Lauren Leahy (she, her, hers) Partner | Toronto

About Lauren

Lauren's practice covers a wide range of corporate and securities law matters, with a focus on private equity and fund formation and corporate finance. Lauren also provides ongoing advice on general securities and corporate law matters to a variety of issuer clients.

Lauren regularly advises domestic and foreign sponsors on the formation, capital raising and administration of their funds, including private equity, real estate, venture capital, infrastructure, and credit and debt, in Canada. She has experience in connection with various private fund transactions, ranging from secondary transactions and liquidity solutions to co-investments and GP-stakes transactions. Lauren also provides advice to pension plans and other institutional investors in connection with their private fund investments, including investments in continuation funds and co-investments.

Lauren also acts on behalf of issuers, underwriters and selling shareholders in public financings and private placements of equity and debt securities.

Lauren has also acted for purchasers (including private equity sponsors) and vendors in purchase transactions, and for companies in connection with take-over bids and reorganizations.

Select Experience

Recent representative experience includes acting as counsel to:

Fund Formation

Starlight Investments on the formation of Starlight Canadian Core Multi-Family Fund, an open-ended fund focused on acquiring and managing a diversified portfolio of high-quality, income-producing, purpose-built multi-family rental properties across Canada's largest urban markets.
Staircase Ventures on the launch of its inaugural fund, Staircase Ventures Fund I LP, a venture fund focused on technology companies
Storytime Capital on the launch of its inaugural fund, Storytime Capital Partners LP, a venture fund focused on worktech companies
Disruption Ventures on the launch of its inaugural fund, Disruption Ventures Limited Partnership, and its subsequent fund, Disruption Ventures II Limited Partnership, female-founded women-focused venture funds
Clear Sky Capital Inc. in connection with the formation of Padlock Partners UK Fund IV and the accompanying initial public offering of trust units for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately C$45.2-million
Various internationally based private equity funds in connection with marketing and sales in Canada

Equity and Debt Financings

The dealers in connection with TerraVest Industries Inc.'s public offering of common shares for aggregate gross proceeds of $320,760,300
Pet Valu Holdings Ltd., a portfolio company of Roark Capital, in connection with its initial public offering
Carribean Utilities Company, Ltd. in connection with its US$47.6-million offering of rights to acquire Class A Ordinary shares
Great-West Lifeco Inc. in connection with its public offerings of C$1.5-billion principal amount of 3.60% limited recourse capital notes, C$500-million principal amount of 2.981% debentures due July 2050, C$600-million principal amount of 2.379% debentures due May 2030, C$500-million principal amount of 3.337% debentures due February 2028, 8,000,000 First Preferred Shares, Series T for gross proceeds of C$200-million, and 8,000,000 First Preferred Shares, Series Z for gross proceeds of C$200-million
The dealers in connection with First Quantum Minerals' issuance of US$750-million of senior notes
Genworth MI Canada Inc. in connection with its C$300-million public offering of debentures
goeasy Inc. in connection with its US$550-million offering of senior unsecured notes
A Canadian financial institution in connection with multiple public offerings of preferred shares, subordinated debentures and U.S. senior notes
A syndicate of agents in connection with Fax Capital Corp.'s public offering of units and concurrent private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$190-million
A syndicate of underwriters in connection with the establishment of the Ontario Power Generation Inc. C$4-billion medium term note program under a base shelf prospectus, public offerings of notes and green bonds
Aecon Group Inc. in connection with its public offering of C$184-million of convertible unsecured subordinated debentures
Cronos Group Inc. on public offerings of common shares aggregating more than C$140-million, including the first multi-jurisdictional disclosure system offering by a cannabis issuer

Mergers & Acquisitions

Equitable Bank on its proposed C$800-million acquisition of PC Financial
BlackRock Infrastructure in connection with its acquisition of Environmental 360 Solutions
Sagen MI Canada Inc. (formerly Genworth MI Canada Inc.) on its C$1.6-billion acquisition by Brookfield Business Partners L.P.
Deciem Beauty Group Inc. on the agreement by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. to increase its investment to approximately 76% from 26% at a current enterprise valuation of approximately US$2.2-billion and to purchase the remaining interests after a three-year period
Great Hill Partners in connection with its acquisition of VersaPay Corporation for approximately C$125-million
Cronos Group Inc. in connection with the C$2.4-billion strategic equity investment by Altria Group, Inc.
A TSX-listed oilfield service company in connection with its C$400-million acquisition of another listed issuer, pursuant to a plan of arrangement
Atkins Nutritionals, a portfolio company of Roark Capital, in connection with its acquisition of Wellness Foods