Executive Summary
Arlene has developed a broad range of expertise in the areas of corporate and commercial law, with a strong focus on merger and acquisition transactions, corporate governance and corporate finance. Arlene works extensively with technology based companies and assets including software, media and green technology. While Arlene maintains a mix of practice areas in commercial law, she has focused her practice on mergers and acquisitions and technology law. Arlene has also been a key advisor to various not-for-profit and charitable boards on corporate governance matters and is recognized as a specialist in corporate governance matters having graduated from the Directors Education Program at Rotman School of Management and received an ICD.D. designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Arlene has also expanded her corporate governance experience to sitting on a TSX listed board of directors in the auto finance space and has experience with special committees and the strategic review of the business.
Arlene is a seasoned business advisor with over 20 years’ experience in assisting both international and local clients on their cross border and multinational business affairs both in structuring their affairs or assisting in transactions, investments, expansions, partnerships and contractual matters in Canada and world-wide and working with their multidisciplinary advisors locally and abroad.
Arlene is a frequent speaker and organizer of a broad range of corporate law programs held by Ontario Bar Association Business Law Section and Canadian Bar Association. Arlene is very involved in working with technology based and innovative businesses grow their business and provide sound legal advice to assist them to grow smart. From the drafting of letters on intent, through the negotiation of the merger or purchase and sale agreement and the conduct of due diligence investigations, to the closing of the transaction, Arlene applies her energy and experience. At all times, she is able to call upon her familiarity with her tax law and technology law background.
Expertise
- Business and Corporate Commercial
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Private Equity and Venture Capital
Representative Work
- Represented industrial products company on sale to Private Equity group
- External legal counsel to largest real estate board on Corporate Governance matters and Regulatory Compliance and commercial matters.
- Represented multinational infrastructure company as lead of Canadian team on sale of various businesses and divisions over a series of transactions 2021 to present (transaction size – ranging from $27 million USD to $55 million USD)
- Represented client on acquisition of recycling products business $20 million
- Represented the buyers in a merger and acquisition transaction involving the purchase of a large carpet and tile supply and installation partnership with combined annual revenue of approximately $100 million.
- Represented one party in structuring a joint venture arrangement in the mobile payments platform area in connection with a response to an RFP.
Articles and Presentations
Presentations
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Ontario business law council ‘a unique beast within government’, Law Times – January 6, 2020
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National Business Law Conference Panelist on the topic of: Earn Outs: a Tool to Bridge the Value Gap or a Trap for the Unwary hosted by the CBA – Nov 2017
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Speaker at the 5th Annual Professionalism Issues for Business Lawyers hosted by the OBA – Oct 2017
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Subject Matter Expert for the Business Law Program at Ryerson LPP, 2014‑2017
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Chair, Business Law Summit 2015, Shaping the Agenda for Reform, OBA, Oct 2015
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Chair of Various Programs for Ontario Bar Association relating to Business Law Matters
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Speaker, Legal Strategies for Building Corporate Value and Protecting Innovation Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX), Nov 2014
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Assets Acquisitions in Ontario: Buying Liability in Bulk
Articles
- Blockchain: Background, Challenges and Legal Issues From a Corporate Viewpoint - 11/15/2018
- Changes in the Law To Encourage Diversity In The Workplace - 5/17/2018
- Directors' Duties to the Corporation: Focus on Dual Loyalty - 11/12/2015
- Asset Acquisitions in Ontario - 9/26/2011
- Employment Contract Provisions - Protect Your Organization - 4/1/2010
My Blog
Board Memberships
- Axis Auto Finance Inc.– Board Member - December 2023 to present
- Strategic Advisory Committee – Axis Auto Finance Inc. – current
- Gardiner Roberts LLP – Executive Committee Member
- Gardiner Roberts LLP – Co-chair, Corporate Law
- Chair, Business Law Section, Canadian Bar Association – Chair - September 2022 – 2023
- Canada’s National Ballet School Foundation – Board Member - November 2007 – 2020
- Canada’s National Ballet School Foundation – Chair and President - November 2018 – 2019
- Canada’s National Ballet School – Board Member – 2017 – 2019
- Province of Ontario - Business Law Advisory Council – Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, 2019 - 2022 – Advisory Council Member
- Ontario Bar Association – Past Chair – Business Law Section
- Board member of Hot Docs (honourary)
- Canadian Women’s Foundation – Toronto Breakfast Committee Deputy Chair, 2000-2015
Recognition
- Best Lawyers in Canada for Private Funds Law – 2019-2025
- Best Lawyers in Canada for Venture Capital Law – 2021-2025
- Post City Magazine, Toronto’s Top Lawyers in Corporate Finance and M&A – 2022-2024
Professional Involvement
- MSI Global Alliance, Co-Chair, M&A and Taxation, Canada Regional Representative 2021 to present
- Chair, Canadian Bar Association, Business Law Section – 2022-2023
- A past Chair of the Corporate Law Subcommittee – OBA Business Law Section
- A past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association – Business Law Section
Community Involvement
- Toronto Metropolitan University Practice Program – Business Law – Subject Matter Expert – 2014 to present
Beyond the Office
- Passions include: skiing, curling in winter months, tennis and kayaking in summer months.