Ricco is a partner in Osler’s Corporate department and Co-Chair, Financial Institution Transactions. He is a leading recognized advisor in public and private mergers and acquisitions, as well as private equity and pension fund investments and joint ventures and partnerships, having special expertise in the financial services, infrastructure and technology sectors.
Called to the bar in both Ontario and New York, Ricco works with clients on their Canada/U.S. cross-border and other international transactions. With an ICD.D certification from the Institute of Corporate Directors, he also advises boards and senior leadership on governance, proxy and activist investor matters.
An involved and committed member of the community, Ricco sits on the Board of the Sunnybrook Foundation, is a member of the Audit Committee and a member of the Sunnybrook Hospital Board’s Quality Committee. He formerly served as vice chair of the board and chair of Governance at the William Osler Health System. Ricco is also a mentor in the Western Law BIPOC Mentorship Program, among other charitable and diversity-focused initiatives.
Representative Work
- Cynosure Private Equity in connection with the $400 million investment by Kelso Private Equity in Wellington Altus and related shareholder arrangements.
- Finning International Inc. in its ongoing defense against an activist shareholder and related governance issues
- Scotiabank in its sale of businesses in Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia to Davivienda
- Building Ontario Fund in various private and public equity investments involving infrastructure
- Go Easy Financial in financial services arrangements
Prior to joining Osler:
Notable Financial Services & Strategic Deals
- Scotiabank, as Canadian counsel in the US$2.8 billion purchase of a 14.9% stake in KeyCorp, a major U.S. financial services entity
- Scotiabank in over 25 other acquisitions, sales and joint ventures in Canada and around the globe
- BNP Paribas in the sale of Bank of the West to BMO Financial Group
- BNP Paribas in connection to BMO’s offering of common shares
- Sun Life in the sale of the sponsored markets business of its subsidiary to Canadian Premier
- CIBC in its purchase of Wellington Financial and launch of CIBC Innovation Banking
- CIBC in multiple other acquisitions, sales and joint ventures in Canada and around the globe
- Brookfield Asset Management on various M&A and restructuring transactions
- Home Capital in the $1.2-million sale of its commercial mortgage assets to KingSett Capital
- Walmart in the sale of its Bank and loyalty program arrangements
- Big 5 Banks as a consortium in connection with the formation and arrangements of Interac Corporation
- Big 5 Banks as a consortium in connection with the sale of SecureKey to Interac Corporation
- Mattamy Homes in its acquisition of Monarch
- Inmet Mining in its acquisition by First Quantum Minerals
- Ernst & Young in its acquisition of RSM Richter LLP
- BCE in its potential sale to various Private Equity firms and Ontario Teachers
Notable Private Equity Deals
- WEG in its acquisition of the industrial electric motors and generators businesses of Regal Rexnord
- Morgan Stanley Private Equity and Infrastructure in a potential data center acquisition
- The Cynosure Group in its $40-million investment in Wellington-Altus
- The Cynosure Group in its $85-million investment in Wellington-Altus
- The Cynosure Group in connection with its shareholder arrangements in Wellington Altus in connection with the rights negotiated with Ares Management Co. as a new lender to Wellington Altus
- Roynat Capital Partners in connection with its investments in Lifespeak and Barrett Corporation
- Barnhart Asset Management in connection with its private equity arrangements with AIMCO and sale of international business
- Black Dragon Capital in its acquisition of Grass Valley
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in its acquisition of BluEarth Renewables Inc.
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in its formation of and acquisitions involving Aspenleaf Energy
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in its formation of and acquisitions involving Konata Energy
- Magris Resources, CEF Holding and Temasek in the US$500-million acquisition of the Niobec mine from IAMGOLD and its related private equity formation and structuring.
- Torquest Private Equity in its potential acquisition of a wealth and asset manger
- Riverside Partners in a tech acquisition
- Acted for Arcelor Mital in connection with its private equity Baffinland investments and JV
- Centre Partners in its take private and subsequent sale of Bumble Bee Tuna to Lion Capital
- Centre Partners in its acquisition and recapitalization of Gray Wireline
- Elliott Associates in its acquisition and restructuring of Delphi Corporation
- Cyprium Partners in its sale of ASIMCO to Bain Capital
- Thomvest Seed Capital in connection to Telus’ acquisition of Public Mobile
- A joint venture transaction for CPPIB
- Harbinger Capital Partners in its acquisition of Calpine Power Income Fund
- Acted for Apax Private Equity in connection with various sales and purchases
Prior to joining Osler:
Notable Financial Services & Strategic Deals
- Scotiabank, as Canadian counsel in the US$2.8 billion purchase of a 14.9% stake in KeyCorp, a major U.S. financial services entity
- Scotiabank in over 25 other acquisitions, sales and joint ventures in Canada and around the globe
- BNP Paribas in the sale of Bank of the West to BMO Financial Group
- BNP Paribas in connection to BMO’s offering of common shares
- Sun Life in the sale of the sponsored markets business of its subsidiary to Canadian Premier
- CIBC in its purchase of Wellington Financial and launch of CIBC Innovation Banking
- CIBC in multiple other acquisitions, sales and joint ventures in Canada and around the globe
- Brookfield Asset Management on various M&A and restructuring transactions
- Home Capital in the $1.2-million sale of its commercial mortgage assets to KingSett Capital
- Walmart in the sale of its Bank and loyalty program arrangements
- Big 5 Banks as a consortium in connection with the formation and arrangements of Interac Corporation
- Big 5 Banks as a consortium in connection with the sale of SecureKey to Interac Corporation
- Mattamy Homes in its acquisition of Monarch
- Inmet Mining in its acquisition by First Quantum Minerals
- Ernst & Young in its acquisition of RSM Richter LLP
- BCE in its potential sale to various Private Equity firms and Ontario Teachers
Notable Private Equity Deals
- WEG in its acquisition of the industrial electric motors and generators businesses of Regal Rexnord
- Morgan Stanley Private Equity and Infrastructure in a potential data center acquisition
- The Cynosure Group in its $40-million investment in Wellington-Altus
- The Cynosure Group in its $85-million investment in Wellington-Altus
- The Cynosure Group in connection with its shareholder arrangements in Wellington Altus in connection with the rights negotiated with Ares Management Co. as a new lender to Wellington Altus
- Roynat Capital Partners in connection with its investments in Lifespeak and Barrett Corporation
- Barnhart Asset Management in connection with its private equity arrangements with AIMCO and sale of international business
- Black Dragon Capital in its acquisition of Grass Valley
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in its acquisition of BluEarth Renewables Inc.
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in its formation of and acquisitions involving Aspenleaf Energy
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in its formation of and acquisitions involving Konata Energy
- Magris Resources, CEF Holding and Temasek in the US$500-million acquisition of the Niobec mine from IAMGOLD and its related private equity formation and structuring.
- Torquest Private Equity in its potential acquisition of a wealth and asset manger
- Riverside Partners in a tech acquisition
- Acted for Arcelor Mital in connection with its private equity Baffinland investments and JV
- Centre Partners in its take private and subsequent sale of Bumble Bee Tuna to Lion Capital
- Centre Partners in its acquisition and recapitalization of Gray Wireline
- Elliott Associates in its acquisition and restructuring of Delphi Corporation
- Cyprium Partners in its sale of ASIMCO to Bain Capital
- Thomvest Seed Capital in connection to Telus’ acquisition of Public Mobile
- A joint venture transaction for CPPIB
- Harbinger Capital Partners in its acquisition of Calpine Power Income Fund
- Acted for Apax Private Equity in connection with various sales and purchases
Latest Insights
-
Osler Update November 20, 2025
PE Points Newsletter
Osler’s National Private Equity Group has launched its quarterly PE newsletter: your source of private equity news and information.
Read more
Awards and Recognition
-
Recognized in Corporate/Commercial (Ontario)
—Chambers Canada -
Recognized in Corporate and M&A (Highly Regarded)
—IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms -
Recognized in Corporate and M&A
—The Legal 500 -
Recognized in Corporate Commercial Law; Mergers & Acquisitions
—The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
-
Top 40 Under 40 (2016)
—The M&A Advisor Emerging Leader Award -
Recognized in Banking and Finance Law
—Best Lawyers in Canada
An expert deal negotiator with tremendous business sense.”
Community Involvement
- Western Law BIPOC Mentorship Program, mentor
- Sunnybrook Hospital, member of the Quality Committee
- Sunnybrook Foundation, director and member of Audit Committee
- William Osler Health System, vice chair of the board of directors (former)
Credentials
Education
- Queen’s University, JD
- Schulich School of Business, York University, BBA
Languages
- English
- Punjabi
Professional Affiliations
- Ontario Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- ICD.D
- CIFC
