Mergers and Acquisitions 2026
Course Date: May 20, 2026
Total: 6h 10min
Total Ethics: 1h
Mergers and Acquisitions 2026
Course Date: May 20, 2026
Total: 6h 10min
Total Ethics: 1h
Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)
Rob Seto — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Sven O. Milelli — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver
Market Update (9:10 – 9:55)
- North American M&A update
- key drivers
- most active sectors
- trends
- North American mid-market M&A
- deal activity and multiples
- key drivers on activity and valuations
- recent deal findings
Nicholas Bester, CPA, CA, CBV — Partner, Summit Capital Advisors, Vancouver
Will Campbell, CPA — Director, RBC Capital Markets, Vancouver
Will Campbell, CPA — Director, RBC Capital Markets, Vancouver
Technology Issues in M&A Transactions (9:55 – 10:30)
- risk thresholds
- fines/litigation
- operational
- reps and warranties
- cybersecurity incident, knowledge, materiality, and disclosure
- technology adequacy
- artificial intelligence
- diligence
- privacy due diligence
- anti-spam and spam call risk
- employee ownership of IP
- ethics: obligations when collecting, using, and disclosing personal information in transactions
Jade Buchanan — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver
BREAK (10:30 – 10:45)
Regulatory Update (10:45 – 11:35)
- significant amendments to the Competition Act and the Investment Canada Act
Dominic Thérien — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Montreal
A Litigator's Perspective (11:35 – 12:20)
- stress testing M&A agreements
- how are key M&A clauses interpreted in the litigation context
- what clauses are overlooked?
- recent M&A decisions
Sean K. Boyle — Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Vancouver
Teresa Tomchak — Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Vancouver
Teresa Tomchak — Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Vancouver
NETWORKING LUNCH (12:20 – 1:20) (provided to in-person registrants)
M&A Deals with First Nations Groups (1:20 – 2:20)
James Byra — Managing Director of Finance and Investments, First Nations Finance Authority, Westbank
Pavan Jawanda — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver (remote presentation)
Chief David Jimmie — Squiala First Nation, Chilliwack
Pavan Jawanda — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver (remote presentation)
Chief David Jimmie — Squiala First Nation, Chilliwack
Exchangeable Share Structures (2:20 – 2:50)
- review of exchangeable share structures
- key terms and recent market developments
Philippe Montillaud — Deloitte Canada, Vancouver
BREAK (2:50 – 3:05)
Post-Closing Purchase Price Adjustments, Dispute Resolution, and R&W Insurance Recovery (3:05 – 3:50)
- common accounting issues that give rise to post-closing working capital and earnout disputes, including timing of closing vs. financial reporting period ends, differing interpretations of accounting language and policies, and structuring complexities
- a discussion around R&W insurance coverage, including the frequency with which claims are made, the key drivers of claims, examples of claim payments, and key policy provisions
- case studies from recent transactions to highlight how key negotiation points can materially impact the outcome of the post-closing dispute and claim resolution process
Jennifer Drake — Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc., Toronto
Adrienne Wong, CPA, CA — Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Canada), Calgary
Employment Law Issues in M&A Transactions (3:50 – 4:30)
- impact of deal structure on the employment relationship
- due diligence essentials
- successor employer liability
- offers of employment and issues surrounding key employee retention
- terminations
- union and labour relations issues
Katy Allen — Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Vancouver
Samantha Stepney — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver
Samantha Stepney — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver
Closing Remarks (4:30 – 4:35)
Sven O. Milelli — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver
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Slides: M&A and Capital Markets Update – RBC Capital Markets
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Paper: Employment Law Issues in M&A Transactions