Craig C. Thorburn, Toronto

About Craig

Craig retired as a Blakes Partner in December 2023. Craig specialized in mergers and acquisitions and restructurings, and served as the relationship partner for many major corporate clients.

In addition to his role at Blakes, Craig served from 2001 to 2006 as the senior vice-president of mergers and acquisitions, and corporate secretary, of Geac Computer, a large Canadian public software company.

Select Experience

Mergers and Acquisitions

Labatt in its take-over bid for Lakeport Brewing Income Fund
AkzoNobel in its take-over bid for Sico
Geac Computer in its acquisition by Golden Gate through a plan of arrangement
InBev in its acquisition of Companhia de Bebidas das Americas (AmBev) and AmBev's contemporaneous acquisition of Labatt Brewing
Vivendi in its strategic combination with Seagram and Canal+ through a plan of arrangement
Labatt in the sale of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club to Rogers Communications

Restructurings

Nortel Networks
SkyDome
Campeau
Olympia & York
Dome Petroleum

Professional Activities

Craig has lectured as an adjunct professor in securities law at the Faculty of Law, Queen's University, and has spoken and written on a wide range of subjects, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, shareholder agreements and directors' liabilities.

Craig was the president of TechLaw Group, an international network of law firms focused on technology law and business, for 2012–2013. He is a senior fellow and College Solicitor of Massey College and a member of the national council of the C.D. Howe Institute.