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About Mike

Mike's practice focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, private equity fund formations, institutional investments and divestitures and corporate reorganizations.

Mike also has extensive gaming regulatory experience and has a proven track record of navigating a variety of complex gaming issues for clients. He advises digital and land-based casino operators, service providers, investors, and suppliers on a wide range of transactions involving the gaming industry. In particular, Mike regularly acts for leading private equity investors on acquisitions and investments in the gaming space and regularly advises suppliers and operators on the legality of new gaming products and services.

Prior to joining Blakes, Mike worked in political fundraising for a major provincial political party where he provided senior leadership in the areas of compliance and revenue generation.

Select Experience

Recent representative matters that Mike has been involved in include:

  • Paramount Global on the international post-merger integration of Viacom Inc. and CBS Corporation

  • Lyft, Inc. on its acquisition of PBSC Urban Solutions, a global supply leader for bikeshare equipment and technology

  • HOOPP on its sale of a 150,000 sqm European logistics portfolio

  • McCain Foods on its investment in TruLeaf Sustainable Agriculture Limited and SIMULATE, Inc.

  • Wynnchurch Capital on its acquisition of select assets of Uponor Infra Ltd.

  • L Catterton on its acquisition of Birkenstock

  • Multiple leading private equity firms in connection with acquisitions of, and investments in, gaming-related suppliers and operators with operations across Canada

  • A land-based casino operator in connection with the negotiation of an amendment and extension to its casino operating agreement and the introduction of a retail sportsbook

  • Celestica on its acquisition of Atrenne Integrated Solutions and Impakt Holdings

  • A private equity firm in connection with the acquisition of a leading Ontario insurance brokerage

  • Various pension plans on their private equity and infrastructure fund investments

Awards & Recognition
  • Chambers Canada: Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business – 2023–2025 (Gaming & Licensing)

Professional Appearances
  • Moderator : Unified Visions, Diverse Paths: Responsible Gaming Initiatives Across Canadian Provinces
    Canadian Gaming Summit, June 18, 2024.
  • Panellist : Sports Betting Across Canada: Navigating the Patchwork of a Provincial Rollout
    Canadian Gaming Summit, June 14, 2023.
Media Activities
  • Featured : Top 10 Influential Nationwide Gaming and Licensing Lawyers in Canada – 2023
    Article by Business Today News, November 4, 2023.
  • Quoted : Canadian Gaming Summit: Navigating the rollout of single-event sports betting
    Article by Mark Keast, CDC Gaming Reports Inc., June 15, 2023.
Education

Admitted to the Ontario Bar – 2017
JD, Osgoode Hall Law School – 2016
BA (Hon.), University of Guelph – 2011

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