2026 EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Award Categories
- Capital Markets Deal of the Year
- Infrastructure & Project Deal of the Year
- Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year
- M&A Deal of the Year
- Mid-Market Deal of the Year
- Commercial Litigation Team of the Year
- Banking & Financial Services Law Department of the Year
- Canadian Law Department of the Year
- Law Department Innovation
- The Lawson Lundell LLP Award for Law Department Leader of the Year
- The Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP Award for Construction, Infrastructure and Transportation Law Department of the Year
- Best Use of Technology in a Law Firm
- Boutique Law Firm of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement in the Legal Profession – In-House
- Lifetime Achievement in the Legal Profession – Private Practice
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution Boutique Law Firm of the Year
- Litigator of the Year
- Managing Partner of the Year
- Regional Law Firm of the Year - Atlantic Canada
- Regional Law Firm of the Year - Ontario
- Regional Law Firm of the Year - Quebec
- Regional Law Firm of the Year - Western Canada
- Diversity Initiative of the Year
- Female Trailblazer of the Year (Academia & In-House)
- Female Trailblazer of the Year (Private Practice)
- Pro Bono Initiative of the Year
Capital Markets Deal of the Year
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Alimentation Couche-Tard’s concurrent US$1.5 billion and €1.35 billion notes offerings Canadian Law Firms
- Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (for the placing agents)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (for Alimentation Couche-Tard)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (for Alimentation Couche-Tard)
- Simpson Thacher & Barlett LLP (for the placing agents)
Organizations
- Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.
- J.P. Morgan
- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- Wells Fargo
Browning West’s victory in Gildan Activewear proxy campaign
Canadian Law Firms
- Goodmans LLP (lead counsel to Browning West, LP)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP (US counsel to Browning West)
Canada’s C$4 billion 10-year Green Bond and additional C$2 billion reopening
Canadian Law Firms
- BCF LLP (Government of Canada’s Translation Counsel)
- Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (acted for the syndicate of underwriters)
- Field Law (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – NWT and Nunavut)
- Macdonald and Company (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – Yukon)
- McMillan LLP (lead law firm – acted as sole outside legal advisor to the Government of Canada)
- MLT Aikins (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – Saskatchewan and Manitoba)
- Stewart McKelvey (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – Atlantic Provinces)
Organizations
- BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. (underwriter)
- Casgrain & Company Limited (underwriter)
- CIBC World Markets Inc. (underwriter)
- Desjardins Securities Inc. (underwriter)
- Laurentian Bank Securities Inc.
- Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. (underwriter)
- National Bank Financial Inc. (underwriter)
- RBC Dominion Securities Inc. (underwriter)
- Scotia Capital Inc. (underwriter)
- The Toronto-Dominion Bank (underwriter)
Infrastructure & Projects Deal of the Year
Winner: Coastal GasLink Pipeline Limited Partnership's C$7.15 billion refinancing
Canadian Law Firms
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Coastal GasLink Pipeline)
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (counsel to Joint Lead Agents)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (counsel to KKR and AIMCo)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
Mayer Brown LLP (US counsel to Coastal GasLink Pipeline)
Organizations
BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.
CIBC World Markets Inc.
Merrill Lynch Canada Inc.
RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Fengate's C$1.8 billion recapitalization transaction of eStruxture
Canadian Law Firms
- Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (eStruxture counsel)
- Gowling WLG
- Miller Thomson LLP (counsel to CDPQ)
- Stikeman Elliott (counsel to Fengate)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP (for Fengate)
Organizations
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
- Campbell Lutyens
- DH Capital
- eStruxture Data Centers
- Fengate Asset Management
- KPMG
- Leo Berwick
Surrey Langley Skytrain's C$5.996 billion project
Canadian Law Firms
- Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (acted for SkyLink Guideway Partners)
- McCarthy Tetrault LLP (for the lenders to SkyLink Guideway Partners)
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (acted for the Province of British Columbia)
- Weeneebayko Area Health Authority's C$1.8 billion redevelopment
Canadian Law Firms
- Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (Legal Advisors to Pomerleau Inc.)
- Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (legal counsel to Infrastructure Ontario and the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (Hospital))
- Stikeman Elliott (legal advisor to the Lenders)
Organizations
- Caixabank, S.A. (Lender)
- Federation des Caisses Desjardins du Quebec (Lender)
- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Canada) (Lender)
- Pomerleau Inc. and its affiliates (Preferred Proponent, Dev Co, Project Co)
- PwC (Financial Advisor to Pomerleau Inc.)
- Royal Bank of Canada (Lender)
Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year
Winner: Tacora Resources Inc.’s restructuring under CCAA
Canadian Law Firms
Bennett Jones LLP (acted for the primary creditor group)
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP (FTI Consulting Canada Inc.)
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (CrossingBridge Advisors, LLC)
Goodmans LLP (counsel to Cargill, Incorporated and Cargill International Trading Pte Ltd.)
McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for the controlling shareholder on the Tacora CCAA process)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (lead counsel for Millstreet and OSP)
Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel to the debtor, Tacora)
Organizations
Cargill, Incorporated
FTI Consulting Canada Inc.
GLC Advisors and Co. LLC
Greenhill Co & Canada Ltd
Jefferies LLC
Tacora
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Ayr Wellness cross-border cannabis restructuring
Canadian Law Firms
- Goodmans LLP (Canadian counsel to the Plan Sponsors and Ad Hoc Committee)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (lead counsel to Ayr Wellness)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Paul Hastings LLP (US counsel to the Ad Hoc committee of senior noteholders)
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (US counsel to Ayr Wellness)
Organizations
- Ducera (financial advisor to the Ad Hoc committee)
- Moelis (financial advisor to Ayr Wellness)
Taiga Motors Corp Inc.’s insolvency process
Canadian Law Firms
- Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (counsel for Deloitte Restructuring)
- Lavery de Billy LLP (counsel for the acquirer – Stewart Wilkinson)
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (acted for Taiga Motors)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel for Export Development Canada)
Organizations
- Ernst & Young Inc.
- Deloitte Restructuring
Xplore’s C$1.8 billion recapitalization
Canadian Law Firms
- Bennett Jones LLP (for primary creditor group)
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners)
- Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
- Chaitons LLP (lead counsel to Amynta Surety Solutions)
- Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (for Xplore)
- Goodmans LLP (lead counsel to Xplore Inc.)
- McCarthy Tetrault LLP
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (ad hoc committee counsel to the term lenders)
- Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP LLP (lead US counsel to Xplore)
- Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (for Stonepeak)
Organizations
- Perella Weinberg Partners (as lead financial advisor to Xplore)
- FTI (as financial advisor to Xplore)
- Greenhill (as financial advisor to the committee of ad hoc term lenders)
M&A Deal of the Year
Winner: Royal Bank of Canada’s C$13.5 billion acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada
Canadian Law Firms
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Royal Bank of Canada)
RBC Law Group (lead counsel to Royal Bank of Canada)
Miller Thomson LLP (counsel to HSBC Bank Canada board of directors)
Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel to HSBC Global)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
A&O Sherman
Allen & Overy LLP (UK counsel to RBC)
Linklaters LLP (UK counsel to HSBC Global)
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (US counsel to RBC
Organizations
HSBC Global
Royal Bank of Canada
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Advent International, Philip Fayer, Novacap, and CDPQ’s US$6.3 billion joint acquisition of Nuvei Corporation
Canadian Law Firms
- Bennett Jones (for BMO Capital Markets)
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (for Advent International)
- Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (for Novacap)
- Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (for Novacap)
- Goodmans LLP (for TD Securities)
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for CDPQ)
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (for Special Committee of Nuvei Corporation)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for Philip Fayer)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (for Nuvei)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
- Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP
- Mayer Brown LLP
- Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
- Ropes & Gray LLP
- Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Organizations
- Advent International
- Nuvei Corporation
Blackstone Real Estate’s C$5 billion acquisition of Tricon Residential
Canadian Law Firms
- Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (counsel to Blackstone)
