Michelle is a senior partner of the Osler Competition/Antitrust and Foreign Investment Group. She has previously served as Chair of the Group and on the firm’s Executive Committee and is a former executive member and Chair of the National Competition Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association.
Michelle has over 30 years of extensive experience in all aspects of competition law, including mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, price fixing & bid-rigging investigations and pricing and distribution matters, and reviews under Canada’s foreign investment law, the Investment Canada Act.
Michelle has successfully obtained clearances under the Competition Act for hundreds of domestic, cross-border and international transactions. She regularly advises parties the application of the dual track regime relating to agreements between competitors criminal conspiracy and civil competitor collaborations), abuse of dominance, price maintenance, refusal to supply, tied selling and exclusive dealing provisions of the Competition Act. As part of providing strategic competition law counselling and compliance advice, Michelle often designs and conducts internal antitrust audits/investigations for clients.
Representative Work
- Chorus Aviation
Chorus Aviation in the sale of its Regional Aircraft Leasing Segment
- Béton Provincial
Béton Provincial in its acquisition of CRH Canada Group Inc.
- Kyndryl
Kyndryl in the sale of its Securities Industry Services business to Broadridge
- WT Microelectronics
WT Microelectronics in its acquisition of Future Electronics for USD$3.8 billion
- Metro Supply Group
Metro Supply Chain in its acquisition of SCI Group Inc.
- Marquis Imprimeur
Marquis Imprimeur in its sale to Lakeside Book Company
- dcbel Inc.
dcbel in receiving a strategic investment from Volvo Cars Tech Fund
- WeCommerce Holdings
WeCommerce in its $962 million business combination with Tiny Capital
- Photonis Group
Photonis Group in its agreement to acquire Telops
- Drax Group
Drax Group in the acquisition of Princeton Standard Pellet Corporation’s pellet plant
- Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies in its acquisition of Matrox Imaging
- Microsoft
Microsoft in its acquisition of Xandr
- Domtar
Domtar in its $3 billion acquisition by Paper Excellence
- IVC Nutrition Corporation
IVC Nutrition Corporation in its acquisition of Vita Health Products Inc.
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec on its acquisition, together with FFL Partners, of New Look
- The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. in its agreement to increase its ownership in DECIEM Beauty Group Inc.
- Drax Group plc
Drax Group plc in its acquisition of Pinnacle Renewable Energy
- Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division
Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking in its $1.13 billion acquisition of People Corporation
- Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. in its sale of TRU Simulation Inc + Training Inc., to CAE Inc. for US$40 million
- Bristol Myers Squibb
Bristol Myers Squibb in its acquisition of Forbius
- Madison Dearborn Partners
Madison Dearborn Partners in its acquisition of the APM Group International
- Ventas, Inc.
Ventas in its acquisition of a high quality Canadian seniors housing portfolio valued at $2.4 billion in partnership with Le Groupe Maurice
- Special Committee of Goldcorp
Special Committee of Goldcorp in its US$10 billion acquisition by Newmont Mining
- L Brands
L Brands with its sale of the La Senza business to Regent LP
- TD Bank
TD Bank in connection with Air Canada’s acquisition of Aimia Canada
- Microsoft in various acquisitions including in its US$68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard and acquisitions of Nuance Communications, ZeniMax, Two Hat and Xandr
- TD Bank in connection with Air Canada’s acquisition of Aimia Canada
- Special Committee of Goldcorp in its US$10 billion acquisition by Newmont Mining
- Constellation Brands in its $5.1 billion strategic investment in and partnership with Canopy Growth Corporation
- BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited in connection with its strategic alliance with RBC Global Asset Management Inc. to create a combined $60 billion ETF solution suite under the RBC iShares brand
- Nasdaq, Inc. in connection with the sale of its Public Relations Solutions and Digital Media Services Businesses to West Corporation for approximately US$335 million
- L Brands with its sale of the La Senza business to Regent L
- Corbeil Électrique Inc. in connection with the sale of substantially all of its business and assets to AM-CAM Électroménagers Inc.
- S.L.H. Transport Inc. and its affiliates in connection with the sale of its business to C.A.T. Inc.
- A leading generic drug manufacturer in connection with the Competition Bureau’s investigation relating to policies or practices of certain branded drug manufacturers
- South32 in its announced $2.1 billion acquisition of Arizona Mining
- Mitel Networks Corporation in its sale to affiliates of Searchlight Capital Partners for US$2 billion
- Investors led by BC Partners and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in the $5.125 billion recapitalization of GFL Environmental Inc.
- Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund in its take-over bid of Canexus Corporation
- Microsoft Corporation in connection with its US$26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn Corporation and LinkedIn Corporation in respect of Canadian Competition Act advice and services
- Office Depot Inc., in its US$1 billion acquisition of THL Portfolio Holdings Corp., the parent company of CompuCom Systems, Inc.
- Lenders and underwriters in the acquisition of Dominion Diamond Corporation by Washington Companies Corp.
- Royal Bank of Canada in defending RBC in a $1.05 billion class action alleging conspiracy to fix foreign exchanges prices
- Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. in its $1.4 billion acquisition by Vail Resorts
- TELUS Corporation in connection with its acquisition of Manitoba assets from Bell upon closing of the Bell-MTS transaction
Chorus Aviation in the sale of its Regional Aircraft Leasing Segment
Béton Provincial in its acquisition of CRH Canada Group Inc.
Kyndryl in the sale of its Securities Industry Services business to Broadridge
WT Microelectronics in its acquisition of Future Electronics for USD$3.8 billion
Metro Supply Chain in its acquisition of SCI Group Inc.
