Cassels

Canadian Corporate Law Firm

Executive Committee

Kristin Taylor

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Kristin Taylor (she/her/hers) serves as the firm’s Managing Partner and is a partner in the Employment & Labour Group. Kristin provides practical and strategic advice to employers on a wide range of employment matters including employee hiring, discipline and termination; severance packages; corporate restructuring; employment agreements and personnel policies; certification applications; privacy and AODA compliance; mergers & acquisitions and employment standards and human rights issues. Kristin regularly represents employers in court in wrongful dismissal actions, severance pay class actions, restrictive covenant disputes and injunctions; in grievance arbitrations, in collective bargaining and before various administrative tribunals, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and labour relations boards. She also conducts supervisory development and harassment prevention training to proactively prevent workplace disputes.

Kristin’s experience includes:

Kristin is a former Editor-in-Chief of the monthly CCH publication, Canadian Employment & Equality Rights, specializing in recent developments in human rights law. She authored the Employment Issues in a Sale of Business segment for the LexisNexis Practice Advisor Canada and the Employment Law Issues in Business Transactions chapter of the text New Perspectives on Canadian Employment Law. She is also a frequent presenter and contributor to firm’s publications on trends in employment law, with a particular focus on issues faced by Ontario employers.

Jonathan Sherman

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Jonathan Sherman* serves as Executive Chair of Cassels, is a partner in the Capital Markets and M&A Groups, and is the Founder of the firm’s Cannabis Law Group. Jonathan’s practice focuses on emerging and high-growth industries, including cannabis, technology, natural resources, beverage alcohol, real estate, gaming, cryptocurrency, consumer packaged goods, and food and beverage. In his role as Chair of the firm’s Cannabis Group, Jonathan is at the forefront of many of the largest industry transactions in this evolving sector, providing strategic and legal advice to a range of leading industry players on complex and innovative transactions.

Jonathan acts for a wide variety of domestic and international companies and investment banks. With corporate clients ranging from start-ups to multibillion-dollar businesses, Jonathan’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions (public and private acquisitions, business combinations, joint ventures, go-public transactions and strategic collaborations) and corporate finance transactions (public offerings, venture capital, private equity offerings and debt financing transactions).

Whether strategically guiding clients through M&A, or helping emerging start-ups secure investments, Jonathan has become a trusted advisor to many. In addition, he has played a central role on several of the largest transactions completed to-date in the cannabis industry. He acts for industry-leader Canopy Growth on corporate, commercial, securities and M&A matters, including numerous M&A transactions valued at over $5 billion; a $600 million offering of senior convertible unsecured notes, a US$1.25 billion senior secured debt financing and various innovative cross-border transactions to facilitate Canopy Growth’s conditional exposure to the United States cannabis market in advance of federal legalization.

*Services provided through a Professional Corporation

David Redford

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David Redford* is a partner in the Capital Markets Group at Cassels. David’s practice focuses primarily on corporate and securities law, including capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and finance transactions. David has represented clients in numerous public and private debt and equity securities offerings, corporate acquisitions, reorganizations, joint ventures and other corporate and commercial transactions. He also advises on securities regulatory reporting and compliance. David works extensively with mineral resource issuers and has developed a broad depth of experience in respect of the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 and the securities law requirements for mineral resource issuers.

David is a member of the Securities and Business Law sections of the Canadian Bar Association. In connection with his mining expertise, he is also a member of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. David has been a contributing author for Canadian capital markets in the International Law Office online legal newsletter and has presented on the topic of mining disclosure.

David is ranked as a leading lawyer by Chambers Global and Chambers Canada. He has also been recognized by Lexpert as one of the leading Canadian lawyers in global mining and by Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of Securities Law.

*Services provided through a Law Corporation

Ryan Jacobs

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Ryan Jacobs* is a partner in the Restructuring & Insolvency Group at Cassels and serves as Executive Chair of Cassels Brock & Blackwell (US) LLP and Chair of the U.S. Cross-Border practice. A former New York practitioner with one of the most active bankruptcy groups in the United States, Ryan has developed a leading cross-border restructuring practice in Canada. He is routinely retained to act on behalf of ad hoc and official creditor groups, debtors, DIP Lenders, boards, institutional and distress investors, bidders and stalking-horse purchasers and other interested parties across a broad spectrum of industries. Ryan has been a trusted advisor in many of the largest and most complex in-court and out-of-court reorganizations, recapitalizations, and restructurings in recent history. Ryan is also an advisor to a number of boards of public and private companies in Canada and the United States.

Ryan frequently lectures on bankruptcy topics at major industry conferences and is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Windsor, Ontario.

