Sandra is the Managing Partner of the Montréal office. She has played a significant role in the development of the office over the years and has held various leadership roles within the Firm. Sandra is a recognized leader in the insolvency and restructuring practice in Québec and nationally.
Her clientele is diverse and reflective of the Canadian and international business community — global companies, financial institutions, equity participants, and court officers who have sought her advice in working through reorganizations, recapitalizations, restructurings and strategic acquisitions.
With over 30 years of experience, Sandra has an expertise in cross border and international matters, acting for a number of major private and public corporations operating in a variety of areas. She is lauded for her creative and practical approach to problem solving and finding solutions to complex business and legal problems.
Sandra’s expertise and leadership are recognized locally, nationally and internationally, as evidenced by the numerous ranking and awards received over the years. Sandra is recognized as a leader in her field in various publications such as The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory; The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada; Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Business Lawyers; IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms; Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Lawdragon and The Best Lawyers in Canada. In 2021 and in 2022, Sandra was the only Quebec woman included in the International Financial Law Review’s Women Leaders list (IFLR1000) for her expertise in insolvency and restructuring. In addition, the International Law Office (ILO) awarded Sandra the Client Choice Award in Insolvency and Restructuring for 2011 Sandra was the only Canadian recipient of this award. She was also named a Woman of Power by Federation CJA (Montréal) and received the Leadership Award from the Association of Québec Women in Finance.
Sandra is a Past President of the Board of the Turnaround Management Association – Montréal Chapter, a member of board of directors of the Insolvency Institute of Canada, and an active member of other renowned organizations in her areas of expertise.
A firm believer in the importance of developing diversity within the legal profession and fostering an inclusive work environment, Sandra has participated in several projects and committees created for this purpose with the Barreau du Québec. Sandra is also very involved in community work.
Representative Work
- Rio Tinto and Evolys Québec Inc.
Joint venture between Rio Tinto and Aymium
- The Just for Laughs Group
The Just for Laughs Group and its affiliates in their restructuring proceedings and successful sale under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act
- Xebec Adsorption Group
The Xebec Group in its cross-border restructuring and eleven plans of arrangement under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act
- Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young as court-appointed Monitor of the Zenabis group and its sale to SNDL
- TELUS Health Solutions Inc.
TELUS Health Solutions Inc. in connection with the restructuring of ChronoMétriq Inc. and Health Myself Innovations Inc.
- A potential bidder
A potential bidder in Nemaska Lithium’s CCAA restructuring
- Frank and Oak
Modasuite Inc., doing business as Frank and Oak completes sale transaction
- TPG
TPG in its submission of a stalking horse bid for Cirque du Soleil’s assets in partnership with Fosun, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Investissement Québec
- Deloitte Restructuring Inc.
Deloitte Restructuring Inc. in the CCAA Proceedings of Stornoway Diamond Corporation and affiliated entities (in 2013 and 2023)
- Corbeil Électrique Inc.
Corbeil Électrique Inc., in connection with the sale of substantially all of its business and assets to AM-CAM Électroménagers Inc.
- Brookfield Capital Partners Ltd.
Brookfield Capital Partners Ltd., lenders to Stelco Inc., in its CCAA proceedings
- Comark Inc.
Comark Inc., one of Canada's leading specialty apparel retailers, in its CCAA proceedings
- Homburg Invest, Inc.
Homburg Invest, Inc. in connection with its $3 billion debt restructuring and recapitalization under the CCAA
- Ernst & Young as court-appointed Monitor of IntelGenx Corp. and IntelGenx Technologies Corp.
- PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. in its capacity as trustee in bankruptcy and receiver of the assets of Résidences Floralie in the sale of their assets under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
- The Bank of Montréal, in its capacity as agent for the lending syndicate of senior lenders of Goli Nutrition Inc. and its affiliate in their restructuring proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and Chapter 15 proceedings under the US Bankruptcy Code
- Groupe Airmédic Inc. and its affiliates in their restructuring proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act
- Xebec Adsorption Inc. and its US and Canadian affiliates in their restructuring proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and Chapter 15 proceedings under the US Bankruptcy Code
- TELUS Health Solutions Inc., in connection with the restructuring of ChronoMétriq Inc. and Health Myself Innovations Inc.
