Cassels

Canadian Corporate Law Firm

Dalhousie University

Colin Ground

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Colin Ground leads the Infrastructure and Project Finance teams at Cassels and serves as a key member of the firm’s National Major Projects Team initiative. Colin’s practice focuses on financings and transactions with an emphasis on project finance, public-private partnerships, infrastructure, private equity, venture capital and mergers & acquisitions. Colin has extensive experience acting for domestic and international developers, equity sponsors, government sponsors and other participants in connection with complex infrastructure projects and project financings. He has also acted as lead counsel in public-private partnership transactions, the acquisition and sale of private and public companies, major corporate reorganizations, and many private equity-led transactions. Colin has worked on transactions in a number of industry sectors and asset classes, including transportation, renewable energy, industrial and social infrastructure and services.

Infrastructure and Project Finance

  • Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services in connection with the OPP Phase 2 Project & the OPP Phase 3 Project
  • Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in connection with the extension to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
  • Michael Garron Hospital in connection with the building of the Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre
  • Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in connection with the building of the Groves Memorial Community Hospital
  • Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Transportation regarding the $1 billion Highway 407 East Extension project
  • Infrastructure Ontario and Markham Stouffville Hospital regarding the $200 Million Markham Stouffville Hospital redevelopment project
  • Acting for one of the lead limited partners in the Northleaf Infrastructure Co-Investment Partners Fund
  • 407 International Inc., the consortium consisting of SNC-Lavalin Inc., Cintra, Concessiones de Infraestructures de Transporte, S.A. and Capital d’Amérique CDPQ Inc., in respect of its $3.1 billion acquisition from the Province of Ontario of 407 ETR Concession Company Limited, the operator of Highway 407
  • Teramira Holdings Inc. in connection with its $370 million acquisition from Ontario SuperBuild Corporation of its 50% equity interest in Teranet Inc.
  • Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Transportation regarding the Driver Examination Services project
  • SNC Lavalin Operations & Maintenance Inc. in connection with its bid on the City of Edmonton’s Valley Line LRT Project
  • Acting for the lead equity provider of one of the bidding groups in connection with its bid in respect of the OLG Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre project

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • StenTech, a portfolio company of Align Capital Partners acquires, BlueRing Stencils
  • MDpanel, a portfolio company of Aquiline Capital Partners, acquires, Integra Medical Consulting
  • Sale by Blackstone Alternative Credit Advisors LP of DCL’s pigment dispersion business to Lorama Group
  • SparkRock, a portfolio company of Ionic Partners, acquires Edsembli Inc.
  • Sale of Powerline Plus Ltd. and its affiliate to MYR Group Inc. (NASDAQ: MYRG)
  • Vanguard Food, a privately-held joint-venture between Kennedy Lewis Investment Management, Sweat Equities, and Village Farms International, Inc., takes private the fresh produce business of Village Farms International
  • Investment by ArchiMed in Prollenium Medical Technologies Inc.
  • Renewable Energy & Developers Inc. (formerly Sprott Power Corp.) in connection with a series of acquisitions and then in its ultimate merger with Capstone Infrastructure Corporation
  • Bionx International Inc. in connection with the acquisition of an electrical vehicle business from Magna E-Cars
  • Kingsdale Shareholder Services in connection with the sale of a majority interest to MDC Partners

Venture Capital and Private Equity

  • A US Private Equity firm in its acquisition of the Canadian assets of a US-based manufacturing company
  • A Canadian private equity fund in its acquisition of a series of private health services providers in Canada
  • Structuring and formation of a venture capital fund focused on early stage technology companies (assisted fund with multiple investments in early stage companies and in many exit transactions involving its portfolio companies including sales to Apple, Google, EA Sports and an affiliate of EMC Corporation)
  • Creation of a venture capital fund focused on clean tech investments and assisting fund with its initial investments (follow-on investments) in a variety of companies in the United States and Canada

Renewable Energy

  • A TSXV company in the acquisition of a solar power company based in Germany
  • A Canadian energy company in structuring its carbon offset marketing and sales strategy
  • Acted for Renewable Energy Developers Inc. (formerly Sprott Power Corp.) in connection with its acquisition and consolidation strategy, ongoing financings, regulatory matters and project financings (including the Amherst Wind Farm Project in Amherst, NS) and in connection with an arrangement transaction completed with Capstone Infrastructure
  • Counsel to an Ontario aboriginal group in connection with its participation in various solar energy projects
  • Acted for Acciona Wind Energy Canada Inc. in respect of the Canadian aspects of an international reorganization
  • Acting for a US-based fund in connection with its investments in various solar farm projects being developed throughout Ontario
  • Counsel to leading producer of electric vehicles in Canada, the United States and Europe

Governmental Negotiations

  • Assisting the Chief Negotiator in respect of the transfer of legislative authority over lands and resources in the Northwest Territories to the Government of the Northwest Territories and in Nunavut to the Government of Nunavut
  • Prince Rupert Port Authority on more than $1 billion in export infrastructure projects and legal processes, including the sale of Ridley Terminal Inc. by the Government of Canada

David Gardos

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David Gardos is a partner in the Capital Markets Group at Cassels. He advises issuers, investors, and investment dealers in a broad range of sectors including resource, high-tech, industrial, and biotech. His practice focuses on a variety of capital market transactions and securities regulatory matters, including public and private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, going-public and -private transactions, stock exchange listings, divestitures, and corporate governance and securities law compliance matters. He has also been recognized by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in the area of Mining and Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of Securities Law.

