Jason A. Saltzman Partner Co-Head, Toronto Business Law Department / Co-Head, Israel Desk


Speaks:  English

Year of Call: 1997 - Ontario


Primary office:  Toronto




Jason A. Saltzman

Jason Saltzman is co-head of Gowling WLG's Toronto Business Law Department and a member of the Toronto Management Committee. He is also co-head of Gowling WLG's Israel Desk. Jason practices corporate finance and securities law, with an emphasis on securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, corporate governance and securities registration and compliance matters.

He works with established and emerging companies worldwide, primarily in the technology, FinTech, cleantech, cannabis and life science (including medical technology), mining and resources, and media, sports/eSports and entertainment sectors. He assists issuers, investment dealers, investment portals and institutional and private investors on complex equity and debt financing transactions, ranging from startup investments, venture capital and private equity investments, to larger public offerings and project finance.

Jason has taken numerous companies public on the TSX, TSX Venture Exchange and Canadian Securities Exchange by IPO, reverse takeover, capital pool transactions and direct listings. He advises on corporate governance, disclosure obligations, securities issuances, executive compensation matters, hostile and friendly takeover bids and proxy contests. Jason also advises securities dealers, advisers, investment fund managers and other market participants in connection with their registration and compliance issues. Jason has served as a director and officer of various publicly listed corporations and not-for-profit corporations, including A-Labs Capital V Corp., Bayview Country Club Limited and Canada-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

He has built an alternative finance practice by focusing on FinTech, crowdfinance and other disruptive models such as online investment platforms, initial coin offerings and crypto currencies, peer-to-peer lending and robo-advising. He has become known as a thought leader in this innovative area. Jason served two terms on the Ontario Securities Commission's Small and Medium Enterprises Advisory Committee from 2014-2017.

Jason has made regular international trips (including to the US, Israel and Turkey) to inform emerging companies and their key influencers about the benefits of raising capital in North America by listing on the TSX and other Canadian stock exchanges.

Jason is a frequent speaker and writer on various corporate finance and securities topics. He was recently recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada in 2023 in the areas of cannabis, mining and natural resources law; Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health Sciences 2022; and Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A 2022.

Career & Recognition

Filter timeline:

Memberships

  • Canada-Israel Chamber of Commerce
  • Ontario Securities Commission Small and Medium Size Enterprises Committee (2014 - 2017)
  • Panelist, "Your Comprehensive Guide to Blockchain - Capital Market Challenges and Initial Coin Offerings", Ontario Bar Association, June 2018
  • Panelist, "Marijuana Legalization, Where are we in the legal process?", Buds, Batteries and Blockchain 2018, 7th Annual InvestorIntel Summit, May 2018
  • Panelist, "FinTech & Funding Options in the US & Canada: Regulatory & Business Challenges of Raising Capital", Velocity Conference, March 2018
  • Panelist, "Blockchain 101 - Everything you need to know about Blockchain, Cryptocurrency & ICOs", Canada Israel Chamber of Commerce, February 2018
  • Panelist, "New Frontiers in Capital Innovation - Initial Coin Offerings", National Crowdfunding Association, November 2017
  • Moderator, "Regulatory Perspectives from Canadian Securities Regulators", National Crowdfunding Association, March 2017
  • Moderator, "Fiduciary Rule" and its Potential Impact on the Investment Industry - Women in Capital Markets, September 2016
  • Panelist, "Rapid Fire Crowdfunding Opportunities for Raising Capital Online 101+", Ryerson DMZ, June 2016
  • Moderator, "Critical Update: The New Take-Over Bid Rules", Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, May 2016
  • Panelist, "New Financing Options", Canadian Securities Exchange Day, April 2016
  • Speaker "Live Crowdfunding Stars" - Profit BusinessCast podcast, March 2016
  • Panelist "Industry Experts and Regulatory Perspectives: What to Expect in 2016", Canadian Crowdfunding Summit March 2016
  • Contributor, "Getting the Deal Through" - Transactions/Downstream Investments - Canada - Private Equity, 2010-2013
  • Contributor, "Getting the Deal Through" - Securities Finance - Canada - Private Equity, 2010-2013
  • Contributor, "Ready to Bloom - The New S&P / TSX Clean Technology Index" - Canadian Lawyer, September 2010
  • Author, "How to Bring an Initial Public Offering to Market", Law Society of Upper Canada "How To" Brief Series, October 2008 - 2014
  • Co-Author, "Go Public in Canada", Published in The Marker, Israel, April 2008

