Shahir is the outgoing National Co-Chair of the firm and served on its Partnership Board for 10 years. He is a partner in the Corporate Group. He was Managing Partner of the Montréal office for 7 years prior to becoming national Co-Chair. He has over 30 years of experience and is a recognized advisor in M&A, private equity and corporate finance.
His private equity and venture capital experience includes advising funds on their domestic and cross-border portfolio investments and divestitures and on their fund formations. Shahir acts for a number of the country’s most successful technology and biotechnology companies, including in their financings, IPOs, and M&As.
Shahir sits on the board of directors of Investment Québec (a $17B fund state-owned investment fund for the province of Quebec), Concordia University, and Jubilant Draxis Pharma. He was a member of the Board of Directors of GFL Environmental (NYSE and TSX), of the Business Development Bank of Canada for eight years and of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, which he chaired from 2019 to 2021. He is also a member of the boards of several other companies and was Co-Chair of Réseau Capital (Québec’s private equity and venture capital association) between 2010 and 2013.
Shahir has received significant industry and peer recognition, including having received top rankings in eight categories of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (including Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Finance & Securities, Private Equity, Technology Transactions, and Biotechnology). He is recognized as a Star Lawyer by Acritas Stars (now Thompson Reuters’ Standout Lawyers), and is also ranked in Chambers Canada, where he is recognized in the area of Corporate/Commercial (Québec) and Startups & Emerging Companies. Shahir was also recognized as the 2021 ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Private Funds Law by Best Lawyers in Canada and is recognized by IFLR 1000 in the area of Investment Funds, M&A and Private Equity. In recognition of his significant contribution to the profession, Shahir was awarded the prestigious Advocatus Emeritus distinction by the Quebec Bar, in addition to being inducted into the prestigious John Abbott College Hall of Distinction in 2022.
Representative Work
- BC Partners
BC Partners in connection with its definitive agreement to sell a majority of its equity interest in Garda World Security Corporation
- Canada Growth Fund
Canada Growth Fund in connection with its strategic partnership with Gibson Energy and Varme Energy
- Battery Ventures
Battery Ventures in its $150 million acquisition of TrueContext Corporation
- Clinia Health Inc.
Clinia Health Inc. in its $10 million Series A financing round
- Canada Growth Fund
The Canada Growth Fund in its connection with its carbon credit offtake agreement and $200 million strategic investment in Entropy Inc.
- Powerside
Powerside in its securing of strategic growth funding from Energy Growth Momentum LP.
- Aimia Inc.
Lead investor in its strategic placement in Aimia
- Simmunome
Simmunome in its securing $2 million of pre-seed funding
- DalCor Pharmaceuticals
DalCor Pharmaceuticals in its closing of an $80 million Series D financing round
- SK On
SK On in connection with an $1.2 billion investment with Ford and EcoPro BM in the Province of Québec
- Inversago Pharma
Inversago Pharma in its US$1.075 billion business combination with Novo Nordisk
- Prospector Capital Corp.
Prospector Capital Corp. in its business combination with LeddarTech for US$ 348 million
- General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. in its $1 billion investment project with POSCO Future M
- Deep Sky
Deep Sky in its securing of $10 million of funding
- dcbel Inc.
dcbel in receiving a strategic investment from Volvo Cars Tech Fund
- BrainBox AI
BrainBox AI in its US$20 million investment from the Québec Government and ABB
- Photonis Group
Photonis Group in its agreement to acquire Telops
- Lavergne Industries Inc.
Lavergne Industries Inc. in its connection with a $20 million investment from Fondaction
- General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. in its US$650 million equity investment in Lithium Americas Corp.
- Blockstream
Blockstream in its raising of US$125 million to develop their crypto mining services
- Sollum Technologies Inc.
Sollum Technologies in its raising of $30 million
- Portage Ventures
Portage in Nesto’s $80 million Series C financing round
- Export Development Canada, Canadian Business Growth Fund & Investissement Quebec
Export Development Canada, Canadian Business Growth Fund & Investissement Quebec in connection with Amilia Technologies’ $30 million financing round
- CarbiCrete
CarbiCrete in its combined $23.5 million Series A financing round
- OSF Digital
OSF Digital in its US$100 million Series C financing round
- Lead investor in its strategic placement in Aimia
- Clinia Health Inc. in its $10 million Series A financing round
- The Canada Growth Fund in its connection with its carbon credit offtake agreement and $200 million strategic investment in Entropy Inc.