David’s recent representative work includes having acted for:

  • Discovery Silver in connection with its proposed acquisition of Newmont’s Porcupine Complex
  • Integra Resources in its acquisition of Florida Canyon Gold Inc. and concurrent $20 million subscription receipt financing
  • Lithium Americas in its investment agreement with General Motors to establish a joint venture for the purpose of funding, developing, constructing and operating the Thacker Pass lithium project Nevada
  • Collective Mining in connection with prospectus offering and concurrent private placement for total gross proceeds of $46.35 million
  • Quisitive Technology Solutions, Inc. in its sale of its BankCard USA Merchant Services Inc. business unit
  • Contact Gold in connection with its acquisition by Orla Mining
  • Paradigm Capital in Spectral Medical’s $6.1 Million Bought Deal Convertible Note Financing

Jonathan Freeman

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Jonathan Freeman* is a partner at Cassels, serving as Chair of the Real Estate & Development Group and as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Jonathan’s practice focuses on all aspects of commercial real estate law, including real estate lending transactions and acquisitions and dispositions of commercial properties. He routinely represents traditional bank and non-bank lenders in complex real estate financing transactions, including those relating to term, acquisition, mezzanine and construction loan facilities. Jonathan also has extensive experience with CMHC insured loans, commercial mortgage-backed securities and other types of securitized debt. He has financed all real estate asset classes, including many of Canada’s largest seniors housing projects, hotels, office buildings, shopping centres and multi-family residential apartment complexes. Jonathan also advises issuers and underwriters in capital market offerings, as well as some of Canada’s largest REITs, private equity funds, developers and real estate investment companies on mergers and acquisitions, cross border real estate transactions, joint venture structuring, asset management and insolvency related matters.

Jonathan is recognized as a leader in his field by such authorities as the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and Chambers Canada, which lauds his “pragmatic approach and business savvy.” In recognition of his outstanding performance relative to his peers, Jonathan was selected as one of Lexpert’s Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40 in 2017.

*Services provided through a Professional Corporation

Ted Frankel

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Ted Frankel (he/him/his) is the Co-Chair of the Commercial Litigation and Arbitration team at Cassels.

Ted is a go-to litigator for complicated disputes ranging from corporate-commercial to shareholder oppression to sports law. He has significant trial and arbitration experience before all levels of Court as well as before domestic and international arbitral tribunals. Ted’s client base includes large and medium-sized corporations, institutions and public entities. He maintains a general litigation practice that includes disputes related to contracts, securities, officer and director liability, professional negligence, fraud, defamation, class actions, estates and trusts, franchising, property, and election law.

A strong proponent of alternative dispute resolution, Ted prides himself in a creative and practical approach that puts his clients’ interests front and centre at all times. As lead counsel on dozens of successful mediations and having earned the designation Qualified Arbitrator (Q. Arb.), Ted is equally equipped to resolve matters outside court or to try the case before judge, jury, or arbitrator.

In 2013, Ted was selected as one of Lexpert’s Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40.

Ted’s notable mandates include:

  • Successfully arguing one of the leading cases on the “duty of good faith in the performance of contractual obligations”
  • Acting for a major Toronto restaurant group with respect to shareholders’ oppression claims which were recognized following arbitration
  • Defending Toyota Canada on a $25 million breach of contract claim that was dismissed at trial
  • Defending the City of Mississauga on a $7.5 million claim made by mobile sign companies arising from the enactment and enforcement of the City of Mississauga’s Sign By-Law, that was dismissed at trial
  • Defending seven Members of Parliament in a series of Federal Court applications collectively referred to as the “robocalls case,” resulting in the dismissal of all seven applications
  • Acting for a mining company with respect to rights under an option agreement, which were granted following arbitration
  • Acting for NHL players, an Olympic Gold Medalist, sport merchandisers and non-profit sports associations including the Special Olympics
  • Serving as an independent mediator and arbitrator on various commercial matters

Danielle DiPardo

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Danielle DiPardo (she/her/hers) is a partner in the Litigation Group at Cassels. Danielle has a broad corporate and commercial litigation practice. She offers experience in franchise litigation, class actions, securities and regulatory matters, corporate/commercial disputes, product liability, and contract disputes. Danielle also has experience representing clients in litigation proceedings involving fraud and breach of fiduciary duties. Through a secondment to Coca-Cola Canada’s head offices, Danielle gained valuable insight into the business needs of clients.

Danielle is called to the bar in British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan and has appeared before the British Columbia Supreme Court, the British Columbia Court of Appeal, the British Columbia Securities Commission, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, the Yukon Supreme Court, and the Court of King’s Bench Saskatchewan. Danielle also frequently uses alternative dispute resolution strategies, appearing on behalf of clients in arbitration proceedings and in mediation. In 2023, Danielle completed the Osgoode Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop Certificate.

Danielle has been recognized in Best Lawyers Canada as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Corporate and Commercial Litigation).

Maria Constantine

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Maria Constantine (she/her/hers) is a partner in Employment & Labour Group at Cassels. Maria helps employers navigate employment relationships, litigation, and corporate transactions to comply with applicable employment laws and mitigate potentially significant financial, regulatory, and reputational risk.

In particular, Maria advises on employee hiring, discipline and dismissal, employment standards compliance, disability management and accommodation, workplace investigations, and human rights issues. She regularly represents employers in litigation matters and has appeared as counsel at all levels of court in Ontario and at a variety of administrative tribunals, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and Ontario Labour Relations Board. Maria has particular expertise in written advocacy and extensive experience drafting complex employment contracts and workplace policies. She also provides strategic advice on employment issues arising in complex corporate reorganizations, mergers, and acquisitions.

Maria has written extensively on topics relating to employment and human rights law and is a frequent speaker at employment law seminars and conferences.

For her work, Maria has been recognized as a leader in her field by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

Maria is also a member of Cassels’ Corporate Responsibility Committee and Co-Chair of the Pro Bono Subcommittee. She volunteers with Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice Hotline and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Law & Business Clinic.