Kurt Sarno Partner | Toronto

Some of the clients Kurt has advised include:

• Apollo Global Management on various transactions, including its acquisitions of The State Group, IGT Gaming and Everi, Univar Solutions, PetSmart, Michaels, Employbridge, SmartStart, and Tech Data Corporation

• Paramount Global on the sale of Simon & Schuster and the international post-merger integration of Viacom Inc. and CBS Corporation, as well as the carveout and IPO of CBS Outdoor

• L Catterton on various transactions, including its acquisitions of Birkenstock and Beauty Industry Group, its investment in FYidoctors, and the spinout of FYi Aesthetics in connection with its merger with Functionalab

• OpenGate Capital on various transactions, including its sale of Player One Amusement Group to GENDA, its acquisition of Player One Amusement Group from Cineplex, and its sale of Energi Fenestration Solutions to Vision Group

• InterVest Capital Partners on its acquisition of Financeit Canada from Goldman Sachs and Financeit's subsequent acquisition of Simply Group Financial

• dentalcorp, Canada's leading network of dental practices, on its IPO and various strategic matters

• AMC Networks on its investment in Shaftesbury and various other strategic matters

• BDC Capital on various transactions, including its investment in Pliteq and its acquisition of Firmex alongside VERTU Capital

• Sonoma Brands on its investment in Manual, a U.K. headquartered health and wellness platform

• Roynat Capital on various transactions, including its co-investment alongside Persistence Capital in connection with the acquisition of Summit Veterinary Pharmacy and its investment in Legado Capital in connection with the acquisition of Kivuto Solutions

• CID Capital on its acquisition of Giftcraft Ltd.

• The Maillis Group, a portfolio company of HIG Capital, on its sale of Wulftec International to Duravant, a portfolio company of Warburg-Pincus

• Bartek Ingredients on its sale to TorQuest Partners

• Novolex, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, on its acquisition of The Waddington Group from Newell Brands

• DFH Public Affairs on its merger with Longview Communications

• Encore Consumer Capital on its sale of Atlantic Aqua Farms to Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan

• Baring Private Equity Asia on its acquisition of a 35% stake in TELUS International

• Aecon Group Inc. and Airport Development Corporation on the sale of their majority interest in the Quito, Ecuador International Airport to Grupo Odinsa and CCR

• Wynnchurch Capital on its acquisition of NSC Minerals from TriWest Capital Partners, its subsequent sale of NSC Minerals to Altas Partners, and its investment in Carson Air

• The Kraft Heinz Company on its international post-merger integration

• Holcim in connection with its merger with Lafarge

Some of the industries in which Kurt has expertise include:

• Private Equity - regularly advises pension and private equity funds/sponsors on domestic and cross-border acquisitions, investments and exits, including Apollo Global Management, L Catterton, Platinum Equity, InterVest Capital Partners, BDC Capital, CID Capital, HIG Capital, The Carlyle Group, Roynat Capital, Encore Consumer Capital, Apollo Global Management, Baring Private Equity Asia, Wynnchurch Capital, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan and Trivest Partners

• Media – advised Paramount Global on the sale of Simon & Schuster and the international post-merger integration of Viacom Inc. and CBS Corporation, as well as the carveout and IPO of CBS Outdoor

• Healthcare – advised L Catterton on its investment in FYidoctors and the spinout of FYi Aesthetics in connection with its merger with Functionalab; dentalcorp on its IPO and various strategic matters; and Sonoma Brands on its investment in Manual

• Technology – advised Apollo Global Management on its acquisition of Tech Data Corporation; Altera Corporation on various venture capital investments and its acquisition of Avalon Microelectronics; and The InterTech Group on its sale of Threshold Technologies to Brink's

• Industrials – advised Holcim in connection with its merger with Lafarge; Akzo Nobel on its sale of its architectural coatings business to PPG; Amalgamated Metal Corporation on its sale of National Concrete Accessories, Wilkinson Steel and Metals, Debro Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, and Exchanger Industries to Nova Capital; Ball Corporation on its acquisition of Neuman Aluminum; and Rank Group on its acquisition of Alcoa's packaging and consumer businesses

• Food, Beverage & Agribusiness – advised The Kraft Heinz Company on its international post-merger integration; One Earth Farms on its acquisition of Beretta Farms; and Maple Leaf Foods on its sale of its animal nutrition business to Nutreco

• Infrastructure – advised DP World Limited on its joint venture with Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec; Aecon Group Inc. and Airport Development Corporation on the sale of their majority interest in the Quito, Ecuador International Airport to Grupo Odinsa and CCR; and ING Real Estate Investment Mgmt. on its sale of Summit Industrial Fund to KingSett Capital and AIMCo

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

• Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A 2025

• Chambers Global Legal Guide 2025 (Private Equity: Buyouts)

• The Legal 500 Canada 2025 (Corporate and M&A)

• Chambers Canada Legal Guide – 2023–2025 (Private Equity: Buyouts)
  

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – 2020–2025 (Corporate Mid-Market, Private Equity)

• The Best Lawyers in Canada – 2019–2025 (Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law)

• Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers 2021: Independently Rated Lawyers (As nominated by senior in-house counsel)

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2019 (Private Equity)

• The Legal 500 Canada 2018 (Next Generation Lawyer – Corporate and M&A)

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2017 (Leading Lawyers to Watch)

• Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers 40 and Under 2016

Admitted to the Ontario Bar – 2004
LLB, Osgoode Hall Law School – 2003
BA (Economics), McGill University – 1999