group at Stikeman Elliott LLP. He is also a member of the firm’s partnership board and executive committee. With over 25 years of experience, including as head of the mergers and acquisitions group in Montréal, Castiel has built a robust corporate practice that focuses on private transactions and cross-border mandates. He has extensive expertise in advising Canadian and international clients, including private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds and leading public and private companies, in connection with acquisitions, divestitures and investments.
Read more about Stikeman Elliott LLP in private equity investment in Canada
Shahir Guindi
Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the bar: 1990
Shahir Guindi is the national co-chair and a member of the partnership board at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. He was a managing partner of the firm’s Montréal office for seven years prior to becoming national co-chair. Guindi also holds chairmanship at the Board of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montréal. He has more than 25 years of experience and is a recognized advisor in mergers and acquisitions, private equity and corporate finance. His private equity and venture capital experience includes advising funds on their domestic and cross-border portfolio investments and divestitures and on their fund formations. Guindi acts for several of the country’s most successful technology and biotechnology companies.
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Sidney M. Horn
Law firm: Stikeman Elliott LLP
Year called to the bar: 1978 (QC); 1982 (AB)
Sidney M. Horn is a senior counsel at Stikeman Elliott LLP’s corporate group. He specializes in commercial, corporate and securities law. Horn advises large domestic and international corporations on complex questions concerning finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance. He has developed an expertise in complex transactions requiring creative solutions. Horn represents private equity firms in their investments in private and public corporations and corporations and independent directors in transactions such as going private transactions, related party transactions and insider bids.
Warren M. Katz
Law firm: Stikeman Elliott LLP
Year called to the bar: 1996 (ON); 1996 (QC)
Warren M. Katz is the managing partner of Stikeman Elliott LLP’s Montréal office. He is also a member of the firm’s partnership board and executive committee and formerly headed the corporate group. Katz specializes in cross-border mergers and acquisitions involving both public and private companies and investment funds, public offerings, private placements and going-private transactions. He specializes in Canadian and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity and corporate finance transactions, including representing broad and varied public and private corporations across many industries. Katz offers over 20 years of extensive experience, including strong cross-border capabilities, providing legal counsel to significant Canadian and international clients on complex transactions. His experience spans across the most active sectors and his practice includes divestitures, investments, public offerings, private placements and going-private transactions.
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Sophie Lamonde
Law firm: Stikeman Elliott LLP
Year called to the bar: 2002
Sophie Lamonde is the head of the mergers and acquisitions group in Montréal and a member of the partnership board at Stikeman Elliott LLP. Her practice is directed primarily to the areas of M&A and private equity, with a focus on cross-border transactions. Lamonde’s extensive corporate law experience includes advising Canadian and international clients in acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations and general commercial negotiations. She represents clients in various industries, including aviation, retail, manufacturing, contract research, technology and media.
Read more about Stikeman Elliott LLP in the value of cryptocurrencies
John W. Leopold
Law firm: Stikeman Elliott LLP
Year called to the bar: 1980
John W. Leopold is a senior partner at Stikeman Elliott LLP’s corporate group. He devotes his practice to mergers and acquisitions, private equity and corporate finance. He has a vast experience in cross-border transactions. Leopold acts extensively for both corporate and financial sponsor clients in both public and private company transactions and all related matters. His client base spans the globe.
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Clemens Mayr
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the bar: 1991
Clemens Mayr is a partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s Montréal office. He specializes in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate governance. Mayr regularly represents issuers and underwriters in Canadian and cross-border public financings in various industries. He also represents boards of directors and independent committees of public companies in various contexts. He is a member of boards of directors of several private and public corporations, including the Québec Institute of Corporate Directors.
Read more about McCarthy Tétrault LLP in the growth of capital markets during the pandemic
Franziska Ruf
Law firm: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Year called to the bar: 1987
Franziska Ruf is a partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, where she is also a member of the management committee. She devotes her practice to corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and pension funds. Ruf advises on Canadian and international public and private acquisitions, divestitures, securities issuances, investments, and joint ventures. She advises domestic and foreign corporations, private equity firms, pension funds and financial advisers on public and private cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Known for her expertise in corporate governance, Ruf also advises boards of directors, special committees, senior management and shareholders on a wide range of transactions, public disclosure issues and corporate governance matters. Ruf is a director and member of the corporate governance and human resources committee of Saputo Inc. and a director and corporate secretary of La Fondation Le Chaînon.
Patrick M. Shea
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the bar: 2007 (QC); 2000 (New York)
Patrick M. Shea is a corporate, mergers and acquisitions and private equity partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP. He co-heads the firm’s private equity group and co-manages its relationships with US law firms. His principal areas of expertise are M&A, private equity and corporate and commercial law. Shea has acted for private equity, corporate and pension fund clients in Canadian, US, and international M&A transactions across a range of industries. He has also represented numerous sponsors and investors in connection with the formation of and investments in private equity funds in Canada and abroad. Shea is the relationship partner for several Canadian clients and US and international businesses that operate in Canada, including public companies, small- and mid-sized businesses, private equity firms, hedge funds, investment banks and entrepreneurs. He is fluent in English and French. An ardent believer in giving back to the community, Shea serves on the boards of numerous foundations, charities and other not-for-profit organizations. He has led and participated in numerous charitable fundraising campaigns.