
Overview
Described by clients as “very talented” with “great experience” and “focused on client objectives”, Chris is a partner in Goodmans’ Restructuring Group, which is widely recognized as Canada’s leading restructuring practice.
Specializing in financial restructuring and M&A, Chris has played a leading role on a number of significant complex Canadian and cross-border restructurings acting for debtors, lenders, court officers, purchasers and other stakeholders. He has experience across a wide variety of sectors, including technology, retail, natural resources, entertainment, cannabis, construction, development, automotive, railways and pharmaceuticals.
Chris has been recognized in the areas of financial restructuring and insolvency by Chambers and Partners, IFLR1000, Best Lawyers in Canada, The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Who’s Who Legal and Expert Guides. In 2017, he was also honoured as one of Lexpert’s Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40. He is a member of the Insolvency Institute of Canada. In 2014, Chris received the Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner’s Citation for Lifesaving and the St. John Ambulance Lifesaving Award.
Featured Work
Chris’ recent representative work includes:
- Loyalty One (Air Miles) – Representing the Monitor in Loyalty One’s ongoing CCAA proceedings, including Loyalty Venture’s related Chapter 11 proceedings
- Cirque du Soleil – Representing an ad hoc committee of lenders in Cirque du Soleil’s coordinated CCAA and Chapter 15 proceedings, including in respect of their successful US$1.2 billion credit bid to acquire the company and related refinancing, which transaction was recognized as the 2021 Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year at the Canadian Law Awards
- GreenSpace Brands and Love Child Organics – Representing one of Canada’s leading baby food companies in its ongoing CCAA proceedings and sale process
- Harte Gold Corp. – Representing the Monitor in Harte Gold’s ongoing CCAA proceedings including the sale of the company in a reverse vesting transaction valued at $200 million
- Clover Leaf/Bumble Bee Seafoods – Representing Brookfield Principal Credit LLC as the Term Loan Agent and DIP Term Loan Agent in Clover Leaf’s CCAA proceedings and the related Chapter 11 proceedings of Bumble Bee Seafoods, including the US$1.3 billion sale of Bumble Bee and Clover Leaf’s business to FCF Co., Ltd
- Toys “R” Us – Representing Toys “R” Us Canada in its coordinated CCAA and Chapter 11 proceedings, including in connection with the successful going-concern sale of Toys “R” Us Canada for US$300 million
- MJardin Group – Representing the Monitor in MJardin’s CCAA proceedings, including the successful sale of MJardin’s operations in a reverse vesting transaction
- Crystallex International – Representing the Ad Hoc Committee of Crystallex’s noteholders and Computershare Trust Company of Canada in its capacity as trustee in Crystallex’s ongoing CCAA proceedings relating to its efforts to enforce a US$1.3 billion ICSID award against the Republic of Venezuela for the benefit of stakeholders
- Nortel Networks – Representing the Canadian court-appointed “super monitor” in all aspects of this multi-national insolvency proceeding involving coordinated CCAA, Chapter 11 and UK administration proceedings, including in connection with the sales of Nortel’s business units and patent portfolio and the US$7.2 billion global settlement and coordinated Chapter 11 and CCAA plans of arrangement
- Bondfield Construction – Representing the agent under Bondfield’s senior-secured credit facility in connection with Bondfield’s CCAA proceeding and the receivership of Forma-Con Construction, including in connection with the sale of the Bondfield loan facility
- Genessee & Wyoming – Representing Genesee & Wyoming in connection with the sale of two railways
- Skillsoft Corporation – Representing Skillsoft’s first lien lenders in connection with the company’s US$2.1 billion Chapter 11 plan of reorganization and related CCAA recognition proceedings
- DEL Equipment – Representing DEL Equipment, Canada’s leading truck equipment up-fitter, in its CCAA proceedings, including the successful sale of its business to Drive Products
- 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
- Horsehead Holdings – Representing the Court-appointed information officer in Horsehead’s CCAA recognition proceedings
- Chemtura – Representing Chemtura in their joint Chapter 11 and CCAA proceedings
- Eddie Bauer – Representing Eddie Bauer in its cross-border CCAA and Chapter 11 restructuring, including its successful sale to Golden Gate Private Equity
Awards & Recognition
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Chambers Global Recognized, Restructuring/Insolvency 2023
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory Recognized, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring: Financial Restructuring 2023
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Chambers Canada Recognized, Restructuring/Insolvency 2023
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The Legal 500 Canada Recommended, Restructuring and Insolvency 2023
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Who's Who Legal Recommended Global Leader, Restructuring and Insolvency 2023
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Best Lawyers in Canada Recognized, Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law 2023
Credentials
Professional Involvement
Chris was a lecturer at the University of Western Ontario Law School, where he taught the advanced restructuring course from 2012 to 2020. In 2016, he received the University Student Council Honour Roll Award for Teaching Excellence. He is a regular speaker at conferences and has contributed papers to the Journal of the Insolvency Institute of Canada. Chris is actively involved in the firm’s student recruitment and mentoring programs for summer students, articling students and associates.
Credentials
- Osgoode Hall Law School, LL.B., 2007
- Queen's University, B.A., 2004, BAH (Honours)
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Insolvency Institute of Canada
- Turnaround Management Association
Call to Bar
- 2008 Ontario
News & Events
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Banking and Financial Services
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023 Continues to Recognize Goodmans
We are proud to announce we have once again been recognized in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023.85 Goodmans lawyers have been recognized as top-tier in their fields and leaders across… -
Banking and Financial Services
Chambers and Partners Continues to Honour Goodmans with Global Recognition
We are proud to announce Goodmans LLP has once again received top tier recognition from Chambers and Partners in the Chambers Global 2023 Guide released today. Recognition from Chambers and… -
Banking and Financial Services
The Legal 500 Canada Continues to Recognize Goodmans with Top Tier Rankings
We are pleased to announce Goodmans LLP has once again received top tier recognition from The Legal 500 Canada in their 2023 Guide released today. Recognition from The Legal 500 is based on…