- Chairman: Brock W Gibson, QC
- Firm Managing Partner: Robert M Granatstein
- Number of partners: 267
- Number of lawyers: 550 (includes partners)
- Languages: Arabic, Cantonese, English, French, German, Mandarin, Spanish
- Additional Offices Across Canada: Montréal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver
- Associated Offices: Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia; Shanghai, China
Firm Overview:
As one of Canada’s top business law firms, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes) provides exceptional legal services to leading businesses in Canada and around the world. They focus on building long-term relationships with clients and do this by providing unparalleled client service and the highest standard of legal advice. In 2012, Blakes was named “Law Firm of the Year: Canada” for the third time by Chambers and Partners. As a result of input received from other law firms and clients worldwide for the Chambers Global guide, 106 of their lawyers were ranked as leading practitioners in the Canadian section of the 2012 edition, more than any other Canadian law firm. Blakes has a broad international practice with emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, finance and trade law.With its network of 12 offices in Canada, the US, Europe, the Gulf Region and China, Blakes successfully represents Canadian businesses operating or financing outside Canada and foreign businesses entering, operating and financing in Canada. International capabilities are enhanced by an exclusive association with the firm of Dr Saud Al-Ammari in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and a charter membership in Lex Mundi, the largest non-exclusive referral network of independent law firms. This affiliation allows Blakes to arrange superior legal counsel virtually anywhere as needed. Blakes is also an advisory member of TechLaw Group, Inc. and is a member of the China Alliance.
Main Areas of Practice:
Banking & Finance:
Recognised as Canada’s pre-eminent banking practice with expertise in all types of domestic and cross-border financings and securitisations, as well as the establishment and regulation of financial institutions.
Communications:
Advise on regulation of communications (telecommunications, broadcasting, satellite and wireless), including regulatory policy and practices of, and representation before, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and Industry Canada.
Competition:
One of the largest and most experienced competition practices in Canada with globally recognised expertise. Frequently retained by major domestic and international companies and by leading international law firms to provide strategic counsel and representation in merger reviews before the Competition Bureau.
Corporate/M&A:
One of the largest and most active practices in Canada, widely recognised expertise in public and private company transactions and corporate governance matters. Involved in many of Canada’s most significant M&A deals and consistently ranked as one of the top Canadian firms on the Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters and merger market M&A league tables for Canadian, US and global announced transactions.
Energy/Natural Resources:
Expertise in oil and gas, electricity, mining and forestry.A multidisciplinary approach that draws on lawyers in the fields of corporate, securities, M&A,regulatory, environmental, forest tenure, litigation, labour, tax and aboriginal law to ensure commercial success of clients in these industries.
Environmental:
National team and recognised specialists with expertise in land use planning, assessments and regulatory approvals; due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, property transactions and financings; handling of hazardous goods; contaminated sites; waste management and disposal; insurance coverage; prosecutions and hearings.
Information Technology:
Highly regarded practitioners advising on all aspects of technology, including computer hardware/software, websites/intranets, semi-conductors, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, electronics, robotics, integrated systems, advanced materials, communications, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
Infrastructure/PPP:
Multidisciplinary team advising on all aspects of national and international projects involving infrastructure, public-private partnerships, and alternative financing and procurement.
Insolvency/Corporate Recovery:
Widely recognised expertise in insolvency and restructuring law for domestic and international banks, creditors, companies and their directors, and insolvency practitioners. Leading role in Canada’s largest and most complex reorganisations and insolvencies.
Intellectual Property:
Internationally recognised as a leading practice, advising on high-value, leading-edge technology patent portfolios and providing strategic counsel to some of the most well known North American and international brands.
International Trade:
Recognised in WTO and NAFTA dispute settlement, free trade negotiation, bilateral investment treaty arbitration, antidumping/countervailing disputes, customs, export/import controls, compliance reviews and audits, NAFTA origin determinations, government procurement appeals, bribery and foreign corrupt practices, trade policy and legislation, sanctions/embargoes and extraterritorial laws.
Litigation:
One of the largest and most successful litigation and dispute resolution practices in the country; serving clients across multiple jurisdictions and industry sectors; on corporate matters, class actions, competition, constitutional and Charter of Rights, construction, energy, environmental claims, insurance, life sciences, media, pension and employee benefits, product liability, restructuring and insolvency, securities, tax,white-collar crime and several other areas.
Private Equity:
Full range of services to funds seeking to invest in, acquire, dispose of or refinance Canadian businesses. Includes advising on fund raising and fund formation activities.
Real Estate:
One of Canada’s largest and most diverse practices, spanning real property acquisitions and dispositions, mergers and acquisitions, financing, capital market transactions, real estate investments trusts (REITs), securitisations, leasing, hospitality and recreational properties, development and restructuring.
Tax:
Leading international tax practice.Unparalleled expertise in cross-border M&A, private equity,multi-jursdictional reorganisations, corporate finance, energy and mining tax, taxation of financial institutions and sales taxes; thriving tax controversy, tax litigation and transfer pricing practices.
Areas of PracticeBanking & Finance
Communications
Competition
Corporate/M&A
Energy/Natural Resources
Environmental
Information Technology
Infrastructure/PPP
Insolvency/Corporate Recovery
Intellectual Property
International Trade
Litigation
Private Equity
Real Estate
Tax