Lawson Lundell's Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Blog follows new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. Our goal is to provide a source of valuable information and insight on a wide variety of matters for our readers.
Practice Expertise
- Commercial Law
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Taxation
- Venture Capital
Areas of Practice
- Commercial Law
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Taxation
- Venture Capital
WSG Practice Industries
WSG Leadership
- Private Equity Group - Member
- WSG Coronavirus Task Force Group - Member
Profile
Greg is both a lawyer and a Chartered Accountant who specializes in business law, mergers and acquisitions and taxation. Greg's combined legal, taxation and accounting background enables him to advise clients on both the commercial and taxation aspects of transactions. Clients and their financial advisers particularly value his unique ability to converse with them at a high level on financial and accounting matters.
A significant part of Greg's practice is focused on the formation of private equity funds and M&A transactions involving private equity funds. He acts for a number of private equity clients including Fulcrum Capital Partners Inc. (formerly, HSBC Capital (Canada) Inc.), Tricor Pacific Capital Inc., Maxam Capital Corp., Angelo Gordon & Co., Wellspring Capital Management, Yellow Point Equity Partners and Tallinn Capital Corp. (formerly North Point Capital).
Greg qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1988 while working with Ernst & Young in Toronto. He joined Lawson Lundell in 1992 and worked in both the Business Law and Tax Groups of the firm until 1999. Between 1999 and 2004, Greg worked in Dublin, Ireland with William Fry, Solicitors, one of Ireland's top corporate-commercial law firms, where he practiced both corporate-commercial and taxation law in the Technology and Taxation Groups of the firm. His practice in Ireland focused primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions and inbound and outbound investment. Greg re-joined Lawson Lundell in 2005 upon his return to Canada.
Greg was formerly the head of the Business Services Group at Lawson Lundell which encompasses all non-litigation areas of practice in the firm.
A significant part of Greg's practice is focused on the formation of private equity funds and M&A transactions involving private equity funds. He acts for a number of private equity clients including Fulcrum Capital Partners Inc. (formerly, HSBC Capital (Canada) Inc.), Tricor Pacific Capital Inc., Maxam Capital Corp., Angelo Gordon & Co., Wellspring Capital Management, Yellow Point Equity Partners and Tallinn Capital Corp. (formerly North Point Capital).
Greg qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1988 while working with Ernst & Young in Toronto. He joined Lawson Lundell in 1992 and worked in both the Business Law and Tax Groups of the firm until 1999. Between 1999 and 2004, Greg worked in Dublin, Ireland with William Fry, Solicitors, one of Ireland's top corporate-commercial law firms, where he practiced both corporate-commercial and taxation law in the Technology and Taxation Groups of the firm. His practice in Ireland focused primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions and inbound and outbound investment. Greg re-joined Lawson Lundell in 2005 upon his return to Canada.
Greg was formerly the head of the Business Services Group at Lawson Lundell which encompasses all non-litigation areas of practice in the firm.
Bar Admissions
British Columbia (1993)
England & Wales (non-practicing solicitor) (2001)
Education
Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario (B.Comm., 1986)
Chartered Accountant (Canada) (1988)
University of British Columbia, Vancouver British Columbia (LL.B., 1992)
CICA In Depth Tax Course (1997)
Areas of Practice
- Commercial Law
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Taxation
- Venture Capital
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
Experience includes:
Providing tax and commercial legal advice to various Western Canada based private equity fund sponsors in relation to the formation and structuring of their private equity funds and the negotiation of fund terms with investors.
Providing tax and commercial legal advice to:
A consortium of investors in relation to the acquisition of British Columbia's largest fitness company.
A major international mining consortium with respect to the divestment of certain of its undeveloped Canadian mining assets.
A consortium of investors in relation to the reorganization of their investments in a Japanese private equity fund into an Irish holding company structure
The members of management of an aircraft service company with respect to a management buy-out of that company
Various Canadian and international private equity funds with respect to the structuring of their investments in and divestments of various investee entities, including:
The acquisition of a North American based specialty food importing and distribution business
The making of a minority investment into an oilfield services company
The making of a minority investment into an accounts receivable management company
The disposition of an industrial products distribution company (natural resource sector)
The disposition of a steel products processing and distribution company
The acquisition of an industrial valve supply company
The making of a minority investment into a building products manufacturing company
The making of a minority investment into a wireless goods and services company
The disposition of a plastic packaging company
The acquisition of a food products manufacturing and distribution business and subsequent reorganizations of that business
The acquisition of a truck tank and trailer manufacturing company
The acquisition of a concrete products manufacturing company
The acquisition of a heating systems manufacturing and supply company
The making of a minority investment into a consumer products company
The acquisition of a rail services company
The acquisition of a cellulose mill in British Columbia
The acquisition of a well known Western Canada based restaurant chain
The structuring of subordinated and mezzanine loan investments in various entities
Advising real estate developers with respect to the structuring of their development projects and other related activities;
Advising international insurance entities with respect to the tax aspects of establishing captive insurance companies in British Columbia and other Canadian based activities
Advising both issuing corporations and underwriters with respect to the tax aspects of various public offerings of securities
Professional Associations
*Canada's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association, Member
*Canadian Tax Foundation, Member
*Canadian Bar Association, Member
*Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, Member
*Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia, Member
*International Taxation Committee of the Irish Taxation Institute, Former Member
Recognition and Ranking
*Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory: BV Peer Review rated
*Legal 500: described as being "well thought of" and "recommended"
*International Tax Review: described as being "well regarded for his work on inward investment and M&A"
Seminars/ Presentation
Greg has been an invited speaker at many conferences including the World Tax Conference, the World Captive Forum, and various legal and tax education seminars held by the Law Society of British Columbia, the Law Society of Ireland, the Irish Taxation Institute and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland.
