John practices corporate and securities law, with a particular emphasis on corporate governance (including ESG-related matters) and mergers and acquisitions.
He is the Chair of Osler’s ESG Practice, and a member of Osler’s cross-disciplinary Risk Management and Crisis Response practice. He regularly advises companies and boards of directors on a range of corporate governance and ESG-related matters, including with respect to directors duties, D&O indemnification and insurance, stakeholder disputes, climate-related disclosure, crisis response strategies and other governance matters. John is also a Co-Author of Osler’s leading annual reports on diversity disclosure practices in Canada.
John also acts on a range of domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions matters across a range of industries including infrastructure and power, franchise and distribution and retail. He also has extensive experience advising on complex joint venture, partnership and shareholder agreements and disputes.
John pursued his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge, England where his research focused on the corporate governance of mixed ownership enterprises involving government blockholders. John is an avid sportsperson, having played competitive university golf while studying abroad at both St. Andrews, Scotland and Cambridge, where he won his full Blue.
Representative Work
- DREAM Asset Management Corporation
Dream Residential REIT’s US$125.1 million initial public offering
- Diversey
Diversey acquires certain assets of Avmor
- The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. in its agreement to increase its ownership in DECIEM Beauty Group Inc.
- Bausch Health Companies Inc.
Bausch Health Companies Inc. in its intention to spin off its eye health business into an independent publicly traded company
- Animalcare
Animalcare in its agreement with Kane Biotech to form STEM Animal Health Inc.
- Regis Corporation
Regis Corporation in connection with its sale and subsequent franchise of substantially all of its mall-based salons in Canada.
- Bank of Montreal
BMO Financial Group in connection with its acquisition of General Electric Capital Corporation’s Transportation Finance Business
- Hydro One Limited
Hydro One Limited in its $1.83 billion Initial Public Offering
- Robert Mandel, Investor in Ingersoll Tillage
Robert Mandel and Ingersoll Tillage Group, on ONCAP’s significant investment in ITG
- Dream Unlimited Corp
Dream Unlimited Corp. in connection with the formation and IPO of Dream Hard Asset Alternatives Trust and acquisition by Dream Alternatives of its approximately $725 million of initial assets
- Dream Residential REIT in its US$125.1 million initial public offering
- Diversey in its acquisition of certain assets of Avmor
- The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. in its agreement to increase its ownership in DECIEM Beauty Group Inc.
- Animalcare in its agreement with Kane Biotech to form STEM Animal Health Inc.
- Bausch Health Companies Inc. in its intention to spin off its eye health business into an independent publicly traded company
- Regis Corporation in connection with its sale and subsequent franchise of substantially all of its mall-based salons in Canada
- The Special Committee of The Intertain Group Limited in the completion of its strategic review and implementation of its UK Strategic Initiatives, including a plan of arrangement to facilitate the acquisition of Intertain by Jackpotjoy plc in a share-for-share exchange and the creation of an associated exchangeable share structure and the listing of the Jackpotjoy plc ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange plc
- CarProof Corporation and Hellman & Friedman LLC in the sale of CarProof to IHS Inc. for $650 million
- Maple Leaf Foods Inc. in its negotiation of an amended Governance Agreement with McCain Capital and Michael McCain
- Hydro One in establishing new governance and compensation practices in connection with its initial public offering
- The Underwriters in Cara Operations Limited’s $230 million Initial Public Offering
- Tim Hortons in connection with its $13 billion acquisition by an affiliate of Burger King Worldwide, Inc
- Dream in connection with the initial public offering of Dream Hard Asset Alternatives Trust and the related reorganization and acquisition of assets from Return On Innovation Advisors Ltd
- Bank of Montreal in connection with its acquisition of F&C Asset Management plc
- Bank of Montreal in connection with its acquisition of General Electric Capital Corporation’s Transportation Finance business
- Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. in connection with its acquisition of restaurants from its Canadian franchisee
- Avis Budget Group in its acquisition of its existing licensees in Edmonton, Regina and Saskatoon.