- Orionis inc., in its capacity as a senior lender, in the context of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act proceedings of Ontario Graphite Ltd
- Laurentian Bank, in its capacity as a senior secured lender, in the context of the receivership proceedings of Media5 Corporation
- TPG, in the context of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) proceedings of Cirque du Soleil
- Stokes Inc., in connection with its CCAA restructuring
- Reitmans (Canada) Limited, acting for Ernst & Young Inc., in its capacity as CCAA court-appointed Monitor
- Modasuite Inc., doing business as Frank and Oak, in the context of its restructuring proceedings and the sale of its business
- Le Château Inc., acting for PricewaterhouseCooper Inc., in its capacity as CCAA court-appointed Monitor
- Bouclair, acting for Deloitte Restructuring Inc., in its capacity as proposal trustee
- Stornoway Diamond Corporation and affiliated entities, acting for Deloitte Restructuring Inc. in its capacity as CCAA court-appointed Monitor
- Bombay et Bowring, acting for Richter Advisory Group Inc. in its capacity as proposal trustee
- Crabtree and Evelyn (Canada) in its proposal proceedings under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada)
- BCBG in its proposal proceedings under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada)
- Deloitte Restructuring Inc., in its capacity as court-appointed monitor in the CCAA proceedings of Devonshire Trust
- Sears Canada Inc. et al, in its CCAA proceedings
- Homburg Invest Inc., in connection with its $3 billion debt restructuring and recapitalization under the CCAA
- MEXX Canada Company, acting for Richter Groupe Conseil Inc. in its capacity as trustee to the proposal proceedings of Mexx
- Target Canada Co., in connection with its restructuring under the CCAA
- Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Canada Co., acting for Irving Oil, in connection with MM&A’s restructuring under the CCAA
- Laura Shoppes Canada, acting for Salus, in its capacity as senior lender, in connection with Laura Shoppes Canada’s restructuring proceedings
- Comark Inc. (the owner/operator of Ricki’s, Bootlegger and cleo), in its restructuring under the CCAA including the sale of its business and assets to Pacific West Commercial Corporation
- Danier Leather Inc., representing Gordon Brothers and Hilco in their capacity as liquidator
- Grafton-Fraser Inc., representing Gordon Brothers and Hilco, in their capacity as liquidators, in GFI’s restructuring proceedings
- PJ’s Pets, acting for Gordon Brothers Group in its capacity as liquidator
- Mabe Canada Inc, acting for Richter Groupe Conseil Inc. in its capacity as bankruptcy trustee
Joint venture between Rio Tinto and Aymium
The Just for Laughs Group and its affiliates in their restructuring proceedings and successful sale under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act
The Xebec Group in its cross-border restructuring and eleven plans of arrangement under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act
Ernst & Young as court-appointed Monitor of the Zenabis group and its sale to SNDL
TELUS Health Solutions Inc. in connection with the restructuring of ChronoMétriq Inc. and Health Myself Innovations Inc.
- A potential bidder
A potential bidder in Nemaska Lithium’s CCAA restructuring
- Frank and Oak
Modasuite Inc., doing business as Frank and Oak completes sale transaction
- TPG
TPG in its submission of a stalking horse bid for Cirque du Soleil’s assets in partnership with Fosun, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Investissement Québec
- Deloitte Restructuring Inc.
Deloitte Restructuring Inc. in the CCAA Proceedings of Stornoway Diamond Corporation and affiliated entities (in 2013 and 2023)
- Corbeil Électrique Inc.
Corbeil Électrique Inc., in connection with the sale of substantially all of its business and assets to AM-CAM Électroménagers Inc.
- Brookfield Capital Partners Ltd.
Brookfield Capital Partners Ltd., lenders to Stelco Inc., in its CCAA proceedings
- Comark Inc.
Comark Inc., one of Canada's leading specialty apparel retailers, in its CCAA proceedings
- Homburg Invest, Inc.