"Financial Literacy for Lawyers", Canadian Bar Association Skilled Lawyer Series Webinar, Module 1 - Accounting for Lawyers (January 13, 2015), Speaker
"Getting Deals Done", 12th ACG Vancouver Capital Connection Western Canadian Growth Conference, Vancouver, BC (April 9, 2013), Speaker
Experience includes:
Providing tax and commercial legal advice to various Western Canada based private equity fund sponsors in relation to the formation and structuring of their private equity funds and the negotiation of fund terms with investors.
Providing tax and commercial legal advice to:
A consortium of investors in relation to the acquisition of British Columbia's largest fitness company.
A major international mining consortium with respect to the divestment of certain of its undeveloped Canadian mining assets.
A consortium of investors in relation to the reorganization of their investments in a Japanese private equity fund into an Irish holding company structure
The members of management of an aircraft service company with respect to a management buy-out of that company
Various Canadian and international private equity funds with respect to the structuring of their investments in and divestments of various investee entities, including:
The acquisition of a North American based specialty food importing and distribution business
The making of a minority investment into an oilfield services company
The making of a minority investment into an accounts receivable management company
The disposition of an industrial products distribution company (natural resource sector)
The disposition of a steel products processing and distribution company
The acquisition of an industrial valve supply company
The making of a minority investment into a building products manufacturing company
The making of a minority investment into a wireless goods and services company
The disposition of a plastic packaging company
The acquisition of a food products manufacturing and distribution business and subsequent reorganizations of that business
The acquisition of a truck tank and trailer manufacturing company
The acquisition of a concrete products manufacturing company
The acquisition of a heating systems manufacturing and supply company
The making of a minority investment into a consumer products company
The acquisition of a rail services company
The acquisition of a cellulose mill in British Columbia
The acquisition of a well known Western Canada based restaurant chain
The structuring of subordinated and mezzanine loan investments in various entities
Advising real estate developers with respect to the structuring of their development projects and other related activities;
Advising international insurance entities with respect to the tax aspects of establishing captive insurance companies in British Columbia and other Canadian based activities
Advising both issuing corporations and underwriters with respect to the tax aspects of various public offerings of securities
Professional Associations
*Canada's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association, Member
*Canadian Tax Foundation, Member
*Canadian Bar Association, Member
*Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, Member
*Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia, Member
*International Taxation Committee of the Irish Taxation Institute, Former Member
Recognition and Ranking
*Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory: BV Peer Review rated
*Legal 500: described as being "well thought of" and "recommended"
*International Tax Review: described as being "well regarded for his work on inward investment and M&A"
Seminars/ Presentation
Greg has been an invited speaker at many conferences including the World Tax Conference, the World Captive Forum, and various legal and tax education seminars held by the Law Society of British Columbia, the Law Society of Ireland, the Irish Taxation Institute and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland.
"Financial Literacy for Lawyers", Canadian Bar Association Skilled Lawyer Series Webinar, Module 1 - Accounting for Lawyers (January 13, 2015), Speaker
"Getting Deals Done", 12th ACG Vancouver Capital Connection Western Canadian Growth Conference, Vancouver, BC (April 9, 2013), Speaker
Articles
Greg has been a contributing author to a number of publications including American Lawyer Magazine, Tax Notes International, Tax Planning International Mergers and Acquisitions Magazine, and The Irish Tax Review.
Team of Lawson Lundell lawyers recognized in Lexpert Magazine's Big Deals for their role in the Fulcrum Capital / HSBC Capital deal (April 12, 2012)
Financial Recovery Report Winter 2009 (March 12, 2009)
Lawson Lundell forms Financial Recovery Group (December 22, 2008)
“Buying and Selling a Business, Tax and Legal Issues, Irish Taxation Institute (2003), Co-author
Team of Lawson Lundell lawyers recognized in Lexpert Magazine's Big Deals for their role in the Fulcrum Capital / HSBC Capital deal (April 12, 2012)
Financial Recovery Report Winter 2009 (March 12, 2009)
Lawson Lundell forms Financial Recovery Group (December 22, 2008)
“Buying and Selling a Business, Tax and Legal Issues, Irish Taxation Institute (2003), Co-author
Blogs
North of 60 Blog
Our North of 60 Blog provides commentary on current legal trends and developments, and legislative updates affecting businesses in Northern Canada.
Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog
Lawson Lundell's Pension and Employee Benefits Law Blog provides updates on the most recent legal developments impacting pension and employee benefit plans. We cover a range of topics, including recent case law and changes to relevant provincial and federal legislation.
Privacy & Data Management Blog
This blog is authored by members of the Privacy & Data Management Department. We follow new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. We follow emerging issues, legal developments, and new technology as they impact privacy and data management. We will focus on how organizations can protect, manage and innovate with information considering the various risks, regulatory and governance requirements.
The Business Law Blog
This blog is authored by members of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. We intend to follow new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. The wide range of experience among the members of our litigation group will provide a diverse and insightful examination of current legal trends and topics. Our goal is to provide a source of valuable information and insight on a wide variety of matters for our readers.
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