Chris Barker Partner | Toronto

Representative transactions include advising:

Capital Markets

• CIBC on the launch of the first-ever Canadian Depositary Receipts (CDRs), a novel structured product providing Canadian investors with access to hedged fractional investing in large-cap foreign stocks

• Flagship Communities REIT on its US$107-million initial public offering of trust units on the Toronto Stock Exchange

• Granite REIT on public equity offerings of over C$580-million, and on private and public debt offerings of over C$1.1-billion, including its inaugural green bond offering

• Agents on Sienna Senior Living Inc.'s C$150-million inaugural offering of debt securities

• Underwriters on numerous public offerings of equity and debt securities, including offerings by Sienna Senior Living, Inc., Stornoway Diamond Corporation, Automotive Properties REIT, Slate Office REIT, Agellan Commercial REIT and Exchange Income Corporation

• A major Canadian financial institution on its principal-at-risk and principal-protected structured notes programs

M&A and Reorganizations

• Lundin Petroleum AB on the cross-border spin-off of International Petroleum Corporation as a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq First North exchange with an initial market capitalization of over C$500-million

• The Special Committee of Callidus Capital Corporation on its going private transaction by way of plan of arrangement with Braslyn Ltd.

• Element Financial Corporation on its C$8.6-billion acquisition of certain of GE Capital's fleet operations; its US$5-billion cross-border acquisition of the vehicle fleet management services business of PHH Corporation; its C$300-million acquisition of CoActiv Capital Partners, Inc.; and its C$20-million acquisition of Nexcap Finance Corporation

• A TSX-listed mortgage investment corporation on its transition from the Canadian securities regulatory regime for investment funds to the Canadian securities regulatory regime for non-investment fund public companies

Chris is recognized as a leading lawyer in the following publications:

• Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A 2024

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2024 (Corporate Finance & Securities)

• Co-author : Final Amendments to Canada's OTC Derivatives Trade Reporting Rules Released
  Blakes Bulletin on Derivatives, August 26, 2024.
• Co-author : Derivatives Business Conduct Rule Issued by the Canadian Securities Administrators
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, October 5, 2023.
• Co-author : CSA Imposes More Restrictions and March 24 Deadline on Unregistered Crypto Trading Platforms
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, March 1, 2023.
• Co-author : CSA Gets Tougher on Unregistered Crypto Trading Platforms and Takes Position on Stablecoins
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, December 16, 2022.
• Co-author : CSA Provides Derivatives Data Reporting Transition Guidance and the OSC Establishes New Fee for OTC Derivatives Market Participants
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets / Derivatives, December 5, 2022.
• Co-author : Undertakings Now Expected for Crypto Asset Trading Platforms Operating in Canada While Seeking Registration
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, August 19, 2022.
• Co-author : Canadian Securities Administrators Propose Amendments to OTC Derivatives Trade Reporting Rules
  Blakes Bulletin on Derivatives, July 8, 2022.

Admitted to the Ontario Bar – 2013
JD, University of Toronto – 2013
MPhil (Distinction), Trinity College Dublin – 2008
BA, University of Toronto – 2006