Homburg Invest, Inc. in connection with its $3 billion debt restructuring and recapitalization under the CCAA
- Ernst & Young as court-appointed Monitor of IntelGenx Corp. and IntelGenx Technologies Corp.
- PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. in its capacity as trustee in bankruptcy and receiver of the assets of Résidences Floralie in the sale of their assets under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
- The Bank of Montréal, in its capacity as agent for the lending syndicate of senior lenders of Goli Nutrition Inc. and its affiliate in their restructuring proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and Chapter 15 proceedings under the US Bankruptcy Code
- Groupe Airmédic Inc. and its affiliates in their restructuring proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act
- Xebec Adsorption Inc. and its US and Canadian affiliates in their restructuring proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and Chapter 15 proceedings under the US Bankruptcy Code
- TELUS Health Solutions Inc., in connection with the restructuring of ChronoMétriq Inc. and Health Myself Innovations Inc.
- Orionis inc., in its capacity as a senior lender, in the context of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act proceedings of Ontario Graphite Ltd
- Laurentian Bank, in its capacity as a senior secured lender, in the context of the receivership proceedings of Media5 Corporation
- TPG, in the context of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) proceedings of Cirque du Soleil
- Stokes Inc., in connection with its CCAA restructuring
- Reitmans (Canada) Limited, acting for Ernst & Young Inc., in its capacity as CCAA court-appointed Monitor
- Modasuite Inc., doing business as Frank and Oak, in the context of its restructuring proceedings and the sale of its business
- Le Château Inc., acting for PricewaterhouseCooper Inc., in its capacity as CCAA court-appointed Monitor
- Bouclair, acting for Deloitte Restructuring Inc., in its capacity as proposal trustee
- Stornoway Diamond Corporation and affiliated entities, acting for Deloitte Restructuring Inc. in its capacity as CCAA court-appointed Monitor
- Bombay et Bowring, acting for Richter Advisory Group Inc. in its capacity as proposal trustee
- Crabtree and Evelyn (Canada) in its proposal proceedings under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada)
- BCBG in its proposal proceedings under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada)
- Deloitte Restructuring Inc., in its capacity as court-appointed monitor in the CCAA proceedings of Devonshire Trust
- Sears Canada Inc. et al, in its CCAA proceedings
- Homburg Invest Inc., in connection with its $3 billion debt restructuring and recapitalization under the CCAA
- MEXX Canada Company, acting for Richter Groupe Conseil Inc. in its capacity as trustee to the proposal proceedings of Mexx
- Target Canada Co., in connection with its restructuring under the CCAA
- Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Canada Co., acting for Irving Oil, in connection with MM&A’s restructuring under the CCAA
- Laura Shoppes Canada, acting for Salus, in its capacity as senior lender, in connection with Laura Shoppes Canada’s restructuring proceedings
- Comark Inc. (the owner/operator of Ricki’s, Bootlegger and cleo), in its restructuring under the CCAA including the sale of its business and assets to Pacific West Commercial Corporation
- Danier Leather Inc., representing Gordon Brothers and Hilco in their capacity as liquidator
- Grafton-Fraser Inc., representing Gordon Brothers and Hilco, in their capacity as liquidators, in GFI’s restructuring proceedings
- PJ’s Pets, acting for Gordon Brothers Group in its capacity as liquidator
- Mabe Canada Inc, acting for Richter Groupe Conseil Inc. in its capacity as bankruptcy trustee
Latest Insights
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Osler Update Sep 15, 2023
Employees affected: Superior Court of Québec clarifies the status of employee claims in CCAA proceedings
Most restructuring proceedings include downsizing and terminations that invite claims from affected employees. A recent judgment from the Superior...
Read more
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Blog Nov 15, 2022
No special treatment: Securities class action stayed by CCAA Court
No special treatment: CCAA Court extends stay of proceedings despite an attempt by the applicants in a securities class action to limit its...
Read more -
Osler Update Dec 14, 2021
Supreme Court of Canada expands discretion of the Courts to allow pre-post compensation in ‘rare’ cases
Osler lawyers analyze a recent Supreme Court of Canada decision which provides courts with an additional tool to ensure fairness in the insolvency...
