IFLR 1000
The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

Praise from competitors and clients and an impressive roster of deals has led Fasken Martineau up a tier in the latest rankings. One long-term client, who deals primarily with Robert McDowell, co-chair of Fasken's financial institutions and services group, says, "Whatever your scale is, put them at the top. They're brilliant, spectacular, tremendous knowledge, quick to respond."

Another client praises the firm's technical expertise and describes McDowell as "a superior lawyer". While clients acknowledge that the firm's services are not cheap, they describe its fees as "competitive for Toronto".

In a $1.2 billion multi-jurisdictional deal that closed in March 2011, Partners John Torrey, Thomas Meagher and David Ferris advised a syndicate of lenders led by Scotia Capital in the financing of Kinross Gold and its subsidiaries in Brazil, Chile, Canada and the US.

In another high-profile deal, Partners John Torrey, Brian Wright and Marc Novello acted on behalf of Toronto-Dominion Bank, Bank of Montréal and Royal Bank of Canada as co-lead arrangers, in the $2 billion financing of Bell Canada's acquisition of CTV. It was one of Canada's largest bank financing transactions in 2010.

Fasken Martineau also advised Desjardins Credit Union on its merger with Meridian Credit Union to create the largest credit union amalgamation in history, with combined assets of $8 billion. The deal closed in June 2011.

Clients had high praise for the Fasken Martineau project finance team: "Whether on the sponsor side or the lender side, I try to bring them into the transaction because it's always good to have a good lawyer," says one.

Another, who worked with partners Brian Kelsall and Ella Plotkin, says they did a "fantastic job," and gave the firm high marks for its ability to "synthesise complex structures into simple words, build consensus and lead discussion."

Fasken Martineau acted as counsel for the lenders to the winning consortium of ten international banks financing of the Windsor Essex Parkway project in Ontario, worth over $1 billion. The scheme was the biggest Infrastructure Ontario project to date. The road will connect to the new crossing to be built over the Detroit River between Canada and the US. The deal closed in December 2010, in a record six weeks.

The firm also acted as counsel to the federal government on the procurement and financing of over $1 billion in bonds for the landmark PPP (public-private partnership) Communications Security Establishment Canada Long Term Accommodation Project. The project is the new premises for the Canadian top-secret "electronic spy" facility. It was the first major federal PPP to take place in Canada, closing in January 2011.