Blakes Sound Business Podcast

In honour of International Women’s Day, the Blakes Restructuring & Insolvency group presents a special edition of the Blakes Sound Business podcast featuring reflections from three restructuring industry leaders: Senior Counsel Pamela L. J. Huff and Partners Milly Chow and Kelly Bourassa. Hosted by Counsel Jenna Willis, the discussion explores career-defining moments, challenges faced by women in the field and practical advice for the next generation of professionals. The speakers highlight how collaboration, mentorship and adaptability have shaped their careers and contributed to the Firm’s reputation for excellence in restructuring.

In this episode of the Blakes Sound Business podcast, we explore key updates to Canada’s anti-money laundering (AML) regime, with a focus on the real estate and mortgage lending sectors. Blakes Partners Jacqueline D. Shinfield and Greg Umbach discuss British Columbia’s Bill 29, expanded federal AML requirements and what these changes mean for lenders, brokers and administrators. Listen now to learn how your business can stay compliant and prepared for these evolving obligations.

In this episode of the Blakes Sound Business podcast, Blakes Partners Bonny Murray and Jeff Sommers discuss essential strategies for de-risking registered pension plans. Learn about buy-in and buy-out annuity contracts, longevity risk transfers and key considerations for plan administrators navigating the Canadian regulatory landscape. Gain practical insights from our market-leading lawyers to help manage risks and stay compliant.

With the return of private equity activity to pre-pandemic levels in Canada, there has been a distinct shift in the way parties approach deal terms. Blakes Partners Rory ffrench and Rianna Ritchie walk us through some of the most significant trends, drawing on insights from the fourth edition of our Canadian Private Equity Deal Study.

Mass torts are on the rise in Ontario, thanks to certification challenges, carriage fights and the influence of plaintiffs’ counsel. But not all provinces are experiencing the same trend. In this episode of our podcast, Blakes lawyers Robin Linley, Ariane Bisaillon and Robin Reinertson explain the differences between a mass tort and a class action and why one may be preferred over the other.

It’s been an eventful year in business disputes, with important decisions coming from courts across Canada. In this episode of our podcast, Blakes litigators Francis Rouleau, Karine Russell and Sophie Mansfield discuss some of the most influential decisions of 2023, and Max Shapiro highlights a trend to watch in 2024.

Doing business with government can be extremely complex. From lobbying and codes of conduct to commissions of inquiry and much more, companies face many rules, regulations and decisions that are constantly changing. Falling afoul of them can have serious reputational and legal impacts. In this episode of our podcast, Blakes lawyers Alexis Levine and Iris Fischer take us through their day-to-day practices helping clients manage crisis situations and share a few time-tested tips for dealing with government.

Anti-bribery compliance has become a fundamental part of an effective environmental, social and governance program. It’s considered one of the most significant areas of risk for many companies and a key concern for investors and shareholders. In this episode of our podcast, Blakes lawyers Iris Fischer, Mark Morrison and Michael Dixon discuss how to develop a compliance program and measure its effectiveness.

The 2022 Blakes Board Report reveals the significant strides women general counsel have made over a six-year period in their trajectory on boards. Year over year, women GCs have continued to exceed their male counterparts on boards by a ratio of 2:1. In this episode of Blakes Sound Business, Blakes lawyers Kate McGilvray and Stacy McLean tell us more about the findings and director insights contained in this year’s study, Unlocking the Value: Women GCs in the Board Pipeline.

Although a late adopter, Canada will soon be criminalizing wage-fixing and no-poaching agreements between businesses. In the latest episode of our podcast, Blakes lawyers David Dueck and Julia Potter tell us about these new provisions of the Competition Act and how they could expose parties to severe consequences.

To combat forced labour, the Canadian government has proposed the Modern Slavery Act, which will have broad implications for Canadian businesses. In our latest episode of Blakes Sound Business, Partners Scott Clarke, Holly Reid and Kate McGilvray provide insight into the new legislation and what companies need to do to ensure compliance.

