Canadian Lawyer - sample

w w w . c a n a d i a n l a w y e r m a g . c o m M A R C H 2 0 1 9 37 TOP 10 ONTARIO REGIONAL FIRMS WEIRFOULDS LLP WEIRFOULDS.COM BLANEY MCMURTRY LLP BLANEY.COM 3 4 Total lawyers: 105 Office: Toronto Core practice areas: litigation; corporate; property; govern- ment law; international Key clients: public and private corporations; governments, public authorities and agencies; entrepreneurs; national firms seek- ing regional representation; non-profit and public interest organiza- tions and individuals Notable mandates: acted for Harte Gold Corp. in its US$70- million debt financing package with Sprott Private Resource Lend- ing (collector), L.P. and Appian Natural Resources Fund to fully fund the construction of the Sugar Zone Project; acted as co-coun- sel for Trillium Motor World Ltd., the class representative for 181 former General Motors dealers, in the highly publicized Trillium Motor World Ltd. v. General Motors of Canada Ltd. and Trillium Motor World Ltd. v. Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP; acted for Benefit Partners Inc. in the completion of its acquisition by People Corpo- ration; acted for the LCBO in the acquisition of its head office lands from a joint venture among Menkes Developments and Greystone Managed Investments, with Triovest Realty Advisors acting as advi- sor to Greystone, for $260 million following a procurement process managed by Infrastructure Ontario; acted for the Regional Munici- pality of York in the planning, development, land acquisitions and construction of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre; represented approximately 15 companies and partnerships (the "CCAA Filing Entities") within the Urbancorp group of companies for the filing entities' proceedings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act; acting for PCL Constructors Inc. during the course of a $2-bil- lion hospital redevelopment P3 project in the GTA, including stra- tegic advice relating to disputes arising from the project Star alumni: four treasurers of the Law Society of Upper Canada; Supreme Court of Canada Justice Thomas Cromwell; for- mer Ontario chief justice George Gale; former Supreme Court of Canada justice Roy Kellock; former Ontario Court of Appeal jus- tices James Carthy, Allan McNiece Austin and John Arnup; Ontario Superior Court justices Joan Lax and Paul Perell Affiliations: SCG Legal Firm history: WeirFoulds LLP has established itself as one of Canada's premier regional law firms, and it has provided strategic, cost-effective and innovative legal advice to clients since 1860. WeirFoulds has thrived by becoming a true partner to clients, ensuring that legal advice addresses their priorities. The firm is repeatedly ranked as one of Canadian Lawyer's Top 10 Ontario Regional Firms, and it is regularly listed in Novae Res Urbis Top 10 Development Law Firms in the GTA. "National reputation on a regional level." Total lawyers: 119 Office: Toronto Core practice areas: litigation and advocacy; real estate; business law Key clients: Toronto-Dominion Bank; SmartREIT; First National Financial LP; Laurentian Bank of Canada; G4S Secure Solutions (Canada) Ltd.; Greenwin Inc.; Verdiroc Development Corporation Notable mandates: lead insolvency counsel for 300 Sears Hometown Stores in their certified class action and oppression remedy claim against Sears Holdings, Edward Lampert's ESL Investments Inc. and the board of directors of Sears Canada, seek- ing damages of more than $100 million and to set aside more than $500 million in dividends paid by Sears to ESL and other share- holders in 2013; represented Grasshopper Solar in connection with its $270-million credit facility and various acquisitions to expand its solar portfolio in Ontario; acted for First National Financial LP on the drafting, negotiation and completion of security documen- tation for CMHC-insured term financing of two 23-storey rental apartment buildings; successfully represented Intact Insurance on a property damage claim limitation period appeal that led to an important appellate pronouncement in the client's favour; acted for industry-leading property development companies on major Toronto projects, including the construction financing of Max Condos and construction and deposit insurance financing of AYC condominiums; acted for leading insurance companies on major insurance coverage, fidelity and cyber-liability cases; Star alumni: former Ontario chief justice Roy McMurtry; Ontario Court Justice Feroza Bhabha; Ontario Superior Court Jus- tice Janet Wilson; former Tax Court of Canada justice J.A. Brulé; Superior Court Master Robert Muir; Larry Grossman, former Ontario government cabinet minister and Ontario Conservative party leader Affiliations: TAGLaw; Risk Management Counsel of Canada; Insurance Law Global Firm history: The original firm, Blaney Pasternak, was founded by James Blaney and Irwin Pasternak in 1954. The late Bill McMur- try joined the firm in the early 1960s, building a litigation depart- ment that is now a core strength of the firm. In subsequent years, the firm underwent several smaller mergers, lateral hires and ensuing name changes. In 2000, the firm was established as Blaney McMurtry LLP. "Large, full service, with expertise and quality practitioners across multiple disciplines"

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