Merger Review & Control

As one of the largest and most active mergers and acquisitions practices in the country, the Blakes Competition, Antitrust & Foreign Investment group is frequently retained by major domestic and international companies and leading domestic and international law firms to provide strategic counsel and representation in merger planning, risk allocation and securing timely approvals before the Competition Bureau (Bureau) and the courts. Our lawyers have been involved in many of the largest and most complex mergers in the history of Canadian business and many other mergers with global implications.

The Bureau is now taking a much more active approach to its review of strategic competition mergers and becoming increasingly sophisticated in conducting its investigations. The Bureau has expanded its focus to identify and review non-notifiable mergers that may impact competition and closely consider the impact of mergers on data, technology and related markets. The net effect of these changes has been to reduce business certainty in the strategic merger review process and increase the need for advanced legal guidance.

Blakes is also at the forefront of competition merger litigation. There are six merger cases that form the primary body of merger jurisprudence in Canada. Blakes has represented the parties in all five of the cases in which the parties were successful (Southam, CP Ships, Hillsdown, Superior Propane and Labatt). Most recently, Blakes represented United Continental Airlines (regarding its alliance agreements with Air Canada) and Office Depot, Inc. (regarding its merger with Staples, Inc.) before the Competition Tribunal.

We advise clients with respect to securing merger approvals for non-Canadian purchasers under Canada’s foreign investment laws and regulations, including all aspects of the Investment Canada Act (ICA). The ICA contains general review and notification requirements for a wide range of investments by non-Canadians, as well as a comprehensive and increasingly utilized national security review regime. Our lawyers are experienced in navigating the complex maze of laws and regulations governing these investments, including the special rules that apply to state-owned enterprises, sovereign wealth funds, investors from certain countries and cultural businesses.

Awards & Recognition

The Globe and Mail and Statista name Blakes the #1 firm for Competition, Antitrust & Foreign Investments in Canada’s Best Law Firms 2025.
Members of our Competition, Antitrust & Foreign Investment group are consistently ranked as leading practitioners in the following publications, including in the most recent editions:

Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Competition/Antitrust) – Ranks Blakes in Band 1, its top tier, and recognizes Cassandra Brown, Brian Facey, Randall Hofley, Navin Joneja, Julie Soloway, Micah Wood and Kevin MacDonald as leading lawyers.
The Legal 500 Canada (Competition and Antitrust) – Ranks Blakes in its top tier and recognizes Cassandra Brown, Brian Facey, Randall Hofley, Navin Joneja, Julie Soloway and Kevin MacDonald as leading lawyers.
Global Competition Review’s GCR 100 – Ranks the Blakes Competition, Antitrust & Foreign Investment group in the “Elite” category, the review’s highest designation.
Lexology Index: Foreign Investment Control – Recognizes Cassandra Brown, Brian Facey, Navin Joneja and Julie Soloway as leading regulatory and transactional lawyers.
Lexology Index: Competition – Recognizes Cassandra Brown, Brian Facey, Randall Hofley, Navin Joneja, Kevin MacDonald, Julie Soloway and Micah Wood as leading lawyers and Jonathan Bitran as a Future Leader.
Lexology Index: Thought Leaders – Competition – Recognizes Brian Facey, Navin Joneja and Julie Soloway.
Lexology Index: Canada (Competition) – Recognizes Cassandra Brown, Brian Facey, Randall Hofley, Navin Joneja, Kevin MacDonald, Julie Soloway and Micah Wood as leading lawyers across the country.
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Competition Law) – Ranks Blakes in its top tier and recognizes Cassandra Brown, Brian Facey, Randall Hofley, Navin Joneja, Julie Soloway and Micah Wood as leading lawyers.
Lexpert's Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers: A Guide to Doing Business in Canada (Competition Law) – Recognizes Brian Facey and Navin Joneja as leading lawyers.
The Best Lawyers in Canada (Competition/Antitrust Law) – Names Brian Facey as Lawyer of the Year (2024) and recognizes Jonathan Bitran, Cassandra Brown, Randall Hofley, Navin Joneja and Julie Soloway.
Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys (Competition/Antitrust) – Recognizes Catherine Beagan-Flood, Jeff Galway, Randall Hofley, Claude Marseille, Dalton McGrath and James Sullivan for their expertise in competition litigation.
Global Competition Review’s Women in Antitrust – Ranks Julie Soloway as one of the world’s leading women lawyers in competition law.