James is a Partner in Osler’s Corporate Group and Co-Chair of the Mining Group. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities, and general corporate matters.
James has experience acting for issuers and underwriters in public offerings, including IPOs, shelf, short form, and “bought deal” financings, global private placements, as well as transactions involving inter-listed companies.
He also routinely provides ongoing advice to public and private corporations in a wide variety of industries on regulatory compliance matters, corporate governance, and continuous disclosure obligations, and he provides ongoing securities law compliance advice to TSX and TSXV listed issuers, including regarding mineral project disclosure under National Instrument 43-101. James previously served as a member of the Canadian Securities Administrators’ Mining Technical Advisory and Monitoring Committee, which provides guidance to the provincial securities commissions on technical mining matters.
James was a summer student with the firm and completed his articles in 2007–2008, during which time he was seconded to the Ontario Securities Commission in the Corporate Finance branch. He returned to Osler as an associate in 2008. During 2011, James was on secondment to the Toronto office of Goldman Sachs as an associate in the Natural Resources group focused on Metals & Mining.
In 2018, James was named a Lexpert Rising Star: Leading Lawyer Under 40, an award, which recognizes lawyers under the age of 40 at the top of their profession.
Representative Work
- WealthAgile
WealthAgile in its RTO by Trilogy AI Corp.
- Boart Longyear Company
Boart Longyear in the sale of its shares to American Industrial Partners Capital Fund
- SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust
SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust in its offering of $300 million Series Z senior unsecured debentures
- TELUS International
TELUS International in its US$1.225 billion acquisition of WillowTree
- TELUS International
TELUS International in its US$563 million secondary offering
- Interac Corp.
Interac Corp. in Canada's new real-time payments system
- TELUS International
TELUS International in its US$1.06-billion initial public offering
- Richardson Financial Group
Richardson Financial Group in the sale of Richardson GMP to GMP Capital Inc.
- Wealthsimple
Wealthsimple in its $114 million equity financing
- Raymond James Ltd.
The underwriters in the US$45.54-million cross-border secondary offering of common shares of Maverix Metals Inc. by Pan American Silver Corp.
- Genworth Financial, Inc.
Genworth Financial in its $2.4 billion agreement for Brookfield Business Partners to acquire Genworth’s stake in Genworth MI Canada Inc.
- CIBC World Markets
CIBC World Markets in Osisko Gold Royalties' $110.7M secondary bought deal offering
- Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands in connection with Canopy Growth’s right to acquire Acreage Holdings
- Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands in its $5.1 billion strategic investment in and partnership with Canopy Growth Corporation
- Agroidea SAS and the Nannetti brothers
Agroidea SAS and the Nannetti brothers in the joint venture of Cronos Group Inc. and an affiliate of Agroidea SAS to form NatuEra
- Lithium Americas
Lithium Americas in its strategic transaction with Ganfeng Lithium to jointly advance Caucharí-Olaroz
- Underwriters
Underwriters in connection with the IPO of Roots Corporation on the TSX
- Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. in the proposed sale of specialty channels to Bell Media Inc. for approximately $200 million
- Hydro One Limited
Hydro One Limited in its offering of $1.4 billion 4.00% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures represented by installment receipts.
- Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund
Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund in its take-over bid for Canexus Corporation
- Constellation Brands, Inc.
Constellation Brands, Inc. in the sale of its Canadian wine business to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan for approximately $1.03 billion
- Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. in connection with its $2.65 billion purchase of Shaw Media Inc. from Shaw Communications Inc.
- COM DEV International Ltd.
COM DEV in connection with its acquisition by a subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc. by way of a plan of arrangement and its spinoff of exactEarth Ltd.
- The underwriters
The underwriters in a $1.44 billion offering by First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
- Ventas Canada Financial Limited
Ventas Canada Financial Limited in its private placement of $650 million of senior unsecured notes
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund in its acquisition of Marsulex Inc., its unsolicited take-over bid for Canexus Corporation and subsequent acquisition of Canexus Corporation by way of plan of arrangement
- COM DEV in connection with its acquisition by a subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc. by way of a plan of arrangement and its spinoff of exactEarth Ltd.