Ryan’s recent and public representations include:

  • CURO Group in connection with its cross border restructuring
  • Black Press in connection with its cross border restructuring
  • Monitor of Tacora Resources in connection with its CCAA restructuring
  • BioSteel Sports in connection with its cross border restructuring
  • Court Officer of Yellow Corporation in connection with its cross border restructuring
  • LoyaltyOne dba ‘AirMiles’ in connection with its cross border restructuring and sale to BMO
  • Monitor of FIGR Brands in connection with its CCAA restructuring
  • Payless Shoesource Canadian entities in connection with their worldwide restructuring
  • Board of Catalyst Paper in connection with its successful repayment of all funded debt and acquisition by Paper Excellence
  • Banro Corporation in connection with its cross border restructuring
  • Majority Lender to Acasta Enterprises in connection with material asset sales and successful repayment of all debt
  • Term DIP Lenders to Sears Canada Inc. in connection with its CCAA proceedings
  • Lenders and Agents in US$300 million secured syndicated credit facility to Sears Canada Inc.
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Performance Sports Group Ltd. in connection with its cross-border restructuring proceedings
  • Informal Group of Senior Secured Noteholders and Plan Sponsors of CHC Group Ltd. in connection with its cross-border restructuring proceedings
  • Delaware Trust as Unsecured Notes Trustee in connection with Tervita Corporation’s CBCA recapitalization
  • Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. in connection with its successful repayment of all secured and unsecured note indebtedness and acquisition by Centerra Gold Inc.
  • Ad Hoc Committee of Bondholders of Trident Exploration Corp. in connection with its CBCA recapitalization
  • Connacher Oil and Gas Limited in connection with its CCAA proceedings
  • Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders of Horsehead Holding in connection with its cross-border restructuring
  • Ad Hoc Group of Secured Bondholders of Essar Steel Algoma Inc.
  • First Lien Lenders of Walter Energy, Inc., in connection with its restructuring
  • DIP Lender to Colt Defense LLC, in connection with its cross-border restructuring
  • Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders of Great Western Minerals Group Ltd in connection with its worldwide restructuring
  • Ad Hoc Group of Debentureholders of Southern Pacific Resource Corp in connection with its restructuring
  • Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders of Jaguar Mining in connection with its recapitalization
  • Ad Hoc Group of Investors of Lone Pine Resources in connection with its recapitalization
  • Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders of Great Basin Gold in connection with its worldwide restructuring
  • Board of SkyLink Aviation in connection with its CCAA proceedings
  • Cline Mining in connection with its recapitalization
  • First Lien Lenders of Catalyst Paper Corporation, in connection with its cross-border restructuring
  • Stalking horse purchaser of assets of Digital Domain Media Group in connection with its cross-border restructuring
  • AVEOS Fleet Performance, in connection with its CCAA proceedings
  • DIP lender to Crystallex International Corporation in connection with its cross-border restructuring
  • First Uranium in connection with its out-of-court restructuring
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Nortel Networks Inc.
  • Ad Hoc Group of Second Lien Lenders of Quiznos in connection with its out-of-court restructuring
  • TerreStar Networks in connection with its cross-border restructuring
  • An informal group of noteholders of Cooper-Standard Automotive
  • An informal group of noteholders of AbitibiBowater in connection with its cross-border restructuring
  • Trident Resources Corp. in connection with its cross-border restructuring
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Delta Air Lines
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Quebecor World (USA) Inc.
  • An informal committee of second lien lenders of Recycled Paper Greetings Inc.
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Collins & Aikman Corporation
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Loral Space & Communications
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Solutia
  • An informal committee of noteholders and post-petition note purchasers of Anchor Glass
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Globalstar
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Bridgeport Holdings
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of WorldCom

Ryan is recognized as a leader in his field by such authorities as Best Lawyers in Canada, IFLR1000, Chambers Global, and Chambers Canada, which notes that clients deem Ryan to be a “valuable player in strategy negotiations and a passionate big-picture thinker.”

*Services provided through a Professional Corporation

Laurie Jessome

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Laurie Jessome* (she/her/hers) is Chair of the national Employment & Labour Group at Cassels and serves as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Laurie acts as dedicated counsel to employers of all sizes and offers expertise on employment-related issues across a variety of industries, including mining, natural resources, finance, insurance, medical technology, retail, manufacturing, and professional services – among others. For her work, Laurie has been repeatedly recognized as a leader in her field by Chambers Canada, where clients note: “She’s a true partner for our operations.”

With over 20 years of employment law experience, Laurie has become the “go to” employment counsel on many of the firm’s largest deals, advising on the employment law aspects of complex commercial transactions for both private and public companies.

