Michael I. Gans

Recent examples of Michael's experience include:

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Advising the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Teck Resources Inc. in connection with the collapse of its dual class voting structure

• Leading the Blakes team advising ABC Technologies Holdings in connection with its acquisition of Windsor Mold Group Technologies

• Leading the Blakes team advising HP, Inc. in connection with its acquisition of Teradici Corporation

• Advising WPT Industrial REIT in connection with its US$3.1-billion acquisition by Blackstone REIT

• Leading the Blakes team advising Danaher Corporation in connection with its acquisitions of Aquatics Informatics, VanRx Pharmasystems, Precision Nanosystems and Tilia Labs

• Leading the Blakes team advising Americold Realty Trust in connection with its acquisitions of Nova Cold Logistics and Liberty Infrastructures

• Advising The Stars Group on its US$15-billion combination with Flutter Entertainment to form the world's largest online betting and gaming operator

• Advising Hudson's Bay Company in connection with its privatization by a shareholder group led by the Executive Chairman

Private Equity

• Leading the Blakes team advising BlackRock Infrastructure in connection with its acquisition of Environmental 360 Solutions

• Leading the Blakes team in connection with the acquisition by Sycamore Partners of the Canadian business of Lowe’s Companies

• Leading the Blakes team advising Audax Capital in connection with its sale of LifeMark Health Group to George Weston Limited and acquisition of Thermogenics Inc.

• Leading the Blakes team advising Barentz International, a portfolio company of Cinven, in connection with its acquisition of Pestell Nutrition

• Leading the Blakes team advising Electrical Components International, a portfolio company of Cerberus Capital Management, in connection with its acquisitions of Promark Electronics and Aerosystems International

• Leading the Blakes team advising Cerberus Capital Management in connection with its sale of ABC Technologies Inc. 

• Leading the Blakes team in connection with Cerberus Capital Management's offer to acquire Dorel Industries

• Advising WestJet in connection with its C$5-billion acquisition by funds affiliated with Onex Corporation

Fairness

• Advising numerous investment banks, including Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Jefferies, Moelis and Macquarie, in connection with their roles as financial advisers to acquirors and targets in M&A transactions

Michael has been recognized as a leading lawyer by the following publications:

• The Best Lawyers in Canada 2024 (Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities Law)

• Who's Who Legal: Global 2023 (M&A, Capital Markets – Debt & Equity)

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023 (Corporate Commercial Law, Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions)

• The Legal 500 Canada 2023 (Corporate and M&A)
  

• Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Global Elite – 2021 and 2023 (M&A)

• The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada 2023 (Corporate Commercial Law, Private Equity and M&A)

• Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business 2023 (Corporate/M&A)

• IFLR1000: The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms 2023 (Mergers & Acquisitions)

• Chambers Canada: Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business 2023 (Corporate/Commercial)

Michael is a member of the board of governors of Branksome Hall. He is a former member of the Mergers and Acquisitions and the Securities Regulation Committees of the New York City Bar Association.

Admitted as a Legal Consultant, State of New York – 2004
Admitted to the Ontario Bar – 1996
LLB, University of British Columbia – 1994
BA, University of Pennsylvania – 1991