In recent years, the plant-based food industry has seen significant growth, and new technologies continue to emerge. Blakes lawyers Vivian Kung and Robin Burns join us on the latest episode of our podcast to talk about recent market trends and legal considerations for businesses in this space.

Cybersecurity continues to be one of the biggest threats facing businesses today. The surge in cyberattacks is not only intensifying, but also evolving in sophistication. In the latest episode of our podcast, Nicole Henderson, John Lenz and Ellie Marshall tell us more about the latest trends from our recent Cybersecurity Trends Study.

Over the past two years, dealmaking activity in the private equity market has been unrelenting, despite the pandemic. In this episode of Blakes Sound Business, Partners Rory ffrench and Joanna Myszka share some interesting facts and trends from our recent Canadian Private Equity Deal Study.

Since mid-2020, the global M&A market has seen a whirlwind of dealmaking activity. In this episode of our Blakes Sound Business, Partners Michael Kariya and Cassandra Brown provide insight on inbound investment trends from Europe and the U.K. and the impact of foreign investment regulations in Canada.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s aviation industry has experienced its share of turbulence and course deviations. But it hasn’t been all grey skies. In this episode of our podcast, Partners Auriol Marasco and Jason MacIntyre explore the latest trends in Canadian aviation, including the use of drones to deliver cargo, ESG-focused financing and updates to foreign ownership rules.

As privacy breaches continue to surge, it’s imperative that organizations understand the risks and potential repercussions attributed to a breach that impacts personal information. In this episode of our podcast, Sunny Handa, de Lobe Lederman, Jenna Green and Renee Reichelt provide best practices and an update on recent Canadian legislation and class actions.

Public issuers and investment funds are facing growing pressure from regulators, investors and other stakeholders to integrate ESG into their business and investment decisions. In this episode of our podcast, Partners Andrea Laing and Ryan Morris discuss litigation risks related to ESG disclosure and the role of regulators. Table of Contents: · A brief description of ESG (00:55) · Why ESG is a litigation risk (01:55) · The regulatory perspective (01:40) · U.S. case law and what we might see in Canada (01:15) · ESG-securities litigation work in practice (01:25) · Shareholders and ethical investing (00:30) · How damages from missed targets are measured (01:45)

Cybersecurity has become one of the top governance issues facing organizations today — and the number of cyber incidents is growing at an alarming rate. In this episode of our podcast, Blakes lawyers Sunny Handa, Nicole Henderson, Alexandra Luchenko and Allison Sibthorpe share the compelling results of our recent Canadian Cybersecurity Trends Study, as well as important tips for mitigating risks.

First introduced in the 1990s, special purpose acquisition corporations, or SPACs, have recently gained a strong foothold as an investment vehicle for going public. In this episode of our podcast, Blakes lawyers Norbert Knutel and Jill Davis tell us more about SPACs and what makes them a hot IPO alternative.

Since the launch of our first Blakes Board Report: Opportunities for Women General Counsel five years ago, we’ve seen real progress in the advancement of women GCs to board positions. But there’s still more work to be done. In this special edition of our podcast, Partners Kathleen Keilty and Stacy McLean, who co-authored the study along with Senior Strategic Advisor Alison Jeffrey, share some of the positive results from our analysis and highlight areas for improvement.

As we leave 2020 behind (and bid it a happy adieu), we recap the impacts of the pandemic on public mergers and acquisitions. Blakes lawyers Alex Moore, Olga Kary and Kathleen Keilty share some of the highs and lows of the past year and provide a glimpse into what to expect in 2021. Only have a few minutes? Fast forward to a topic of interest: The impact of COVID-19 on public M&A (00:43) Transactions and litigation (04:26) Assessing a transaction in the context of COVID-19 (06:56) Challenges in public M&A (09:22) How interim covenants will be interpreted in future deals (10:44) Challenges in the energy sector (11:50)

Across Canada, companies are facing a host of environmental challenges, including sustainability, regulatory obligations and other issues. In episode 12 of our podcast, Tony Crossman, Terri-Lee Oleniuk and Grace Smith discuss the “green” side of doing business during the pandemic.

