Advising Businesses on Technology Issues


Course Date: June 4, 2004

Course Agenda ▼

Welcome and Introduction

Fred R. Pletcher — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver
Leo Raffin — McMillan LLP, Vancouver

Views From the TSX

  • the TSX—what is it today and what will it be tomorrow?
  • current regulatory initiatives at the TSX
  • what is keeping the TSX busy today?

Arne Gulstene — Senior Relationship Manager – Western North America and International, Toronto Stock Exchange/TSX Venture Exchange, Vancouver
Julie Shin — Director & Manager, Listed Issuer Services and Senior Advisory Counsel, Toronto Stock Exchange, Toronto

Canadian Securities Transition Office

  • what are the current plans and timing?
  • how will local concerns be dealt with?

Lawrence Ritchie — Executive Vice President and Senior Policy Advisor, Canadian Securities Transition Office, Toronto

Networking Break

Proxy Contests: Dealing With Shareholders Who Want to Make Changes to the Board

  • strategic alternatives: quiet diplomacy vs. the “ambush” vs. the full proxy context
  • rules applicable to soliciting proxies
  • the need for special committees
  • conduct of the solicitation process and the consent meeting
    • what to ask for if you are advising the dissident
    • what to agree to if you are advising management or the board
    • duties of the chair
  • ethical considerations for company counsel
  • considerations for management—retention arrangements and change of control protection

Gordon R. Chambers — Lawson Lundell LLP, Vancouver
Corey M. Dean — DuMoulin Black LLP, Vancouver 

Lunch (on your own)

Case Law Update

  • the Lions Gate decisions
  • the Magna decisions
  • other recent proxy and M & A decisions

Fred R. Pletcher — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver
Leo Raffin — McMillan LLP, Vancouver

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • developments in deal protections and other deal terms
  • lessons from recent court and commission decisions
  • Investment Canada Act—the giant awakes?

Jonathan S. Drance — Stikeman Elliott LLP, Vancouver
Mitchell H. Gropper, QC — Farris, Vaughn, Wills & Murphy LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Ethics and Conflicts Issues Arising From M & A Transactions

  • identifying and resolving conflicts in M & A transactions
  • ethical issues faced in M & A transactions

 Warren T. Wilson, QC — Practice Advisor, Law Society of BC, Vancouver

Capital Markets: Tips, Traps, and Trends

  • lessons from the trenches
  • planning to avoid or minimize issues
  • recent developments in domestic and cross-border offerings

David S. Frost — McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Vancouver
Joseph A. Garcia — McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Vancouver