John A. Black

John A. Black

Partner, Corporate and Co-Chair, Investment Funds and Asset Management
Co-Chair: Investment Funds

Toronto

(416) 862-6586 

[email protected]

Bar Admission: Ontario, 1994

Home People

Areas of Expertise

Pension Fund Investments
Fintech
Private Equity
Investment Management
Banking and Financial Services
Public Funds
Securities Regulatory
Investment Funds
Private Funds
Capital Markets
Mergers and Acquisitions
Pensions and Benefits

John’s practice is focused on investment funds and asset management. He has more than two decades of experience representing large financial institutions, investment managers and pension funds in complex investment management and securities regulatory matters. John has played a key role in many complex merger and acquisition transactions that have had a material impact on Canadian and often global investment management industries.  

John has also played a key role in many complex merger and acquisition transactions in the financial services industry. He is a trusted advisor to investment managers, pension funds and other institutional investors on strategic matters relating to ETFs, hedge funds, mutual funds, private equity funds and managed account arrangements.

John has been a key contributor to the growth and development of the Firm’s investment management practice and his expertise in investment funds has been recognized for many years by Chambers and other leading professional ranking organizations. He has spoken at many legal and business conferences and industry association events across and outside Canada.  John has also served on Osler committees that focus on the recruitment, development and retention of the Firm's exceptional talent pool of partners, associates and students.

Areas of Expertise

Banking and Financial ServicesCapital MarketsFintechInvestment FundsInvestment ManagementMergers and AcquisitionsPension Fund InvestmentsPensions and BenefitsPrivate EquityPrivate FundsPublic FundsSecurities Regulatory

Representative Work

  • Providing strategic advice to global financial institutions and investment managers on all aspects of their Canadian business activities, including establishing Canadian firms and offices and launching specialized investment vehicles for institutional investors and Canadian-domiciled access funds for high net worth and mass affluent investors.
  • Acting for market-leading investment managers over the last 20 years on numerous ETF launches covering index and active strategies in various asset classes, including liquid alternatives.
  • Acting for many globally recognized pension funds and other institutional investors on their commitments to dozens of investment vehicles and managed account platforms domiciled in offshore jurisdictions that invest in a variety of primary investment strategies and asset classes, including private equity, private credit, commodities, public market arbitrage and shareholder activism strategies.
  • Advising registered firms and pension funds on governance arrangements, internal investigations and responses to business-critical regulatory reviews and audits.

Awards and Recognition

  • Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Investment Funds (Band 1) and Investment Funds: Fund Formation
    • [John is] “an excellent lawyer” who provides “”very thoughtful analysis and rigorous attention to detail.”
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Investment Funds & Asset Management – Investment Funds
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Securities Law
  • Who’s Who Legal: Recognized in Private Funds – Formation (International); Private Funds (Canada)

Credentials

Education

  • University of Western Ontario, LL.B.
  • University of Western Ontario, B.A.

Languages

  • English

Professional Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Law Society of Ontario
  • Investment Funds Institute of Canada
  • Portfolio Management Association of Canada

Osler is a leading business law firm practising internationally from offices across Canada and in New York. Our clients include industry and business leaders in all segments of the market and at various stages in the growth of their businesses. We have built our reputation on our commitment to our clients' success and the experience, expertise and collaborative approach for which we are recognized. We believe that our success is a reflection of our clients' success.