
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 consistently 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, automotive 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:
- 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
- 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
- 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
- MJardin Group – Representing the Monitor in MJardin’s ongoing CCAA proceedings
- 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
- Crystallex International – Representing an ad hoc committee of Crystallex’s bondholders and Computershare Trust Company in its capacity as trustee in Crystallex’s ongoing CCAA proceedings relating to the enforcement of a US$1.3 billion ICSID award against the Republic of Venezuela for the benefit of stakeholders
- Bondfield Construction and Forma-Con 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 a related DIP litigation financing loan
- Skillsoft Corporation – Representing Skillsoft’s first lien lenders in connection with the company’ US$2.1 billion Chapter 11 plan of reorganization and related CCAA recognition proceedings
- Aralez Pharmaceuticals – Representing Nuvo Pharmaceuticals Inc. as purchaser of Aralez’s Canadian business and certain U.S. assets for US$110 million in coordinated CCAA and Chapter 11 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
Awards & Recognition
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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
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Who's Who Legal Recommended National Leader, Restructuring and Insolvency 2022
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The Legal 500 Canada Recommended, Restructuring and Insolvency 2022
Credentials
Professional Involvement
Chris was a lecturer at the University of Western Ontario Law School, where he taught bankruptcy and restructuring courses 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 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… -
Goodmans Lawyers Named Across 2022 Expert Guides
We are pleased to share Goodmans lawyers have been recognized across several Expert Guides 2022 editions. Recognition from Expert Guides is based on peer review, and demonstrates our lawyers… -
Mergers and Acquisitions
Chambers and Partners Continues to Honour Goodmans with Top Tier Recognition
We are delighted to announce Goodmans LLP has once again received top tier recognition from Chambers and Partners in the Chambers Canada 2023 Guide released today. Recognition from Chambers…