- Goodmans LLP (lead counsel to Tricon Residential Inc.)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (Canadian counsel to the Special Committee of Tricon Residential (“Tricon”))
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (US counsel to Tricon)
- Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (counsel to Blackstone)
Canadian Natural Resources Limited’s US$6.5 billion acquisition of Chevron’s Alberta assets
Canadian Law Firms
- Bennett Jones LLP (lead counsel to Canadian Natural Resources)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (counsel to Chevron)
Chord Energy and Enerplus C$11 billion merger
Canadian Law Firms
- Goodmans LLP (counsel to Chord Energy Corporation)
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Enerplus)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Latham & Watkins LLP
- Vinson & Elkins LLP (co-lead counsel to Chord Energy)
- Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (co-lead counsel to Chord Energy)
Glencore’s C$9.93 billion acquisition of Teck Resources Limited
Canadian Law Firms
- Bennett Jones LLP (for Nippon Steel)
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Teck Resources Limited)
- Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG) LLP
- Felesky Flynn LLP (counsel to Teck Resources Limited)
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (counsel to Glencore plc)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel to Teck Resources Limited)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Covington & Burling LLP
- Linklaters LLP
- Norton Rose Fulbright
- Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (for Teck)
- Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (for the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)
Organizations
- Teck Resources Limited
- Ardea Partners LP (financial advisor to Teck)
- Barclays Capital Canada Inc. (financial advisor to Teck)
- CIBC World Markets Inc. (financial advisor to Teck)
- TD Securities Inc. (financial advisor to Teck)
- BMO Capital Markets (financial advisors to the special committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)
- Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (financial advisors to the special committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)
- Origin Merchant Partners (financial advisors to the special committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)
Mid-Market Deal of the Year
Winner: Trans Mountain Corporation, Lower Nicola Indian Band, and EPCOR’s C$200 million sale of Kingsvale Transmission Line
Canadian Law Firms
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Dentons Canada LLP (for EPCOR)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (legal advisor for Trans Mountain)
Organizations
EPCOR
Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corporation
Trans Mountain Corporation
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
Canada Growth Fund’s C$200 million strategic investment in Entropy and carbon credit offtake agreement
Canadian Law Firms
- Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP (counsel for Entropy and Advantage)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (legal advisor for Canada Growth Fund)
- Torys LLP (counsel for Brookfield Renewable)
Organizations
- BMO (financial advisor for CGF)
Nations Royalty Corp. and Nisga’a Nation’s C$100 million royalty agreement
Canadian Law Firms
- Aldridge and Rosling LLP (co-lead firm for Nisga’a Nation)
- DuMoulin Black LLP (co-lead firm for Nisga’a Nation)
- Farris LLP (lead firm for Nations Royalty Corp.)
Organizations
- Canaccord Genuity Corp.
- Deloitte LLP
- Fiore Management & Advisory Corp.
- Nations Royalty Corp.
- Nisga’a Nation
OpenGate Capital’s C$155 million acquisition of Cineplex Inc.’s Player One Amusement Group
Canadian Law Firms
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to OpenGate Capital)
- Goodmans LLP (counsel to Cineplex Inc.)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Baker McKenzie (US counsel to Cineplex)
- Paul Hastings LLP (US counsel to OpenGate)
Organizations
- OpenGate Capital
Capital Markets Deal of the Year
Winner: Stonlasec8 Alliance's C$736 million investment in Enbridge's Westcoast pipeline
Canadian Law Firms
- Boughton Law Corporation (for Stonlasec8)
- Dentons Canada LLP (for Royal Bank of Canada, RBC Capital Markets, Scotia Capital Inc., and Cedar Leaf Capital Inc.)
- Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (for TD Securities Inc.)
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for Enbridge)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (for Canada Development Investment Corporation (CDEV))
Organizations
- British Columbia Investment Management Corporation
- Canada Development Investment Corporation (CDEV)
- Cedar Leaf Capital Inc.
- Enbridge Inc.
- MNP LLP
- RBC Dominion Securities Inc
- Royal Bank of Canada
- Scotia Capital Inc.
- Sedgwick Strategies
- TD Securities Inc.
His Majesty in Right of Canada's C$4.5 billion issuance of green bonds
Canadian Law Firm
- McMillan LLP (for the Government of Canada)
Keyera Plains’ $5 billion acquisition equity and debt financings
Canadian Law Firms
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (for Keyera)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for RBC Capital Markets)
Organizations
- Keyera Corp.