- Royal Bank of Canada in its acquisition of the Canadian automobile finance and deposit business of Ally Financial Inc
- Private Equity Funds and Strategic Buyers in the acquisition, project financing and disposition of renewable energy assets
- The underwriters for ViXS Systems on its going public transaction and $57 million capital raise
- S&P Capital IQ, a business of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. in its acquisition of R2 Financial Technologies Inc
- Gazit America Inc. in connection with its privatization by Gazit-Globe Ltd. And sale of properties to First Capital Realty Inc
- CanWest Global Communication Corp. it its acquisition with Goldman Sachs of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc
- Inco Limited on its competing take-over bid for Falconbridge Limited, its defence of the unsolicited offer made by Teck Cominco Limited, its negotiated merger with Phelps Dodge Corporation and its defence of the unsolicited offer made by Companhia Vale do Rio Doce
- Placer Dome Inc. in its response to the unsolicited bid from Barrick Gold Corporation and subsequent negotiated $10.4 billion acquisition
Dream Residential REIT’s US$125.1 million initial public offering
Diversey acquires certain assets of Avmor
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. in its agreement to increase its ownership in DECIEM Beauty Group Inc.
Bausch Health Companies Inc. in its intention to spin off its eye health business into an independent publicly traded company
Animalcare in its agreement with Kane Biotech to form STEM Animal Health Inc.
- Regis Corporation
Regis Corporation in connection with its sale and subsequent franchise of substantially all of its mall-based salons in Canada.
- Bank of Montreal
BMO Financial Group in connection with its acquisition of General Electric Capital Corporation’s Transportation Finance Business
- Hydro One Limited
Hydro One Limited in its $1.83 billion Initial Public Offering
- Robert Mandel, Investor in Ingersoll Tillage
Robert Mandel and Ingersoll Tillage Group, on ONCAP’s significant investment in ITG
- Dream Unlimited Corp
Dream Unlimited Corp. in connection with the formation and IPO of Dream Hard Asset Alternatives Trust and acquisition by Dream Alternatives of its approximately $725 million of initial assets
- Dream Residential REIT in its US$125.1 million initial public offering
- Diversey in its acquisition of certain assets of Avmor
- The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. in its agreement to increase its ownership in DECIEM Beauty Group Inc.
- Animalcare in its agreement with Kane Biotech to form STEM Animal Health Inc.
- Bausch Health Companies Inc. in its intention to spin off its eye health business into an independent publicly traded company
- Regis Corporation in connection with its sale and subsequent franchise of substantially all of its mall-based salons in Canada
- The Special Committee of The Intertain Group Limited in the completion of its strategic review and implementation of its UK Strategic Initiatives, including a plan of arrangement to facilitate the acquisition of Intertain by Jackpotjoy plc in a share-for-share exchange and the creation of an associated exchangeable share structure and the listing of the Jackpotjoy plc ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange plc
- CarProof Corporation and Hellman & Friedman LLC in the sale of CarProof to IHS Inc. for $650 million
- Maple Leaf Foods Inc. in its negotiation of an amended Governance Agreement with McCain Capital and Michael McCain
- Hydro One in establishing new governance and compensation practices in connection with its initial public offering
- The Underwriters in Cara Operations Limited’s $230 million Initial Public Offering
- Tim Hortons in connection with its $13 billion acquisition by an affiliate of Burger King Worldwide, Inc
- Dream in connection with the initial public offering of Dream Hard Asset Alternatives Trust and the related reorganization and acquisition of assets from Return On Innovation Advisors Ltd
- Bank of Montreal in connection with its acquisition of F&C Asset Management plc
- Bank of Montreal in connection with its acquisition of General Electric Capital Corporation’s Transportation Finance business
- Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. in connection with its acquisition of restaurants from its Canadian franchisee
- Avis Budget Group in its acquisition of its existing licensees in Edmonton, Regina and Saskatoon.