- DalCor Pharmaceuticals in its closing of an $80 million Series D financing round
- SK On in connection with an $1.2 billion investment with Ford and EcoPro BM in the Province of Québec
- Inversago Pharma in its US$1.075 billion business combination with Novo Nordisk
- Prospector Capital Corp. in its business combination with LeddarTech for US$ 348 million
- Deep Sky in its securing of $10 million of funding
- dcbel in receiving a strategic investment from Volvo Cars Tech Fund
- BrainBox AI in its US$20 million investment from the Québec Government and ABB
- Sollum Technologies in its raising of $30 million
- Photonis Group in its agreement to acquire Telops
- Blockstream in its raising of US$125 million to develop their crypto mining services
- General Motors Co. in its US$650 equity investment in Lithium Americas Corp.
- Portage in Nesto’s $80 million Series C financing round
- Export Development Canada, Canadian Business Growth Fund & Investissement Quebec in connection with Amilia Technologies’ $30 million financing round
- CarbiCrete in its combined $23.5 million Series A financing round
- OSF Digital in its US$100 million Series C financing round
- iNovia Capital in connection with Talent.com’s US$120 million Series B financing round
- Circle Cardiovascular Imaging in its strategic investment from Thoma Bravo
- eLeapPower in its $21 million Series A financing round
- MindBeacon in its acquisition by CloudMD
- BrainBox AI in its US$24 million Series A financing round
- Hopper in its US$175 million Series G financing round
- Wrk Technologies Inc., in connection with its convertible note financing
- Blockstream Corporation in over $100 million of financings
- Represented SweetIQ Inc. in respect of its acquisition by ReachLocal, a USA TODAY NETWORK company and a part of Gannett Co., Inc. a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange
- Persistence Capital Partners, in connection with the subscription of Class C Shares in the capital of Rx Drug Mart Inc., a company specializing in the business of acquiring, consolidating and operating pharmacies across Canada
- Counsel to Caprion Biosciences Inc. it its recapitalization by GHO Capital Partners LLP.
- Canadian counsel to Zebra Technologies it is acquisition of the Enterprise business of Motorola Solutions
- Counsel to TeraXion Inc. in its sale to Ciena Canada, Inc. of TeraXion’s high-speed photonics components (HSPC) assets for a purchase price of USD $32 million
- iNovia Capital Inc., in connection with the formation of its new venture capital fund, iNovia Investment Fund 2015, which raised $175,000,000
- Information Venture Partners in connection with the closing of its second FinTech fund
- DAVIDsTEA, in its Initial Public Offering and Listing on the NASDAQ
- Radialpoint SafeCare Inc., in relation to the sale of its Technical Security Services Business to AppDirect Canada Inc.
- HarbourVest Partners in connection with the formation of HarbourVest Canada Growth Fund, a venture capital fund of funds formed as part of the Government of Canada’s Venture Capital Action Plan. The fund raised over $300 million
- MEGA Brands in connection with its US$460 million public acquisition by Mattel
- POSCO of Korea and China Steel Corporation of Taiwan in their $1.1 billion investment in ArcelorMittal Mines Canada’s iron ore mine business
- Teralys Capital in the formation of almost $2 billion managed fund of funds
- Turris Sites in its sale of a controlling interest to InSite Wireless of the United States and a subsequent securitization transaction
- SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) in direct equity investments into North America
- Jubilant Organosys Ltd. of India in its $250 million acquisition of NASDAQ and TSX listed Draxis Health Inc.
- Beyond the Rack, in over $80M of financings, including with Highland Capital and Panorama.
- Formation of the following funds: Rho Canada, Persistence Capital Partners, IGAN, Information Venture Partners, iNovia Capital, Real Ventures, TVM Capital, Lumira Fund II, Lumira Merck, Sanderling, CTI Life Sciences, Tandem Launch Technologies, Cycle Capital and others
- CTI Capital in the $134 million Initial Closing of its Venture Capital Fund
BC Partners in connection with its definitive agreement to sell a majority of its equity interest in Garda World Security Corporation
Canada Growth Fund in connection with its strategic partnership with Gibson Energy and Varme Energy
Battery Ventures in its $150 million acquisition of TrueContext Corporation
Clinia Health Inc. in its $10 million Series A financing round
The Canada Growth Fund in its connection with its carbon credit offtake agreement and $200 million strategic investment in Entropy Inc.
- Powerside
Powerside in its securing of strategic growth funding from Energy Growth Momentum LP.
- Aimia Inc.
Lead investor in its strategic placement in Aimia
- Simmunome
Simmunome in its securing $2 million of pre-seed funding
- DalCor Pharmaceuticals
DalCor Pharmaceuticals in its closing of an $80 million Series D financing round
- SK On
SK On in connection with an $1.2 billion investment with Ford and EcoPro BM in the Province of Québec
- Inversago Pharma
Inversago Pharma in its US$1.075 billion business combination with Novo Nordisk
- Prospector Capital Corp.