- RBC Capital Markets
National Bank of Canada’s C$1.04 billion public offering and concurrent private placement
Canadian Law Firms
- Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (for La Caisse)
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for National Bank of Canada)
- Torys LLP (for the syndicate of dealers, led by National Bank Financial)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Mayer Brown LLP
Organizations
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
- National Bank Financial
Infrastructure & Projects Deal of the Year
Winner: Trillium Health Partners C$13.9 billion hospital redevelopment project
Canadian Law Firms
- Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (for Trillium Health Partners)
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for the project owner entities)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for EllisDon Capital, PCL Investments, Plenary Americas and Fengate Capital Management)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (for EllisDon/PCL/Plenary/Fengate consortium)
Organizations
- EllisDon Capital
- Fengate Asset Management
- Infrastructure Ontario
- PCL Investments Inc.
- Plenary Americas
- Trillium Health Partners
BCI's £1 billion take-private acquisition of BBGI Global Infrastructure
Canadian Law Firms
- Bennett Jones LLP (for BCI)
- McMillan LLP (for BBGI Global Infrastructure)
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (for BBGI Global Infrastructure)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Allen Overy Shearman Sterling LLP
- CMS LTF Limited
- Elvinger S.à r.l. PLLC / Elvinger S.à r.l.
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP
Organizations
- BCI
- BBGI Global Infrastructure SA
- RBC Capital Markets
- Jefferies International Limited
- PwC Corporate Finance LLP
CPP Investments' 407 ETR deal
Canadian Law Firms
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (for PSP Investments)
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for CPP Investments)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for Ferrovial)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (for CPP Investments)
Organizations
- CPP Investments
- CIBC Capital Markets
- PSP Investments
Metrolinx C$5.7 billion Scarborough subway extension target price agreement
Canadian Law Firms
- Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (for Scarborough Transit Connect)
- McCarthy Tétrault (for Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx)
Organization
- Scarborough Transit Connect
Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year
Winner: Canadian Tobacco's restructuring under the CCAA
Canadian Law Firms
- Bennett Jones LLP (for a consortium of six provincial and three territorial governments)
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (for Deloitte Restructuring)
- Cassels Brock & Blackwell (for Ernst & Young)
- Chaitons LLP
- Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (for FTI Consulting)
- Gowling WLG (for Philip Morris International)
- Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP
- Klein Lawyers LLP
Canadian Law Firms
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for Rothmans, Benson & Hedges)
- McMillan LLP
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for Imperial Tobacco)
- Roebothan McKay Marshall
- Strosberg Wingfield Sasso LLP
- Stikeman Elliott LLP
- Thornton Grout Finnigan LLP (for JTI-Macdonald)
- Torys LLP (for JT Canada LLC Inc. and to PricewaterhouseCoopers)
- Wagners Law Firm
Organizations
- Deloitte Restructuring Inc.
- Ernst & Young Inc.
- FTI Consulting Canada Inc.
- Ontario Government
- PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc.
- Rothmans, Benson and Hedges Inc.
Flow Beverage Corp.'s receivership and cross-border RVO
Canadian Law Firm
- Miller Thomson LLP
Organizations
- NFS Leasing Canada Ltd.
- Rucker Investments Ltd.
Li-Cycle Holdings' CCAA proceedings
Canadian Law Firms
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for Li-Cycle)
- McMillan LLP (for MasTec)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for Alvarez & Marsal Canada)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (for Li-Cycle)
- Torys LLP (for Glencore Canada)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Freshfields LLP
- Jones Day
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Organizations
- Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc.
- Glencore Canada
- Li-Cycle Holdings
Nordstrom Canada's CCAA proceedings
Canadian Law Firms
- Blaney McMurtry LLP
- Camelino Galessiere LLP
- Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
- Chaitons LLP
- Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
- Goodmans LLP (for Alvarez & Marsal Canada)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for Nordstrom Canada)
- Thornton Grout Finnigan LLP
- Torys LLP (for The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited and First Capital REIT)
- Ursel Phillips Fellows Hopkinson LLP
Organization
- Alvarez & Marsal Canada ULC
M&A Deal of the Year
Winner: Strathcona Resources' hostile takeover bid and Cenovus Energy's acquisition of MEG Energy
Canadian Law Firms
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (for Strathcona Resources)
- Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (for BMO Capital Markets)
- Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP (for MEG Energy)
- Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
- Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for Cenovus Energy)
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (for the special committee of MEG Energy)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for RBC and Goldman Sachs)
- Torys LLP (for Strathcona Resources special committee of independent directors)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Latham & Watkins LLP
- Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP
Organizations
- BMO Capital Markets
- Cenovus Energy Inc.
