Chris Barker

Representative transactions include advising:

M&A and Reorganizations

• 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

• 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

• Voyager Digital (Canada) Ltd., a CSE-listed crypto assets broker, on its acquisition of certain blockchain technology and tokens from Ethos.io

• 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

Capital Markets

• 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

• 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 

• Agents on Sienna Senior Living Inc.’s inaugural offering of debt securities in an aggregate principal amount of C$150-million

• A private equity investor on a C$250-million investment in high-yield notes and partnership units of a privately held food and agribusiness issuer

• Underwriters on the C$132-million public offering of subscription receipts of Stornoway Diamond Corporation forming part of the C$948-million financing package to fund the construction of its Renard diamond project in Quebec

• Underwriters on numerous public offerings of equity and debt securities, including offerings by Sienna Senior Living, Inc., Automotive Properties REIT, Slate Office REIT, Agellan Commercial REIT, Exchange Income Corporation and Champion Iron Limited

• A Canadian financial institution on its C$5-billion medium term notes (principal at risk structured notes) program, and offerings of an aggregate of over C$1.2-billion of preferred shares

• Co-author: Canadian Securities Administrators Propose Amendments to OTC Derivatives Trade Reporting Rules
  Blakes Bulletin on Derivatives, July 8, 2022.
• Co-author: New Guidance on Marketing for Crypto Asset Trading Platforms Operating in Canada
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, September 29, 2021.
• Co-author: OSC Flashes Further Warnings to Non-Compliant Crypto Asset Trading Platforms and Initiates First Enforcement Actions
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, June 16, 2021.
• Co-author: Canadian Securities Regulators Deliver Bear Hug to Crypto Asset Trading Platforms Operating in Canada
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, April 7, 2021.

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