- Royal Bank of Canada in its acquisition of the Canadian automobile finance and deposit business of Ally Financial Inc
- Private Equity Funds and Strategic Buyers in the acquisition, project financing and disposition of renewable energy assets
- The underwriters for ViXS Systems on its going public transaction and $57 million capital raise
- S&P Capital IQ, a business of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. in its acquisition of R2 Financial Technologies Inc
- Gazit America Inc. in connection with its privatization by Gazit-Globe Ltd. And sale of properties to First Capital Realty Inc
- CanWest Global Communication Corp. it its acquisition with Goldman Sachs of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc
- Inco Limited on its competing take-over bid for Falconbridge Limited, its defence of the unsolicited offer made by Teck Cominco Limited, its negotiated merger with Phelps Dodge Corporation and its defence of the unsolicited offer made by Companhia Vale do Rio Doce
- Placer Dome Inc. in its response to the unsolicited bid from Barrick Gold Corporation and subsequent negotiated $10.4 billion acquisition
Latest Insights
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Report Sep 26, 2024
2024 Diversity Disclosure Practices: Diversity and leadership at Canadian public companies
Osler’s tenth annual comprehensive report on diversity disclosure practices now covers disclosure by TSX-listed companies and Canada Business...
Read more
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Blog Dec 19, 2024
CSSB issues final framework for voluntary climate-related disclosures
We compare the final framework to the earlier proposed version and look ahead to how the CSA may respond with its rules in 2025.
Read more -
Report Dec 5, 2024
It’s debatable: unresolved corporate governance issues impacting 2025
Debates on current corporate governance topics will shape the practices of Canadian issuers into 2025.
Read more -
Report Dec 5, 2024
Businesses face increasing costs for supply chain compliance
Increasing government scrutiny of supply chain compliance is expected to lead to greater enforcement in the coming years.
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Recognized in Corporate and M&A (Notable Practitioner)
—IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms -
Recognized in Corporate Governance Practice
—Best Lawyers in Canada
Media Mentions
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Osler News Sep 26, 2024
Osler releases tenth annual Diversity Disclosure Report: progress in corporate Canada loses momentum
Analysis from Osler’s tenth annual 2024 Diversity Disclosure Practices: Diversity and leadership at Canadian public companies [PDF] report...
Read more -
Media Mentions Sep 26, 2024
Progress on improving board diversity in Canada is slowing – The Globe and Mail
Partner John Valley says progress on improving board diversity in Canada is slowing despite advancements made last year.
Read more -
Osler News Oct 20, 2023
Number of women on public boards increasing in Canada, says law firm report – Law.com
For the last nine years, TSX-listed companies have taken a “modified comply or explain regime” approach to diversity disclosure.
Read more -
Osler News Oct 13, 2023
Women fill more board seats while more visible minority executives hired: Osler diversity report – Canadian Lawyer
Speaking with Canadian Lawyer, John Valley, highlights some of the key findings of Osler’s Diversity Disclosure Practices Report including the...
Read more
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
Corporate Governance for Emerging and High Growth Companies Part 2 – Navigating key changes in your company’s evolution
Read moreCorporate Governance for Emerging and High Growth Companies: Part 1 – Getting the basics right
Read moreDevelopments in Supply Chain Management: Canadian and US diligence requirements under modern anti-slavery legislation
Read moreESG beyond borders: international perspectives on financing market trends and regulatory oversight for Canadian issuers and financial institutions
Read morePublished Work
- Barbarians at the Gate? A Comparative Study of Takeover Bid Defence Regimes in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, LL.M. Dissertation submitted to the University of Cambridge (May 2008). The paper responds to calls for the Canadian government to “do something” in respect to the perceived “hollowing out” of the Canadian economy.
- Of Government and (Corporate) Governance: Corporate Governance Implications of Government Blockholders, PhD research conducted at the University of Cambridge.
Credentials
Education
- University of Cambridge, LL.M. (First Class, W.M. Tapp Scholar)
- University of Western Ontario, LL.B. (Gold Medallist)
- Richard Ivey School of Business, H.B.A.
- University of Western Ontario, B.A.
- University of St. Andrews (St. Andrews, Scotland, Bobby Jones Scholar)
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Ontario Bar Association
- Canadian Bar Association