The turbulent COVID-19 economy has put a spotlight on the complex and often delicate insolvency process on both sides of the border. Listen to partners Linc Rogers, Kelly Bourassa and Sébastien Guy on our latest podcast as they share some of the differences (and similarities) between Canadian and U.S. bankruptcy regimes. Only have a few minutes? Fast forward to a topic of interest: CCAA, Chapter 11 and how to get proceedings started (00:46) The oversight process in the U.S. and Canada (03:07) The “cram down” concept (05:02) Protecting the lenders: super priority liens, adequate protection and material prejudice (06:12) Selling distressed assets: cross-border comparison (08:02) Paying the pros: Canada's system to ensure key payments post-filing (09:40)

Distressed M&A may offer a silver lining for both buyers and sellers ― if you look for that break in the clouds. In episode 10 of our podcast, Blakes Partners Chris Burr and Olga Kary provide a forecast for what’s on the horizon.

Businesses in the life sciences industry are rightfully concerned about potential negligence claims during COVID-19. Will courts provide immunity or forgiveness? To learn more about how businesses can mitigate the risks, listen to Jessica Lam and Ariane Bisaillon on episode 9 of our podcast.

COVID-19 is transforming the way businesses create products and go-to-market. Blakes lawyers Pei Li and Laura Weinrib discuss key issues related to product licensing and regulatory considerations from marketing and advertising to manufacturing concerns.

From shifts in legislation to timeline approvals, it’s still not business as usual for foreign investors looking to acquire Canadian businesses. With so much at stake, we’ve asked Julie Soloway and Navin Joneja to share some insights on the current state of affairs and what lies ahead.

In this episode of our podcast, Blakes lawyers Rory ffrench and Cassandra Brown tackle market-related questions and concerns ― from shifting M&A projections to strategic opportunities and the government’s approach to competition and foreign investment in the time of COVID-19.

As businesses focus on the new normal and gradually reopen, courts and litigants are facing their own set of challenges — playing catch-up and running virtual hearings. In episode 5 of our podcast, Blakes litigators Max Shapiro and Alyssa Duke give us an inside look at what this means for you. Only have a few minutes? Fast forward to a topic of interest: Current daily operations in courts (00:58) How litigants are coping with log-jams (02:52) Alternative dispute resolution options, including arbitration (04:47) The merits and disadvantages of video proceedings (06:58) What litigants need to know about arbitration (08:05)

The coronavirus pandemic is pushing the litigation envelope to new and often unexpected heights. From force majeure and landlord-tenant agreements to mounting class-action lawsuits, our lawyers Matthew Liben and Robin Reinertson provide some insight into these issues as they relate to the current crisis. Only have a few minutes? Fast forward to a topic of interest: Overview of federal and Quebec force-majeure regimes (01:00) Resolving commercial landlord and tenant lease issues (03:40) Class actions on the rise in Canada, especially B.C. (06:50) Mitigating the risk of a class action (11:40)

Pension regulators across Canada are adjusting their policies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blakes pension lawyers Lindsay McLeod, Adam Ngan and Sean Maxwell demystify the implications of the steps that federal and provincial pension regulators have taken for businesses and pension administrators. Only have a few minutes? Fast forward to a topic of interest: Overview of key federal regulation changes (00:55) Responses and filing deadlines in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic provinces (04:30) Responses and filing deadlines in Western Canada (08:00) Pension reform: What we can expect to see next (10:20)

From occupational health challenges to cyber risks, privacy and work from home policies, Blakes employment & labour lawyers Daryl Cukierman, Natalie Bussière, Birch Miller and Michael Howcroft discuss the key issues that Canadian employers are facing during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Listen in to learn more.