Chris Barker Partner | Toronto

Representative transactions include advising:

Structured Products

• CIBC on the launch of the first-ever Canadian Depositary Receipts (CDRs), a novel structured product providing Canadian investors with access to hedged fractional investing in large-cap foreign stocks, and on the launch of the first-ever CDRs in respect of European securities

• Royal Bank of Canada on its principal-at-risk structured notes program

• Another major Canadian financial institution on its structured notes programs

Regulatory Matters

• Crypto industry participants on securities regulatory matters and transactions, including crypto trading platform regulation

• Dealers on regulatory requirements, including registration

• Foreign trading platforms and clearing agencies in connection with admitting Canadian-resident entities as members

• Banks and clearing agencies on netting and collateral matters (including formal legal opinions)

Capital Markets and M&A

• Lundin Petroleum AB on the cross-border spin-off of International Petroleum Corporation as a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq First North exchange with an initial market capitalization of over C$500-million

• Flagship Communities REIT on its US$107-million initial public offering of trust units on the Toronto Stock Exchange

• Granite REIT on public equity offerings of over C$580-million, and on private and public debt offerings of over C$1.1-billion, including its inaugural green bond offering 

• The Special Committee of Callidus Capital Corporation on its going private transaction by way of plan of arrangement with Braslyn Ltd.

• Element Financial Corporation on its C$8.6-billion acquisition of certain of GE Capital's fleet operations; its US$5-billion cross-border acquisition of the vehicle fleet management services business of PHH Corporation; its C$300-million acquisition of CoActiv Capital Partners, Inc.; and its C$20-million acquisition of Nexcap Finance Corporation

• A TSX-listed mortgage investment corporation on its transition from the Canadian securities regulatory regime for investment funds to the Canadian securities regulatory regime for non-investment fund public companies

Chris is recognized as a leading lawyer in the following publications:

• Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A 2024

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2024 (Corporate Finance & Securities)

• Co-author : Final Amendments to Canada's OTC Derivatives Trade Reporting Rules Released
  Blakes Bulletin on Derivatives, August 26, 2024.
• Co-author : Derivatives Business Conduct Rule Issued by the Canadian Securities Administrators
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, October 5, 2023.
• Co-author : CSA Imposes More Restrictions and March 24 Deadline on Unregistered Crypto Trading Platforms
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, March 1, 2023.
• Co-author : CSA Gets Tougher on Unregistered Crypto Trading Platforms and Takes Position on Stablecoins
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, December 16, 2022.
• Co-author : CSA Provides Derivatives Data Reporting Transition Guidance and the OSC Establishes New Fee for OTC Derivatives Market Participants
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets / Derivatives, December 5, 2022.
• Co-author : Undertakings Now Expected for Crypto Asset Trading Platforms Operating in Canada While Seeking Registration
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, August 19, 2022.
• Co-author : Canadian Securities Administrators Propose Amendments to OTC Derivatives Trade Reporting Rules
  Blakes Bulletin on Derivatives, July 8, 2022.

Admitted to the Ontario Bar – 2013
JD, University of Toronto – 2013
MPhil (Distinction), Trinity College Dublin – 2008
BA, University of Toronto – 2006