Read more -
Osler Update Apr 22, 2021
Québec Court of Appeal clarifies rules on guarantors’ liability for legal fees
The Québec Court of Appeal recently rendered a judgment authorizing a lender to recover its reasonable legal fees from a guarantor (or surety),...
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Restructuring/Insolvency
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Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Business Lawyers: Recognized in Restructuring/Insolvency
- "…[Sandra] is knowledgeable, smart and pleasant to work with. She is hands-on and very practical on matters and knows how to work with various stakeholders with differing interests. She is extremely adept at providing strategic advice on how to get us to our stated goal.”
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Insolvency & Financial Restructuring – Insolvency Litigation; Banking & Financial Institutions; Québec’s best insolvency and financial restructuring lawyers in 2021
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The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Insolvency & Financial Restructuring
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Banking and Finance Law; Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law
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IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms: Recognized in Restructuring and Insolvency (Highly Regarded); classified in the list “Women Leaders” in 2021 and in 2022
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Legal 500: Recognized as a Leading Individual in Restructuring and Insolvency
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Who’s Who Legal: Who’s Who Legal: International – Restructuring & Insolvency; Who’s Who Legal: Canada – Restructuring & Insolvency
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Benchmark Litigation Canada: Recognized in Insolvency; Recognized as a Local Star
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Lawdragon: Recognized in the 2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers
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Expert Guides: The Legal Media Group Guides to the World’s Leading Lawyers: Restructuring & Insolvency; Association of Quebec Women in Finance: Leadership award; Federation CJA: Women of Power; Lexology: Client Choice Award of Lexology: Restructuring & Insolvency (Québec)
Media Mentions
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Osler News Dec 5, 2024
Osler’s Montréal office is moving and expanding!
We are delighted to announce that Osler’s Montréal office is expanding. This exciting move is a testament to the incredible growth of our firm as...
Read more -
Media Mentions May 16, 2024
A ‘great year’ for firms, despite the slowdown – Les Affaires
Montréal-based newspaper Les Affaires recently released its rankings for the 2024 “Les grands du droit” — or “Legal Leaders” — and the...
Read more -
Media Mentions May 8, 2024
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt bets on face-to-face – Les Affaires
In a recent interview with Montréal-based newspaper Les Affaires, Sandra Abitan, Osler’s Montréal Managing Partner, discusses the plans underway...
Read more -
Osler News Jan 9, 2024
34 Osler lawyers recognized in 2024 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
Osler is pleased to announce that 34 of our lawyers have been recognized in the 2024 edition of the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500...
Read more
Speaking and Writing
Published Work
- Co-author of the chapter on Directors’ Liability for LexisNexis publication JurisClasseur, April 2010 to present.
- Chapter 15 Helps Canadian Companies Push the Envelope in Cross Border Restructurings, Journal of Corporate Renewal (Vol. 27, No. 4, May 2014).
- “Court Terminates Director’s Charge and Refuses to Grant All-Encompassing Releases to Monitor and CRO”, post on the Weil Bankruptcy Blog (North of the Border Update), February 18, 2014 (with Julien Morissette).
- “Interim Receiver Authorized to Borrow to Fund Debtor’s Operations”, post on the Weil Bankruptcy Blog (North of the Border Update), September 3, 2013 (with Julien Morissette).
- “Can Management be Replaced with a Court-Appointed Monitor? A New Brunswick Court (Surprisingly) Says No”, post on the Weil Bankruptcy Blog (North of the Border Update), March 18, 2013 (with Julien Morissette).
Credentials
Education
- Université de Montréal, LL.B.
Languages
- French
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Federation CJA, Co-Chair of the Women in Business Network
- Turnaround Management Association, former President of the Board of Montreal
- The Insolvency Institute of Canada (Board of Directors)
- Canadian Bar Association, Insolvency Section
- Former Member of the Barreau du Québec Comité de liaison, Superior Court, Commercial Division
- Canadian Insolvency Foundation
- American Bankruptcy Institute, Member of the International Committee
- International Association of Insolvency Practitioners (Insol International)