Prospector Capital Corp. in its business combination with LeddarTech for US$ 348 million
- General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. in its $1 billion investment project with POSCO Future M
- Deep Sky
Deep Sky in its securing of $10 million of funding
- dcbel Inc.
dcbel in receiving a strategic investment from Volvo Cars Tech Fund
- BrainBox AI
BrainBox AI in its US$20 million investment from the Québec Government and ABB
- Photonis Group
Photonis Group in its agreement to acquire Telops
- Lavergne Industries Inc.
Lavergne Industries Inc. in its connection with a $20 million investment from Fondaction
- General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. in its US$650 million equity investment in Lithium Americas Corp.
- Blockstream
Blockstream in its raising of US$125 million to develop their crypto mining services
- Sollum Technologies Inc.
Sollum Technologies in its raising of $30 million
- Portage Ventures
Portage in Nesto’s $80 million Series C financing round
- Export Development Canada, Canadian Business Growth Fund & Investissement Quebec
Export Development Canada, Canadian Business Growth Fund & Investissement Quebec in connection with Amilia Technologies’ $30 million financing round
- CarbiCrete
CarbiCrete in its combined $23.5 million Series A financing round
- OSF Digital
OSF Digital in its US$100 million Series C financing round
- Lead investor in its strategic placement in Aimia
- Clinia Health Inc. in its $10 million Series A financing round
- The Canada Growth Fund in its connection with its carbon credit offtake agreement and $200 million strategic investment in Entropy Inc.
- DalCor Pharmaceuticals in its closing of an $80 million Series D financing round
- SK On in connection with an $1.2 billion investment with Ford and EcoPro BM in the Province of Québec
- Inversago Pharma in its US$1.075 billion business combination with Novo Nordisk
- Prospector Capital Corp. in its business combination with LeddarTech for US$ 348 million
- Deep Sky in its securing of $10 million of funding
- dcbel in receiving a strategic investment from Volvo Cars Tech Fund
- BrainBox AI in its US$20 million investment from the Québec Government and ABB
- Sollum Technologies in its raising of $30 million
- Photonis Group in its agreement to acquire Telops
- Blockstream in its raising of US$125 million to develop their crypto mining services
- General Motors Co. in its US$650 equity investment in Lithium Americas Corp.
- Portage in Nesto’s $80 million Series C financing round
- Export Development Canada, Canadian Business Growth Fund & Investissement Quebec in connection with Amilia Technologies’ $30 million financing round
- CarbiCrete in its combined $23.5 million Series A financing round
- OSF Digital in its US$100 million Series C financing round
- iNovia Capital in connection with Talent.com’s US$120 million Series B financing round
- Circle Cardiovascular Imaging in its strategic investment from Thoma Bravo
- eLeapPower in its $21 million Series A financing round
- MindBeacon in its acquisition by CloudMD
- BrainBox AI in its US$24 million Series A financing round
- Hopper in its US$175 million Series G financing round
- Wrk Technologies Inc., in connection with its convertible note financing
- Blockstream Corporation in over $100 million of financings
- Represented SweetIQ Inc. in respect of its acquisition by ReachLocal, a USA TODAY NETWORK company and a part of Gannett Co., Inc. a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange
- Persistence Capital Partners, in connection with the subscription of Class C Shares in the capital of Rx Drug Mart Inc., a company specializing in the business of acquiring, consolidating and operating pharmacies across Canada
- Counsel to Caprion Biosciences Inc. it its recapitalization by GHO Capital Partners LLP.
- Canadian counsel to Zebra Technologies it is acquisition of the Enterprise business of Motorola Solutions
- Counsel to TeraXion Inc. in its sale to Ciena Canada, Inc. of TeraXion’s high-speed photonics components (HSPC) assets for a purchase price of USD $32 million
- iNovia Capital Inc., in connection with the formation of its new venture capital fund, iNovia Investment Fund 2015, which raised $175,000,000
- Information Venture Partners in connection with the closing of its second FinTech fund
- DAVIDsTEA, in its Initial Public Offering and Listing on the NASDAQ
- Radialpoint SafeCare Inc., in relation to the sale of its Technical Security Services Business to AppDirect Canada Inc.
- HarbourVest Partners in connection with the formation of HarbourVest Canada Growth Fund, a venture capital fund of funds formed as part of the Government of Canada’s Venture Capital Action Plan. The fund raised over $300 million
- MEGA Brands in connection with its US$460 million public acquisition by Mattel
- POSCO of Korea and China Steel Corporation of Taiwan in their $1.1 billion investment in ArcelorMittal Mines Canada’s iron ore mine business
- Teralys Capital in the formation of almost $2 billion managed fund of funds
- Turris Sites in its sale of a controlling interest to InSite Wireless of the United States and a subsequent securitization transaction
- SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) in direct equity investments into North America
- Jubilant Organosys Ltd. of India in its $250 million acquisition of NASDAQ and TSX listed Draxis Health Inc.
- Beyond the Rack, in over $80M of financings, including with Highland Capital and Panorama.
- Formation of the following funds: Rho Canada, Persistence Capital Partners, IGAN, Information Venture Partners, iNovia Capital, Real Ventures, TVM Capital, Lumira Fund II, Lumira Merck, Sanderling, CTI Life Sciences, Tandem Launch Technologies, Cycle Capital and others
- CTI Capital in the $134 million Initial Closing of its Venture Capital Fund
Latest Insights
-
Osler Update Dec 11, 2023
Canada emerging as a powerhouse in the global EV supply chain
Ambitious goals to decarbonize the economy, combined with global geopolitical dynamics.
Read more
-
Webinar Jun 27, 2023
Q2 2023 Economic Update with Stephen Poloz
Osler Special Advisor and former Bank of Canada Governor, Stephen Poloz shares his insights on what to expect for the balance of the year.
Read more -
Webinar Mar 1, 2023
Q1 2023 Economic Update with Stephen Poloz
Please join us virtually for an update on Stephen’s view on the economy and insights into what to expect for 2023.
Read more -
Webinar Nov 15, 2022
Q4 2022 Economic Update with Stephen Poloz
In this informative webinar, Osler Special Advisor, and former Governor of the Bank of Canada Stephen Poloz sits down with Osler National Co-Chair...
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Startups & Emerging Companies (Nationwide) and Corporate/Commercial (Québec)
- “He has a big presence in this market.”
- “[Shahir is] a real top M&A guy; he is an extraordinary individual. He is a great thinker and can help us put all of the right pieces in place.”
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Corporate Commercial Law; Health & Life Sciences; Technology Transactions; Private Equity; Corporate Mid-Market; Mergers & Acquisitions; Computer & IT Law; Corporate Finance & Securities
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The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Corporate Commercial Law; Corporate Mid-Market; Mergers & Acquisitions; Private Equity
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice; Corporate Law; FinTech Practice; Information Technology Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Private Funds Law; Technology Law; Venture Capital Law; “Lawyer of the Year”, Private Funds Law; “Lawyer of the Year”, Technology Law
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IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms: Recognized in Private Equity; M&A; Investment Funds (Highly Regarded)
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Who’s Who Legal: Recognized in International – Life Sciences – Transactional and Life Sciences
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Lexpert Special Edition: Recognized in Technology and Health Sciences
Media Mentions
-
Osler News Apr 22, 2024
Six Osler lawyers recognized by Who’s Who Legal Life Sciences — Canada
Osler congratulations the six members of the firm who have earned the “Recommended” rating from Who’s Who Legal (WWL) Life Sciences — Canada.
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 -
Osler News Aug 24, 2023
178 Osler lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2024
Osler is proud to announce that 178 of our lawyers have been recognized in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, with 13 named “Lawyer of the...
Read more -
Osler News Jun 29, 2023
29 Osler lawyers recognized in Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health 2023
Congratulations to 29 of our lawyers for their inclusion in the Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health 2023.
Read more
Community Involvement
- St. Peter and St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church, Board of Directors
Speaking and Writing
Published Work
- “What public-style private deals mean for buyers and sellers”, Update: Sep 17, 2018
- “How PE buyers can stand out in an auction process”, Update: Aug 8, 2018
- “Co-investment: Why Canadian GPs should take note of SEC’s guidance”, Update: Apr 30, 2018
- “VC and PE firm codes of conduct”, Update: July 25, 2017 (co-author)
- “Venture capital investment in Canada: market and regulatory overview”, Update: Jan 25, 2016 (co-author)
- The Law and Pratice of Down-Round Financings: United States and Canada, panelist at the ABA conference Business Law Section – Spring Meeting, Montréal, April 9, 2016.
- CEO Vision PDG, Seminar on “Exit Strategies”, Mont-Tremblant (2014–2016).
- CEO Vision PDG, Seminar on “Capital de croissance”, Mont-Tremblant (2014–2016)
- The Role of State Financial Institutions in the Development of Social Entrepreneurship, Rise Egypt Launch, Harvard Medical School, June 2014.
- American Bar Association, National Institute on International Regulations and Compliance, Panel on “Regulatory Pitfalls on M&A Deals”, Washington, DC, October 2014.
Credentials
Education
- McGill University, LL.B.
- McGill University, B.C.L.
Languages
- Arabic
- English
- French
Professional Affiliations
- Investissement Québec, Independent Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Chair 2019–2021
- Business Development Bank of Canada, Member of the Board of Directors 2012–2021
- GFL Environmental Inc., Member of the Board of Directors 2018–2019
- Jubilant Draxis
