David is a partner in Osler’s highly regarded Competition and Foreign Investment group and his practice focuses on all aspects of competition law, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, marketing and distribution practices, criminal and civil investigations, and compliance matters.
David also advises on foreign investment merger review under the Investment Canada Act, including “net benefit” and national security reviews, and has been recognized as one of the top “40 under 40” foreign investment lawyers worldwide by Global Competition Review.
David advises clients in a wide range of sectors, including consumer goods, energy, pharmaceuticals, communications, financial services, technology, chemicals, agriculture, and transportation.
David is active in the National Competition Law and Foreign Investment Review Section of the Canadian Bar Association, currently serving as Vice-Chair of the Foreign Investment Review Committee and previously serving as Chair of the Mergers Committee and Chair of the Economics and Law Committee.
Representative Work
- Bird Construction
Bird Construction in its $82.3-million acquisition of Fraser River Pile & Dredge
- Purolator
Purolator in its acquisition of Livingston International
- BC Partners Advisors
Apollo Global Management, Inc. and BC Partners in connection with their agreement to buy GFL Environmental Inc.’s environmental services business valued at $8 billion
Bird Construction in its $82.3-million acquisition of Fraser River Pile & Dredge
Purolator in its acquisition of Livingston International
Apollo Global Management, Inc. and BC Partners in connection with their agreement to buy GFL Environmental Inc.’s environmental services business valued at $8 billion
- Stonepeak in connection with its agreement, together with Blue Wolf Capital Partners, to acquire Logistec Corporation for approximately $1.2 billion
- Superior Plus Corp. in connection with its acquisition of Certarus Ltd. for total consideration of approximately $1.05 billion.
- Secure Energy Services Inc. in connection with its $2.3 billion enterprise value merger with Tervita Corporation
- Tilray, Inc. in connection with its business combination with Aphria Inc., having an implied pro forma equity value of $5.0 billion (US$3.9 billion)
- Nasdaq, Inc. on its US$2.75 billion acquisition of Verafin Inc., Canada’s largest software transaction since 2007
- Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners on its acquisition of Xplornet Communications Inc.
- Fitbit, Inc. on its proposed US$2.1 billion purchase by Google LLC
- The Stars Group Inc. in connection with its US$15 billion enterprise value merger of equals with Flutter Entertainment Inc.
- Sappi Canada Enterprises Inc. on its acquisition of Rayonier A.M. Canada Enterprises Inc.’s pulp mill and related assets in Quebec
- Digital Colony Partners and EQT Infrastructure IV Fund on their US$14.3 billion proposed acquisition of Zayo Group Holdings, Inc.
Latest Insights
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Osler Update June 25, 2025
Competition Bureau releases updated guidance on enforcement approach to property controls
The CPC Guidance published by the Competition Bureau advocates that firms use property controls only where justified.
Read more
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Osler Update March 5, 2025
On guard for thee: update to the Canadian national security guidelines
The impact of a foreign investment on Canada’s economic security has been explicitly added as a factor of national security review.
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Recognized as “One to Watch” in Competition/Antitrust Law
—Best Lawyers -
GCR FIC 40 Under 40
—Global Competition Review -
Recognized in Competition Law
—Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
- Moderator: Mergers and Monopolistic Practices Roundtable with the Competition Bureau, June 13, 2024 (roundtable organized by the Canadian Bar Association)
- Speaker: Merger Review and Litigation After Section 96, March 5, 2024 (webinar organized by the Canadian Bar Association)
- Speaker: Planning for Mergers & JVs 102: Transaction Agreements, February 1, 2023 (webinar organized by the Canadian Bar Association)
- Speaker: The P&H Decision: Key Implications and Takeaways January 20, 2023 (webinar organized by the Canadian Bar Association)
Published Work
- “Videogames in the Crosshairs”, in Legal Industry Reviews, Canada, Vol. 4, May 2024
- “Significant Changes to Canadian Competition Law Underway”, in Legal Industry Reviews, Canada, Vol. 3, October 2023
- “Major developments in Canadian Competition Law”, in Legal Industry Reviews, Canada, Vol. 2, June 2023
Credentials
Education
- University of Toronto, J.D.
- University of Toronto, Master’s (Economics)
- University of Calgary, B.A. (Honours, with Distinction)
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association (CBA); Vice-Chair of the Mergers Committee of the CBA’s National Competition Law and Foreign Investment Review Section
- Ontario Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Law Society of Ontario