- CIBC Capital Markets
- CIBC World Markets Inc.
- FGS Longview Communications
- Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
- Goldman Sachs Canada Inc.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank
- Lauren Hill Advisory Group
- MEG Energy Corp.
- PwC
- RBC Capital Markets
- Scotia Capital Inc
- Sodali & Co
- TD Securities Inc.
GardaWorld’s C$14 billion recapitalization
Canadian Law Firms
- Langlois Lawyers LLP (for GardaWorld)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for BC Partners)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (for HPS Investment Partners)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- DLA Piper (for Stealth Monitoring)
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP (for BC Partners)
- Latham & Watkins LLP (for HPS Investment Partners)
- Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (for GardaWorld)
Organizations
- BC Partners Advisors L.P.
- Deloitte LLP (tax advisors for GardaWorld)
- GardaWorld
- HPS Investment Partners, LLC
- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (tax advisors for BC Partners)
- Jefferies International Limited (financial advisors for GardaWorld)
- UBS Investment Bank (financial advisors for GardaWorld)
- BofA Securities (financial advisors for GardaWorld)
- TD Securities (financial advisors for HPS)
- JPMorgan (financial advisors for BC Partners)
La Caisse's C$10 billion acquisition of Innergex Renewables
Canadian Law Firms
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (for Investissement Québec)
- Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (for The Toronto-Dominion Bank)
- Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (for La Caisse)
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for Innergex)
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (Innergex Renewable Energy board of directors’ special committee)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for Innergex management group)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Mayer Brown LLP
- White & Case LLP
Organizations
- BMO Capital Markets
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
- CIBC Capital Markets
- Greenhill & Co
- Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.
- Moelis & Company LLC
- TD Securities
Parkland Corporation's C$13 billion sale to Sunoco LP
Canadian Law Firms
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for Parkland Corporation)
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (for Parkland Corporation)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for BMO)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (for Sunoco)
- Torys LLP (for the special committee of Parkland Corporation)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Vinson & Elkins LLP
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Organizations
- Parkland Corporation
- Sunoco LP
Royal Gold's C$5 billion acquisition of Sandstorm Gold and Horizon Copper
Canadian Law Firms
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (for Horizon Copper special committee)
- Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (for National Bank Financial Inc.)
- Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP (for Sandstorm Gold)
- Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (for the special committee of Sandstorm Gold)
- Gowling WLG (for Horizon Copper)
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for Royal Gold Inc)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Crowell & Moring LLP
- Richards, Layton & Finger, PA
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Organizations
- BMO Capital Markets
- CIBC World Markets Inc.
- Cormark Securities Inc.
- Fort Capital Partners
- National Bank Financial Inc
- Raymond James Ltd
- Royal Gold Inc.
- Scotiabank
Whitecap Resources’ C$15 billion merger with Veren
Canadian Law Firms
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (for Veren special committee)
- Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP (for Whitecap Resources)
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (for Veren)
- Torys LLP (for Scotiabank)
Non-Canadian Law Firms
- Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP
- Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Organizations
- BMO Capital Markets
- National Bank Financial Inc
- Scotiabank
- TD Securities
- Veren Inc.
Mid-Market Deal of the Year
Winner: Blue Ant's go-public reverse takeover transaction of Boat Rocker
Canadian Law Firms
- Bennett Jones LLP (for Blue Ant)
- Dentons Canada LLP (for Bank of Montreal)
- Goodmans LLP (for Boat Rocker special committee)
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for IDJCo)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (for Boat Rocker)
- Torys LLP (for Fairfax Financial)
Organizations
- Cormark Securities Inc.
- Ernst & Young Inc.
- Evra Solutions Inc.
- National Bank Financial Inc.
- Scotia Capital Inc.
