Mark T. Bennett

Partner

 | Toronto

Mark Bennett* serves as the Executive Chair of Cassels. Mark practises corporate and securities law with an emphasis on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions transactions. He has extensive experience representing Canadian and international mining companies involved in business combinations, take-over bids, domestic and cross-border public offerings, private placements, metal streaming and royalty transactions, and stock exchange listings. Mark’s corporate finance experience includes equity, convertible instruments and debt. He has advised exploration, development and producing resource companies in the Americas, Eastern Europe, Africa and Australia on property acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures and option agreements. His practice also includes acting for investment dealers in public and private corporate finance transactions as well as mergers and acquisitions. Mark also advises boards of directors and special committees on corporate governance and securities law compliance, including mineral project disclosure.

Mark’s representative work includes having acted for:

  • Yamana Gold Inc. in the US$1 billion sale of its Chapada Mine and cash tender offer for private and public notes
  • Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. in its gold and palladium streaming agreement with Sibanye-Stillwater and in its sale of Primero Mining Corp. to First Majestic Silver Corp.

Mark is recognized as a leader in his field by such authorities as Chambers Global, Chambers Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and clients remark that “we can count on Mark to always have our best interests in mind.

*denotes Professional Corporation

  • Acritas Star, Independently Rated Lawyers
  • Best Lawyers in Canada (Mining Law, Natural Resources Law)
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Lawyer of the Year (Mining Law – Toronto) (2016 & 2020)
  • Chambers Canada (Mining)
  • Chambers Global (Mining)
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Corporate Finance & Securities, Corporate Mid-Market, Mergers & Acquisitions, Mining)
  • IFLR1000 (Capital Markets, M&A)
  • Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Mining)
  • Lexpert, Rising Star Award (2008)
  • Martindale-Hubbell, Distinguished Rating
  • Legal 500 Canada (Capital Markets; Corporate and M&A; Energy – Mining)
  • Who’s Who Legal: Canada (Mining)
  • “Mark has a great approach to the practice and to negotiations. He has a fantastic amount of knowledge and skill.” – Chambers Global (Mining)
  • “He’s very strong and business-oriented.” – Chambers Global (Mining)
  • “Very practical and pragmatic, with really good judgement.” – Chambers Global (Mining)
  • “He helps me and my company focus on issues that matter as opposed to the ones which don’t.” – Chambers Canada (Mining)
  • “Mark has good business sense and the ability to solve problems.” – Chambers Global (Mining & Natural Resources)
  • “Mark Bennett goes above and beyond simply being a legal advisor.” – Chambers Global (Mining & Natural Resources)
  • “We can count on Mark to always have our best interests in mind.” – Chambers Global (Mining & Natural Resources, Latin America)
  • “Mark provides practical, business-friendly advice.” – The Legal 500 Canada (Mining & Natural Resources)
  • “He is very good at defusing a conflict, mediating between sides and reminding people we are all looking to get a deal to its end. He has wide business sense and good communication skills.” – Chambers Canada (Energy & Natural Resources: Mining)
  • “He’s someone with judgement beyond compare.” – Chambers Global (Mining)
  • “His ability to capture the essence of something in a very straightforward way and instil confidence makes him incredibly effective.” – Chambers Canada (Mining)
  • LL.B., University of Toronto, 1993
  • Ontario, 1995
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Ontario Bar Association
  • Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation