Cassels is known for its longstanding expertise in the mining sector. The team is based in Vancouver and handles on significant M&A transactions in the mining industry and is a leading firm for financing mining issuers in Canada. Clients also turn to the firm for its expertise in project/debt financing and alternative financing matters. It also has strong international ties, acting as counsel to international mining companies with Canadian operations. Other clients the team serves includes previous metal producers, early-stage issuers and investment banks. The team is also well-versed in the critical minerals sectors where it advises on the financing and development of projects. The practice is jointly led by mining specialists Jen Hansen and Jennifer Traub, who both excel at handling mining-related M&As. Key team members in Toronto include Paul Stein, who advises mining clients on joint ventures and farm-in agreements; Jay Goldman, who leads on securities and commercial transactions; and Mark Bennett, who leads on corporate finance mining transactions.

McCarthy Tétrault has continued to lead on complex cross-border transactions and project financings in the mining sector. The firm’s global metal and mining group is comprised of mining experts who are well-versed on project financing, operational matters, dirt law and corporate transactions. The Toronto team is jointly led by mining specialists Eva Bellissimo and Shea Small, while Roger Taplin leads the team in Vancouver. Bellissimo is the go-to lawyer for cross-border M&As for her keen knowledge on multi-jurisdictional issues affecting mining transactions. Small centres his practice on advising clients with transactions spanning across Canada, Australia, the UK, Latin American and West Africa. Mining financing and M&As in Vancouver are handled by Taplin, who also excels in international mining law. The firm advises both Canadian metals and mining companies as well as international mining heavyweights and logistics companies.

Bennett Jones LLP is well-versed in handling M&As in the mining sector, acting as counsel on mining corporate finance transactions alongside alternative and specialty mine financings. The team is noted for its working advising clients on hostile bid defence cases in the public mining sector. The team focuses on handling issuer-side financings for the mining industry, as well as advising on regulatory and environmental issues related to projects. The Toronto-based practice is spearheaded by Andrew Disipio, who is the go-to for complex transactions such as public and private M&As, corporate reorganizations and joint ventures. Sander Grieve KC is the go-to for global mining and metals issues, while Abbas Ali Khan splits his time between Vancouver and Toronto, and advises a mix of Canadian and international mining companies.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP fields a strong mining practice which advises intermediate and junior mining companies as well as major Canadian mining entities and international mining investors. The team is adept at advising clients on sector-specific areas such as mining disclosure and securities law regimes, streaming transactions and mining operations. The team regularly acts for insurers, financial institutions that are underwriting and advising on mining finance transactions and mining investment funds. The firm has been active in transactions involving critical minerals, advising clients on critical minerals strategies and the application of national security reviews by Investment Canada. John Wilkin sits in Toronto and leads the mining group, he is an expert in domestic and cross-border M&As and corporate finance transactions in the mining sector. Over in Vancouver, Bob Wooder is a corporate finance specialist with specific expertise advising mining companies on transactions and financings in Canada. Kathleen Keilty also resides in Vancouver and focuses on public M&As, often advising mining issuers and underwriters on public offerings.

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP advises multinational mining and metals companies with international joint ventures, project financings, acquisitions and divestitures. ESG is another focus of the firm, alongside Indigenous co-operation agreements and dealing with foreign governments. The practice typically acts on bet-the-farm transactions and day-to-day issues in the mining sector, such as royalties and streaming, mineral and surface rights, strategic investments and privacy and data security issues. Over the last year, the practice has been active in the gold sector, acting for a number of significant gold producers as well as advising international critical mineral firms on doing business in Canada. Melanie Shishler co-leads the Toronto team alongside Richard Fridman. Shishler is noted for her work on complex M&As, with extensive experience acting as counsel to international mining companies. Fridman handles a slew of transactions for mining clients and handles government negotiations with regards to mining rights, land claims and licence to operate.

Lawson Lundell LLP's international mining practice is jointly led out of Vancouver by mining experts Karen MacMillan and Khaled Abdel-Barr. The firm advises companies of all levels in the mining sector from newly established entities to longstanding international enterprises. The team advises clients on multi-jurisdictional projects spanning across the globe from Canada to Europe and Africa. Public and private M&As, mining finance, permitting and construction of mines and mining infrastructure all fall within the scope of the team. Project development for the mining sector in the North of Canada is another stand-out area of the firm. MacMillan centres her practice on asset level purchases and sale transactions and commercial agreements for the mining sector, while Abdek-Barr excels in handling acquisitions and dispositions of mines, mining projects and mine financings.

Stikeman Elliott LLP operates a strong mining practice, with a focus on transactional mining matters, largely acting for international mining resource companies. The firm is a sought out for its expertise in public capital transactions, M&As, joint ventures and other complex transactions. It has assisted clients with novel financings to fund the exploration, development and operation of mines and is also an expert in stream and royalty finance. The firm fields a strong bench of corporate specialists with Ivan Grbešić, Amanda Linett and Steven Bennett all co-leading the Toronto-based mining group. Grbešić has been key to global mining deals focusing on corporate and securities law, while Linett has broad expertise across a number of mining-related transactions. Bennett excels in handling M&As and corporate finance issues for the mining and resources sector. Jay Kellerman has a longstanding reputation for his expertise in mining law, focusing on M&As, privatizations and corporate finance assignments.

Torys' mining and metals practice unites its expertise in M&A transactions and financings, with its experience negotiating with Indigenous groups, community engagement and permitting issues as well as cross-border capabilities. The firm focuses on acting for issuers and investors in transactions involving, large, mid-sized and junior mining companies. Practice head Michael Pickersgill leads the Toronto team and is noted for his work on M&A, corporate finance, joint venture, royalty, streaming and offtake arrangements for mining clients. Michael Amm is known for his work on M&As as well as public company governance matters, while Braden Jebson is the go-to for alternative mining financing including royalty and streaming finance transactions and commodity prepay agreements and offtakes.

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is a Vancouver-based mining practice which advises both domestic and international mining companies on transactional issues and disputes. The firm often handles cross-border matters such as multi-jurisdictional M&As and public offerings. Another key focus of the firm is ESG, it advises mining clients on regulatory and permitting issues, investment strategies and due diligence in line with ESG standards. The team has a wide client base ranging from investment dealers, financial institutions, mining companies and service providers involved in metals and other mining assets. Team lead Fred Pletcher combines his knowledge of corporate and M&A with mining expertise to advise on M&As, acquisitions and dispositions of mines and development projects.

Dentons is a globally focused law firm which assists overseas mining companies and corporate entities with mining issues in Canada. The main focus of the firm lies in corporate and M&A work where it assists with acquisitions and securities matters. Besides this, it has expertise spanning regulatory issues, ESG, construction and infrastructure and arbitration. Robin Longe co-chairs the practice leading from Vancouver, while co-head Greg McNab heads up the Toronto team. Longe advises on mining issues as well as Indigenous matters, including the purchase and sale of mines and mining-related assets. Corporate specialist McNab advises clients on public and private financings and cross-border joint ventures.

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP represents mining companies in Canadian and overseas mining projects involving the extraction of numerous types of metals, minerals and oil sands.  During the mineral exploration phase of projects the firm assists with option, farm-in and joint venture agreements, IPOs and mineral tenure and surface rights review. When clients move into production phase and mine development it is active in project financings, royalty and streaming transactions, acquisitions and dispositions. It also assists with closure and abandonment issues, debt and equity financings and M&As. David Reid spearheads the Vancouver team and is well-versed in international mining transactions, while Roy Hudson leads the Calgary team and assists with corporate transactions in the mining sector.

Gowling WLG centres its mining practice on the mid-market, advising international and domestic mining clients listed in Canada, the UK and Australia. The team assists clients in a number of different mining industries including precious and base metals, specialty and battery metals and critical minerals. The team is well-equipped to handle mineral exploration, site development and project financing as well as corporate financing issues and M&A. R. Ian Mitchell leads the Toronto-based practice and is a transactions-focused mining lawyer. Cyndi Laval resides in Vancouver and is experienced in handling mining law issues and corporate finance, while France Tenaille forms part of the Toronto team and is key to the issues involving Latin America and Cuba.