Laurie regularly supports clients – domestically and across the border – by providing timely and strategic advice regarding employment and contractor agreements as well as employee handbooks and policies. She also provides guidance on performance management, terminations, and wrongful/constructive dismissal. She has developed deep, specific experience assisting employers with managing and responding to sensitive workplace issues, including allegations of harassment, fraud, and other misconduct.

When necessary, Laurie serves as a practical and effective advocate for her clients. She regularly represents a range of clients before provincial and federal human rights tribunals as well as the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Employment Standards Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Labour, and in mediations and arbitrations.

In addition to her practice, Laurie is a frequent speaker and writer on employment law developments. Her insights have been featured in prominent publications such as Lexpert, Workplace Magazine, HR Professional Magazine and Canadian Corporate Counsel. Laurie is also an active contributor to Cassels’ thought leadership on emerging workplace issues, helping employers stay ahead in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.

*Services provided through a Professional Corporation

Josef W. Hocher

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Josef (Joe) Hocher is a partner in the Business Law Group at Cassels, the Chair of the firm’s national Energy Group, and is a member of the firm’s national Executive Committee. Indigenous organizations and project proponents both draw from Joe’s thirty plus years of deep government, project, and commercial expertise, in relation to their Indigenous partnerships, Indigenous equity participation, and their respective advisory, transactional, and financing needs. Joe also represents and advises Indigenous and other Canadian, US, and international clients with respect to governance and complex, strategic, and business critical transactions, including those related to green and traditional energy, infrastructure, and technology industries in North America and around the world. In so doing, Joe provides keen insights and exceptional counsel to clients, supporting successful outcomes.

Joe was a founder of Buried Hill Energy, an international oil and gas company. At Buried Hill, Joe was one of the principals charged with creating, developing and implementing the strategic direction of the organization and financing its activities. In addition to directly driving investment and interest across the global market, he also served as Chair of the Corporate Governance and Ethics Committee, Compensation Committee, and various Special Committees, and was a member of the Audit Committee, Reserves Committee and HSE Committee. Currently, Joe is the Senior Independent Director of the company and either Chair or a member of its various Committees.

Joe serves as Chairman of Orthoshop Geomatics Ltd., a professional engineering services company that provides innovative and comprehensive geomatic solutions. He also held the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Enlighten Innovations Inc., a sodium (NaSICON) and energy storage technology company.

Joe was integral to the establishment of Hitic Energy Ltd.. As one of its founders, Joe had a senior leadership role in the successful expansion of its upstream oil and gas business, including business development and formulating and implementing overall company strategy.

Joe’s representative work includes:

  • Niyanin Nations LP (a partnership of five First Nations) in relation to its borrowing for, contribution to and investment and participation in an Alberta cogeneration project
  • McLeod Lake Indian Band in relation to its agreement with the Province of British Columbia regarding their collaboration on regulatory and environmental assessment processes
  • McLeod Lake Indian Band in relation to its Tse’khene Energy Transition Hub, including a $7 billion hydrogen production facility and straddle plant
  • Chiniki First Nation, Goodstoney First Nation, ʔaq̓am First Nation, and ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation in relation to their contribution to and participation in assets of TC Energy Corporation
  • Clearwater River Dene Nation in relation to its contribution to and participation in numerous Saskatchewan uranium mining projects
  • Osoyoos Indian Band in relation to its contribution to and participation in an approximately 60 MW solar energy project in BC
  • Saulteau First Nation in relation to its contribution to and participation in the Hourglass Wind Energy Center 200 MW solar energy project in BC
  • Dlezeh NGL Limited Partnership (a partnership of two First Nations) in relation to its contribution to and participation in a natural gas reprocessing plant and related infrastructure in BC
  • Mixt Energy Exports Limited Partnership (an indirect First Nation owned partnership) in relation to its contribution to and participation in green energy facilities and related infrastructure in BC
  • Duz Cho Group of Companies Limited Partnership (a First Nation owned partnership) in relation to its numerous infrastructure and constructions projects in BC
  • Granville Lake / Pickerel Narrows First Nation in relation to its contribution to and participation in a mining project in Manitoba and its pursuit of recognition as a band under the Indian Act
  • Natanik Energy Ltd. (a First Nation owned corporation) in relation to its lead participation in and contribution to a 15MW solar energy project in BC
  • Cree Ative Data Center Corp. in relation to its data center project in Alberta
  • Clearwater River Dene Nation in relation to its contribution to and participation in forest land carbon offset projects in Saskatchewan
  • FN CGL Pipeline Limited Partnership (a partnership of five First Nations) in relation to its contribution to and investment and participation in the Coastal GasLink pipeline in BC
  • First Nations in BC, Alberta, and Manitoba in relation to their treaty land entitlement and treaty annuity processes and negotiations