Environmental, Social & Governance Spotlight

The Blakes Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) team provides strategic advice on business opportunities, regulatory compliance and risk management by considering ESG criteria in commercial operations, financing, sustainable investment transactions and dispute resolution. We incorporate Canadian legal developments, industry trends and data analytics to benefit our clients who are focused on ESG issues.

Our multidisciplinary team works alongside:

1. Corporate clients who are focusing on ESG and sustainability to meet corporate governance and investor standards

2. Investors on investment fund structures, investment transactions and portfolio company management

3. Financial institutions on structuring sustainable finance transactions

Key experience from our ESG team includes:

• The dealers in connection with the establishment of Ontario Power Generation Inc.’s C$2-billion medium term note program, including the inaugural C$450-million offering of green bonds. This was the first of its kind financing in the Canadian energy sector.

• TREC Brands, the premier brand house in Canadian cannabis with a corporate social responsibility focus, in connection with its formation transaction by way of the merger of Blissed Media and Wink Cannabis.

• SNC-Lavalin, as its compliance monitor, pursuant to the probation order imposed by the Quebec Court as part of its sentencing on charges of fraud in Libya.

• MarVivo Corporation on the sale of carbon offset credits generated from a mangrove swamp in Baja, Mexico, to Carbon Streaming Corporation.

• A prominent U.S. issuer and its Canadian subsidiary in defending them against a number of criminal charges for alleged bribery of public officials.

To learn more about our ESG practice and view our recent experience, click here.