- Scotiabank
Morgan Properties' C$491 million acquisition of Dream Residential REIT
Canadian Law Firms
- Goodmans LLP (for the special committee of Dream Residential)
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for Dream Residential)
- Stikeman Elliott LLP (for Morgan Properties)
Non-Canadian Law Firm
- Clifford Chance US LLP
Commercial Litigation Team of the Year
Winner: McCarthy Tétrault LLP; Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP - Shamattawa First Nation v. Canada (Attorney General), 2025 FC 1927
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
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Bennett Jones LLP - Dow Chemical Canada ULC v NOVA Chemicals Corporation, 2025 ABKB 217, 2025 ABKB 343, 2025 ABKB 467
-
Bennett Jones LLP - Remington Development Corporation v Canadian Pacific Railway Company, 2025 ABCA 244
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Borden Ladner Gervais LLP; Stikeman Elliott LLP; Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP; Dentons Canada LLP - Republic of India, et al. v. CCDM Holdings, LLC, et al., 2025 CanLII 94240
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Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP; McCarthy Tétrault LLP; Bennett Jones LLP; Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP - Métis National Council Secretariat Inc. v. Chartier, 2025 ONSC 6150
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Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP; Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP - Quadrangle v. Attorney General of Canada, 2025 ONSC 4526
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Torys LLP; Stikeman Elliot LLP; Bennett Jones LLP; Loopstra Nixon LLP; Lenczner Slaght LLP; Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP; Thornton Grout Finnigan LLP; Camelino Galessiere LLP; Tyr LLP; Blaney McMurtry LLP; Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP - In Re Hudson’s Bay Company, 2025 ONSC 5998
Banking & Financial Services Law Department of the Year
The winner of this category will automatically progress to become a finalist in Canadian Law Department of the Year
Winner: CPP Investments
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- ATB Financial Legal & Governance Team
- Beneva EVP Legal and Corporate services
- First Canadian Title Company Limited (FCT)
- iA Financial Group
- Legal and External Affairs Division (LEAD) at Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
- The Hiive Company Limited
- Vancity
Canadian Law Department of the Year
Winners of the two sector-specific law department awards will automatically progress to become finalists for this category
Winner: MDA Space Legal Team
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Brookfield Properties
- CPP Investments
- Geotab’s In-House IP Boutique Team
- Harlequin and HarperCollins Canada
- IMAX Corporation
- Office of General Counsel - KPMG LLP
- Ontario Power Generation
- Oxford Properties Group
- SE Health
- University of Toronto
- Volkswagen Group Canada
Law Department Innovation
Winner: CPP Investments
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Jobber Legal Team
- Oxford Properties Group Legal Department
- Volkswagen Group Canada
The Lawson Lundell LLP Award for Law Department Leader of the Year
Winner: Lisa Damiani - Canadian Tire Corporation
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Corinne Pruzanski - Cadillac Fairview (CF)
- Gaurav Manhas- OpenRoad Group
- Jeremy Trickett - BCI (British Columbia Investment Management Corporation)
- Jessica Long - Allstate Canada Group
- Lorne O’Reilly, KC - Dow Chemical Canada ULC
- Nickola Voegelin - University of Waterloo
- Rustam Juma - Volkswagen Group Canada
- Samantha Traub - Boat Rocker Studios Limited
- Sue Lynn Noel - Purolator Inc.
The Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP Award for Construction, Infrastructure and Transportation Law Department of the Year
The winner of this category will automatically progress to become a finalist in Canadian Law Department of the Year
Winner: Ontario Power Generation Inc.