- Constellation Brands, Inc. in the sale of its Canadian wine business to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan for approximately $1.03 billion
- Corus Entertainment Inc. in connection with its proposed $2.65 billion purchase of Shaw Media Inc. from Shaw Communications Inc.
- Counsel to Manulife Financial Corporation in its $4-billion acquisition of the Canadian-based operations of Standard Life plc. The deal combines Manulife, one of the largest insurance companies in the world, and Standard Life Canada, the country’s fifth-largest insurer
- Kinross Gold Corporation in its acquisition of Underworld Resources Inc. by way of take-over bid, its initial private placement in Red Back Mining Inc., its subsequent acquisition of Red Back by way of plan of arrangement, the sale of its interest in Harry Winston Diamond Corporation and the Diavik Diamond Mine joint venture and the sale of Aurelian Resources to Lundin Gold
- The Special Committee of Northbridge Financial Corporation in its sale to Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited
- Equinox Minerals Limited in its proposed acquisition of Lundin Mining Corporation
- Continental Nickel Limited in its acquisition by IMX Resources Limited pursuant to a plan of arrangement
Corporate Finance
- The Pacific Road Resources Funds, private equity funds focused in the mining industry, in their investments in Timmins Gold Corp., Xtierra Inc., First Bauxite Corporation, Far West Mining Inc., CuOro Resources, BRC Minerals Limited, Bayswater Uranium Corporation’s Reno Creek project, Mega Precious Metals (including its sale to Yamana Gold) and Luna Gold Corporation (including its subsequent business combination with JDL Gold to form Trek Mining)
- The underwriters (led by RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and UBS Securities Canada Inc.) in the initial public offering of common shares, flow-through shares and warrants of Royal Nickel Corporation
- The underwriters (led by Scotia Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Canada Inc.) in the $250 million initial public offering of Class A Restricted Units of Alignvest Acquisition II Corporation
- The underwriters (led by RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc.) in the $4 billion bought deal offering of common shares of Barrick Gold Corporation, the largest bought deal equity offering in Canadian history
WealthAgile in its RTO by Trilogy AI Corp.
Boart Longyear in the sale of its shares to American Industrial Partners Capital Fund
SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust in its offering of $300 million Series Z senior unsecured debentures
TELUS International in its US$1.225 billion acquisition of WillowTree
TELUS International in its US$563 million secondary offering
- Interac Corp.
Interac Corp. in Canada's new real-time payments system
- TELUS International
TELUS International in its US$1.06-billion initial public offering
- Richardson Financial Group
Richardson Financial Group in the sale of Richardson GMP to GMP Capital Inc.
- Wealthsimple
Wealthsimple in its $114 million equity financing
- Raymond James Ltd.
The underwriters in the US$45.54-million cross-border secondary offering of common shares of Maverix Metals Inc. by Pan American Silver Corp.
- Genworth Financial, Inc.
Genworth Financial in its $2.4 billion agreement for Brookfield Business Partners to acquire Genworth’s stake in Genworth MI Canada Inc.
- CIBC World Markets
CIBC World Markets in Osisko Gold Royalties' $110.7M secondary bought deal offering
- Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands in connection with Canopy Growth’s right to acquire Acreage Holdings
- Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands in its $5.1 billion strategic investment in and partnership with Canopy Growth Corporation
- Agroidea SAS and the Nannetti brothers
Agroidea SAS and the Nannetti brothers in the joint venture of Cronos Group Inc. and an affiliate of Agroidea SAS to form NatuEra
- Lithium Americas
Lithium Americas in its strategic transaction with Ganfeng Lithium to jointly advance Caucharí-Olaroz
- Underwriters
Underwriters in connection with the IPO of Roots Corporation on the TSX
- Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. in the proposed sale of specialty channels to Bell Media Inc. for approximately $200 million
- Hydro One Limited
Hydro One Limited in its offering of $1.4 billion 4.00% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures represented by installment receipts.
- Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund
Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund in its take-over bid for Canexus Corporation
- Constellation Brands, Inc.
Constellation Brands, Inc. in the sale of its Canadian wine business to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan for approximately $1.03 billion
- Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. in connection with its $2.65 billion purchase of Shaw Media Inc. from Shaw Communications Inc.
- COM DEV International Ltd.
COM DEV in connection with its acquisition by a subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc. by way of a plan of arrangement and its spinoff of exactEarth Ltd.