- Marquis Imprimeur
Marquis Imprimeur in its sale to Lakeside Book Company
- dcbel Inc.
dcbel in receiving a strategic investment from Volvo Cars Tech Fund
- WeCommerce Holdings
WeCommerce in its $962 million business combination with Tiny Capital
- Photonis Group
Photonis Group in its agreement to acquire Telops
- Drax Group
Drax Group in the acquisition of Princeton Standard Pellet Corporation’s pellet plant
- Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies in its acquisition of Matrox Imaging
- Microsoft
Microsoft in its acquisition of Xandr
- Domtar
Domtar in its $3 billion acquisition by Paper Excellence
- IVC Nutrition Corporation
IVC Nutrition Corporation in its acquisition of Vita Health Products Inc.
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec on its acquisition, together with FFL Partners, of New Look
- The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. in its agreement to increase its ownership in DECIEM Beauty Group Inc.
- Drax Group plc
Drax Group plc in its acquisition of Pinnacle Renewable Energy
- Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division
Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking in its $1.13 billion acquisition of People Corporation
- Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. in its sale of TRU Simulation Inc + Training Inc., to CAE Inc. for US$40 million
- Bristol Myers Squibb
Bristol Myers Squibb in its acquisition of Forbius
- Madison Dearborn Partners
Madison Dearborn Partners in its acquisition of the APM Group International
- Ventas, Inc.
Ventas in its acquisition of a high quality Canadian seniors housing portfolio valued at $2.4 billion in partnership with Le Groupe Maurice
- Special Committee of Goldcorp
Special Committee of Goldcorp in its US$10 billion acquisition by Newmont Mining
- L Brands
L Brands with its sale of the La Senza business to Regent LP
- TD Bank
TD Bank in connection with Air Canada’s acquisition of Aimia Canada
- Microsoft in various acquisitions including in its US$68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard and acquisitions of Nuance Communications, ZeniMax, Two Hat and Xandr
- TD Bank in connection with Air Canada’s acquisition of Aimia Canada
- Special Committee of Goldcorp in its US$10 billion acquisition by Newmont Mining
- Constellation Brands in its $5.1 billion strategic investment in and partnership with Canopy Growth Corporation
- BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited in connection with its strategic alliance with RBC Global Asset Management Inc. to create a combined $60 billion ETF solution suite under the RBC iShares brand
- Nasdaq, Inc. in connection with the sale of its Public Relations Solutions and Digital Media Services Businesses to West Corporation for approximately US$335 million
- L Brands with its sale of the La Senza business to Regent L
- Corbeil Électrique Inc. in connection with the sale of substantially all of its business and assets to AM-CAM Électroménagers Inc.
- S.L.H. Transport Inc. and its affiliates in connection with the sale of its business to C.A.T. Inc.
- A leading generic drug manufacturer in connection with the Competition Bureau’s investigation relating to policies or practices of certain branded drug manufacturers
- South32 in its announced $2.1 billion acquisition of Arizona Mining
- Mitel Networks Corporation in its sale to affiliates of Searchlight Capital Partners for US$2 billion
- Investors led by BC Partners and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in the $5.125 billion recapitalization of GFL Environmental Inc.
- Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund in its take-over bid of Canexus Corporation
- Microsoft Corporation in connection with its US$26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn Corporation and LinkedIn Corporation in respect of Canadian Competition Act advice and services
- Office Depot Inc., in its US$1 billion acquisition of THL Portfolio Holdings Corp., the parent company of CompuCom Systems, Inc.
- Lenders and underwriters in the acquisition of Dominion Diamond Corporation by Washington Companies Corp.
- Royal Bank of Canada in defending RBC in a $1.05 billion class action alleging conspiracy to fix foreign exchanges prices
- Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. in its $1.4 billion acquisition by Vail Resorts
- TELUS Corporation in connection with its acquisition of Manitoba assets from Bell upon closing of the Bell-MTS transaction
Latest Insights
-
Report Jun 28, 2024
The amended Canadian Competition Act: what businesses need to know
Following a series of high-profile amendments aimed at strengthening Canada’s competition law regime culminating in royal assent for Bill C-59 on...
Read more
-
Osler Update Jan 2, 2025
Competition Bureau releases draft environmental claims guidelines for public consultation
We examine the key observations from the draft guidelines and what businesses need to consider when making environmental claims.
Read more -
Report Dec 5, 2024
Highlights of the new Competition Act and pending changes for foreign investment
We explore what all these and other changes mean for businesses operating in Canada.
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Report Dec 5, 2024
Spotlight on greenwashing under the Competition Act
Businesses should be mindful of greenwashing after recent legislative amendments aim to curb misleading and unsubstantiated claims.
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Competition/Antitrust (Nationwide – Canada)
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Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Business Lawyers: Recognized in Competition/Antitrust
- …a “fantastic resource for competition law,”
- …”is excellent in navigating complex regulatory situations. She’s strategic but also practical and understands business.”
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Competition Law; Ontario’s leading competition lawyers in 2021
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Lexpert’s Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers: A Guide to Doing Business in Canada: Recognized in Competition Law
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Competition/Antitrust Law
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Legal 500: Recognized as a Leading Lawyer, Competition & Antitrust
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Who’s Who Legal: Recognized in Competition (International); Competition (Canada)
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Thomson Reuters: “Stand-out Lawyer”
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
Credentials
Education
- Osgoode Hall Law School, LL.M.
- University of Western Ontario, LL.B.
- Queen’s University, B.A. (Hons.)
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association, a Former Chair of the National Competition Law Section
- American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law
- American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
- Women’s White Collar Defense Association