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Arcadis
- BC Hydro Legal Services
- Black & McDonald
- Canada Infrastructure Bank
- Dow Chemical Canada ULC
- Graham Group Ltd. c/o Jamie Olsen, General Counsel, Canada
- Pembina Pipeline Corporation Legal Department
- Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
Best Use of Technology in a Law Firm
Winner: Torys LLP
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Caravel Law
- Gowling WLG
- KMSC LAW LLP
- Litco Law
- McInnes Cooper
- V-Law
Boutique Law Firm of the Year
Winner: Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- AGP LLP
- Gluckstein Lawyers
- Green and Spiegel LLP
- MacLean Law
- Neuberger & Partners LLP
- Roper Greyell LLP
- Smart & Biggar
Lifetime Achievement in the Legal Profession – In-House
Winner: Melissa Kennedy - Sun Life
Lifetime Achievement in the Legal Profession – Private Practice
Winner: Brian Gover - Stockwoods LLP
Litigation & Dispute Resolution Boutique Law Firm of the Year
Winner: Lenczner Slaght
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP
- Goldblatt Partners LLP
- Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
- Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP
- Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP
- Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP
- Stockwoods LLP
- Thomson Rogers LLP
Litigator of the Year
Winner: Michael Rosenberg - McCarthy Tétrault LLP
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Brandon Barnes Trickett - Dentons Canada LLP
- Greg Allen - Allen / McMillan Litigation Counsel
- Matthew Williams - Thorsteinssons LLP
- Rahool Agarwal - Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP
- Stéphane Pitre - Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
- Tracey M. Cohen - Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
- Vincent Rochette - Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Managing Partner of the Year
Winner: Cliff Proudfoot, KC - Lawson Lundell LLP
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Carissa N. Tanzola - Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP
- James Murdoch - Thorsteinssons LLP
- Kurt E. Schlachter, KC - Stringam Law
- Sara Mainville - JFK Law LLP
- Shawn Wolfson - Blaney McMurtry LLP
Regional Law Firm of the Year - Atlantic Canada
Winner: McInnes Cooper
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Curtis Dawe
Regional Law Firm of the Year - Ontario
Winner: Lerners LLP
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Gardiner Roberts LLP
- Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP/s.r.l.
- Torkin Manes LLP
- WeirFoulds LLP
Regional Law Firm of the Year - Quebec
Winner: Langlois Lawyers LLP
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- De Grandpré Chait
- Dunton Rainville LLP
- Lavery
- Stein Monast LLP
Regional Law Firm of the Year - Western Canada
Winner: Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Boughton Law Corporation
- Farris LLP
- Lawson Lundell LLP
- McKercher LLP
- MLT Aikins LLP
- Parlee McLaws LLP
- Witten LLP
Diversity Initiative of the Year
Winner: PooranLaw Professional Corporation - PooranLaw's Pathways to Inclusion: Reducing Barriers for People with Disabilities & their Families
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Aird & Berlis LLP - Angela Swan’s Memoir Initiative: Kindness Over Everything
- Dentons Canada LLP - Belonging@Dentons Trans Inclusion Policy
- Fasken - Journey to Reconciliation
- Gale Law Professional Corporation - The NCA Network
- Gowling WLG - Avenue Program
Female Trailblazer of the Year (Academia & In-House)
Winner: Shara Roy - EY Canada
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Amy Salyzyn - University of Ottawa
- Angela Yadav - Vancity
- Ashley Butts - BDO Canada LLP
- Christy Elliott - Keyera Corp.
- Debbie Caruso - Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
- Heather Mullen - Kenvue Canada Inc.
- Laura Paglia - Canadian Forum for Financial Markets (CFFiM)
Female Trailblazer of the Year (Private Practice)
Winner: Martha Harrison - McCarthy Tétrault LLP
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Aneka Jiwaji - Jiwaji Law
- Daniela M. Pacheco - Neinstein
- Jamie Mandell - DLA Piper
- Jennifer Wasylyk - Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
- Laurie LaPalme - Dentons Canada LLP
- Shailaz Dhalla - Lawson Lundell LLP
- Sharon Vogel - Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP
- Shira Kalfa - Kalfa Law
Pro Bono Initiative of the Year
Winner: PooranLaw Professional Corporation - I Decide Law Program
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES
- Baker McKenzie; Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP - Northern Super League/AFC Toronto Mandate
- Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP; Stockwoods LLP - The Neighbourhood Group et al. v. HMKRO/The Neighbourhood Group v Ontario - constitutional challenge to keep safe consumption sites in Ontario open
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP - Working with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (the CIB), supporting its Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative (ICII)
- Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP - Cycle Toronto et al. v. Attorney General of Ontario et al.
- Torys LLP - Community and Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP) Digital Hub
- Yinka Law - ALL-IN MEDIA INC. Creation & HUNT v. TREVISAN et al. DIV COURT FILE 809/24