- The underwriters
The underwriters in a $1.44 billion offering by First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
- Ventas Canada Financial Limited
Ventas Canada Financial Limited in its private placement of $650 million of senior unsecured notes
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund in its acquisition of Marsulex Inc., its unsolicited take-over bid for Canexus Corporation and subsequent acquisition of Canexus Corporation by way of plan of arrangement
- COM DEV in connection with its acquisition by a subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc. by way of a plan of arrangement and its spinoff of exactEarth Ltd.
- Constellation Brands, Inc. in the sale of its Canadian wine business to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan for approximately $1.03 billion
- Corus Entertainment Inc. in connection with its proposed $2.65 billion purchase of Shaw Media Inc. from Shaw Communications Inc.
- Counsel to Manulife Financial Corporation in its $4-billion acquisition of the Canadian-based operations of Standard Life plc. The deal combines Manulife, one of the largest insurance companies in the world, and Standard Life Canada, the country’s fifth-largest insurer
- Kinross Gold Corporation in its acquisition of Underworld Resources Inc. by way of take-over bid, its initial private placement in Red Back Mining Inc., its subsequent acquisition of Red Back by way of plan of arrangement, the sale of its interest in Harry Winston Diamond Corporation and the Diavik Diamond Mine joint venture and the sale of Aurelian Resources to Lundin Gold
- The Special Committee of Northbridge Financial Corporation in its sale to Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited
- Equinox Minerals Limited in its proposed acquisition of Lundin Mining Corporation
- Continental Nickel Limited in its acquisition by IMX Resources Limited pursuant to a plan of arrangement
Corporate Finance
- The Pacific Road Resources Funds, private equity funds focused in the mining industry, in their investments in Timmins Gold Corp., Xtierra Inc., First Bauxite Corporation, Far West Mining Inc., CuOro Resources, BRC Minerals Limited, Bayswater Uranium Corporation’s Reno Creek project, Mega Precious Metals (including its sale to Yamana Gold) and Luna Gold Corporation (including its subsequent business combination with JDL Gold to form Trek Mining)
- The underwriters (led by RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and UBS Securities Canada Inc.) in the initial public offering of common shares, flow-through shares and warrants of Royal Nickel Corporation
- The underwriters (led by Scotia Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Canada Inc.) in the $250 million initial public offering of Class A Restricted Units of Alignvest Acquisition II Corporation
- The underwriters (led by RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Scotia Capital Inc.) in the $4 billion bought deal offering of common shares of Barrick Gold Corporation, the largest bought deal equity offering in Canadian history
Latest Insights
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Osler Update December 1, 2025
From pit wall to policy: what Lundin means for public company disclosure
The SCC’s recent decision provides guidance on the distinction between material facts and material changes under Ontario securities law.
Read more -
Osler Update April 25, 2025
New measures adopted by Canadian Securities Administrators aim to support Canada’s capital markets competitiveness
Continued efforts are being made by Canadian securities regulators to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden and support capital raising in Canada.
Read more -
Osler Update March 7, 2025
PDAC 2025: amid so much uncertainty, where do we go from here?
The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) annual convention is typically an opportunity for the mining industry to celebrate...
Read more -
Report December 5, 2024
Navigating control transactions: clarifying acceptable conduct boundaries
We review recent Canadian securities regulatory authority decisions that impact control transactions.
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Corporate/Commercial (Ontario); Capital Markets – Debt & Equity
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Corporate Finance & Securities; Mergers & Acquisitions
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Lexpert Rising Stars: Recognized as a Rising Star (2018)
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Legal 500: Recognized in Next Generation Lawyers, Capital Markets; Recommended Lawyer, Energy and Natural Resources: Mining
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IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms: Recognized in M&A; Capital Markets: Debt; Capital Markets: Equity (Highly Regarded)
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Mining Law
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Thomson Reuters: “Stand-out Lawyer”
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Lexpert Special Edition: Recognized in Energy; Mining
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
Risk Mitigation for Canadian Mining Issuers
Panelist, May 6, 2020
Credentials
Education
- Osgoode Hall Law School/Schulich School of Business, Joint LL.B./M.B.A.
- University of Waterloo, B.A. (Hons.)
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada