Brendan O'Neill

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Brendan O'Neill

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Overview

Brendan O’Neill is a partner in the Restructuring Group, a head of the Restructuring Group, and a member of the Executive Committee at Goodmans. The Restructuring Group is consistently and widely recognized as Canada’s best and leading corporate restructuring practice.

Brendan has extensive experience in leading domestic, cross-border and transnational corporate restructuring transactions and refinancings, including CCAA and CBCA corporate restructurings, and other forms of cross-border restructurings, out-of-court restructurings and workouts, mass tort restructurings, strategic bankruptcy-based acquisitions, bankruptcy-based litigation and near-insolvency investing scenarios. Brendan regularly leads or co-leads the firm’s representation of debtor companies, secured and unsecured lenders, bondholders and creditors, official and unofficial creditors’ committees, key shareholders and leading private equity firms and other strategic investors focused on distressed situations.

Brendan joined Goodmans in 2005 from the Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization Department of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York, where he practiced U.S. bankruptcy and restructuring law for several years. 

Brendan is highly praised by his clients and peers who describe him as:
  • a “prominent figure” and “future leader”
  • a “great strategist” who is a “very strong advocate” and very good at leading and managing the firm’s resources on large complex transactions
  • a “superior litigator” who “does a great job of taking control of a courtroom and getting his narrative across”
  • clients praise his “tenacity”
Brendan is consistently recognized in leading industry reviews:
  • in 2024, Chambers Global and Chambers Canada ranked Brendan Band 1 for his work in Restructuring and Insolvency
  • in 2018, The Legal 500 Canada cited Brendan as one of "the best two restructuring lawyers practising in Canada today”
  • in 2018, Lexpert recognized Brendan as one of “Canada’s Leading Corporate Lawyers” on the cover of its 2018 Special Edition
  • in 2017, the TMA recognized Brendan’s work leading the U.S. $4.1 billion cross-border restructuring of Pacific Exploration & Production as the Turnaround Transaction of the Year for International Companies
  • in 2017, the TMA also recognized Brendan’s work leading the acquisition of Lightstream Resources by its key creditors, Apollo and GSO, as the Distressed M&A Deal of the Year (over $1B) and the Sale of the Year (over $1B)
  • IFLR1000, Lexpert, the Lexpert/American Lawyer Media Guide, Euromoney Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides, Who’s Who Legal Canada and Best Lawyers in Canada all recognize Brendan as one of Canada’s leading and most prominent restructuring lawyers
  • in 2009, Lexpert recognized Brendan as one of Canada’s “Top 40 Lawyers Under 40”

Featured Work

Debtor company representations:
  • WeWork – counsel to WeWork in connection with its cross-border restructuring proceedings pursuant to Chapter 11 and the CCAA
  • Rambler Metals and Mining – representing the Board of Directors of Rambler in connection with its CCAA restructuring 
  • Highland Therapeutics Inc – representing Highland in connection with its restructuring and refinancing of its $400 million senior secured credit facility
  • Horizon Maritime Services – representing Horizon in connection with its restructuring and refinancing of its $100 million senior secured credit facility 
  • North Atlantic Refining Limited – representing SilverPeak as private equity owner of NARL in connection with its restructuring
  • Canada Fluorspar Inc – representing Golden Gate Capital as private equity owner of CFI in connection with its restructuring pursuant to the CCAA
  • BlackRock Metals Inc – representing the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of BlackRock in connection with BlackRock’s restructuring of its $100 million secured credit facility pursuant to the CCAA
  • Concordia International – representing Concordia in its $4 billion recapitalization pursuant to the CBCA
  • Calpine Canada – representing Calpine Canada in its $18 billion cross-border restructuring and global settlement plan pursuant to the CCAA and Chapter 11
  • Asset Backed Commercial Paper Crisis (ABCP) – representing the Pan Canadian Investors Committee as the lead proponents of the $32 billion restructuring of Canada’s ABCP market pursuant to the CCAA and Chapter 15
  • RGL Reservoir Management – representing RGL in connection with its $400 million restructuring pursuant to the CBCA
  • Aurcana Corporation – representing Aurcana in its $40 million recapitalization pursuant to the CBCA
  • Frontera Copper – representing Frontera Copper in connection with its $185 million restructuring pursuant to the CBCA
Court-appointed representations
  • Representing the court-appointed Receiver of The One Project (One Bloor West)
  • Nordstrom – representing the court-appointed monitor of Nordstrom in connection with its CCAA liquidation
  • Loyalty One (Air Miles) – representing the court-appointed monitor of Loyalty One in connection with its CCAA restructuring
  • Forever 21 – representing the court-appointed monitor of Forever 21 in connection with its CCAA restructuring and sale
  • Comark - representing the court-appointed monitor of Comark (Ricki’s, cleo and Bootlegger brands) in connection with its CCAA restructuring and sale
  • HB White – representing the court-appointed monitor of HB White in connection with its CCAA restructuring
  • Planet Organic – representing the court-appointed monitor of Planet Organic in connection with its CCAA restructuring and sale
  • Ingenious Packaging – representing the court-appointed receiver of Ingenious Packaging in connection with the sale and divestiture of its business
Plan Sponsor and Key Bondholder representations:
  • Counsel to the Ad Hoc Committee of Senior Secured Noteholders of AYR Wellness in connection with its $400 million restructuring pursuant to the CBCA 
  • Stoneway Capital Corporation – representing the Plan Sponsors (private equity firms as mezzanine lenders) of Stoneway’s $1 billion restructuring pursuant to the CBCA
  • Array Marketing – representing the Ad Hoc Committee of Noteholders in connection with Array’s restructuring of its senior secured debt
  • Ultra Petroleum – the Ad Hoc Committee of Noteholders in connection with Ultra Petroleum’s $2 billion restructuring pursuant to Chapter 11 and the CCAA
  • Nemaska – representing the Ad Hoc Committee of Bondholders in connection with the successful prosecution of a Make-Whole Claim in connection with Nemaska’s CCAA proceedings
  • Dominion Diamond Mines – representing The Washington Group as owner and creditor of Dominion Diamond Mines in its CCAA restructuring proceedings 
  • Pacific Exploration - representing the Plan Sponsors and DIP Lenders for Pacific's $5.4 billion restructuring  pursuant to the CCAA, Chapter 15 and Ley 1116 (Columbia)
  • Lightstream Resources -  representing the Plan Sponsors (leading private equity firms) of Lightstream's $2 billion restructuring pursuant to the CBCA and CCAA
  • Jupiter Resources – representing the Plan Sponsor (private equity firm) of Jupiter Resources’ $1 billion restructuring pursuant to the CBCA
  • Carillion – representing Carillion plc in connection with Carillion Canada’s reorganization pursuant to the CCAA
  • Banro Corporation - representing the Plan Sponsor (leading private equity firm) of Banro's $250 million restructuring pursuant to the CCAA; and representing the Plan Sponsor (leading private equity firm) of Banro's $200 million restructuring pursuant to the CBCA
  • Mood Media – representing the Plan Sponsors (leading private equity firms) of Mood Media’s $400 million restructuring pursuant to the CBCA and Chapter 15
  • Rockport – representing the Ad Hoc Committee of Noteholders in connection with Rockport’s $450 million restructuring pursuant to Chapter 11 and the CCAA
  • Tervita Corporation –  representing the Ad Hoc Committee of Secured Debtholders in connection with Tervita’s $3.6 billion restructuring pursuant to the CBCA and Chapter 15
  • Connacher Oil and Gas – representing the Ad Hoc Committee of Noteholders in connection with Connacher’s $1 billion restructuring pursuant to the CBCA
  • The Cash Store – representing the Ad Hoc Committee  of Noteholders as lead creditors and plan proponents of The Cash Store’s reorganization and global class action settlement schemes pursuant to the CCAA and Chapter 15
  • Lone Pine Resources Inc. – representing the Ad Hoc Committee of Noteholders in connection with Lone Pine’s $400 million restructuring pursuant to the CCAA and Chapter 15
  • Sino-Forest – representing the Ad Hoc Committee of Noteholders in connection with Sino-Forest’s $2 billion restructuring (and global class action settlements) pursuant to the CCAA and Chapter 15
Purchaser representations:
  • Xebec – representing the purchaser of the California business of Xebec pursuant to a CCAA and Chapter 11 based acquisition 
  • Brooks Brothers – representing the purchaser of the cross-border business and assets of Brooks Brothers Canada
  • Aralez Pharmaceuticals – representing the purchaser of certain IP assets of Aralez Pharmaceuticals pursuant to a CCAA based acquisition
  • Primus Telecommunications – representing the purchaser of Primus Telecommunications pursuant to a CCAA based acquisition
  • Cervelo Bicycles – representing the purchaser of Cervelo Bicycles in a near-insolvency acquisition process
  • TerreStar Networks  – representing the purchaser of TerreStar Networks pursuant to a Chapter 11 and CCAA based acquisition
  • White Birch Paper Company – representing the purchaser of White Birch Paper Company pursuant to a CCAA based acquisition
  • Canadian Superior Energy – representing a strategic investor in connection with a CCAA based acquisition of certain assets of Canadian Superior Energy
  • Home Capital Group – representing a leading private equity firm in connection with a near-insolvency investment in Home Capital Group
  • Homburg – representing a leading private equity firm in connection with a near-insolvency investment in Homburg
  • Duff & Phelps – representing Duff & Phelps (US) in connection with its acquisition of the Canadian advisory practice of Richters
Other strategic representations
  • Lac Megantic Train Disaster – representing XL Insurance as the lead insurer and participant in the development of Montreal Maine & Atlantic’s CCAA and Chapter 11 based plan of distribution and recovery for victims of the train derailment disaster
  • Primero Mining – representing certain key stream finance parties in connection with the refinancing and sale of Primero Mining
  • Laricina Energy – representing the shareholders of Laricina in connection with its restructuring pursuant to the CCAA
  • Look Communications – representing key shareholders in respect of litigation and CCAA proceedings concerning Look Communications

Credentials

Professional Involvement

Brendan is a frequent lecturer on domestic and cross-border insolvency and restructuring matters. Brendan has served on various committees for INSOL International and was Chair of the INSOL Toronto Seminar in 2014. Brendan is an active member of the International Insolvency Institute and the Insolvency Institute of Canada.

Professional Affiliations

  • Law Society of Ontario
  • INSOL International
  • International Insolvency Institute 
  • Insolvency Institute of Canada 
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Turnaround Management Association
  • Ontario Bar Association, Insolvency Section