Representative Work

  • Counsel to Adcore Inc. (TSX:ADCO) in connection with its reverse takeover of County Capital I Inc. and listing on TSX Venture Exchange
  • Counsel to Adcore Inc. (TSX:ADCO) in connection with its graduation to Toronto Stock Exchange
  • Counsel to Adcore Inc. (TSX: ADCO) in connection with its short form base shelf prospectus offering of units led by Canaccord Genuity Corp, and including Echelon Wealth Partners, Roth Canada ULC and Haywood Securities Inc.
  • Counsel to Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: AH) on its acquisition of Canabo Medical Corp. $30M brokered subscription receipt financing and listing on TSX Venture Exchange
  • Counsel to Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: AH) on its graduation to the Toronto Stock Exchange.
  • Counsel to Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: AH) in connection with the closing of a $40.25 million public offering led by Mackie Research Capital Corporation and BMO Capital Markets and included Canaccord Genuity Corp.
  • Counsel to Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: AH) in connection with its acquisition of Emblem Corp. pursuant to a court approved plan of arrangement under the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act.
  • Counsel to Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: AH) in connection with the closing of a public bought deal offering of units for aggregate gross proceeds of $14,950,000 led by Eight Capital on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters including Canaccord Genuity Corp., BMO Capital Markets, Leede Jones Gable Inc., Raymond James Ltd., Mackie Research Capital Corporation, and PI Financial Corp.
  • Counsel to Cann-Is Capital Corp. (TSXV: NIS) in connection with its initial public offering on TSX Venture Exchange
  • Counsel to Cross Border Capital I Corp. (TSXV: CBX) in connection with its initial public offering on TSX Venture Exchange and subsequent qualifying transaction acquisition of Message Notify Ltd. d/b/a SuperBuzz
  • Counsel to Datametrex AI Limited (TSXV: DM) in connection with qualifying transaction with Everfront Ventures Corp. and listing on TSX Venture Exchange, and subsequent acquisition of Nexalogy Environics
  • Counsel to Innocan Pharma Corporation (CSE: INNO) on up to $10M short form prospectus offering of units co-led by Mackie Research Capital Corporation and Canaccord Genuity Corp.
  • Counsel to Innocan Pharma Corporation (CSE: INNO) in connection with the closing of its $8.2 million private placement to institutional investors
  • Counsel to Irri-Al-Tal Ltd. in connection with its qualifying transaction of Water Ways Technologies Inc. (TSXV: WWT) (formerly Sagittarius Capital Corporation), concurrent prospectus offering and listing on TSX Venture Exchange
  • Counsel to Nurexone Biologic Inc. (TSXV: NRX) on its reverse takeover of Enerspar Corp. and listing on TSX Venture Exchange
  • Counsel to Red White & Bloom Brands Inc. (CSE: RWB) on the reverse takeover of Tidal Royalty Corp. by Michicann Medical Corp.
  • Counsel to Red White & Bloom Brands Inc. (CSE:RWB) on its $15M bought deal public offering of units underwritten by PI Financial Corp. and Eight Capital
  • Counsel to Red White & Bloom Brands Inc. (CSE:RWB) on its restructuring of over CDN $110 million of debentures
  • Counsel to Sol Cuisine Ltd. (TSXV: VEG) in connection with its reverse takeover of Platform 9 Capital Corp., $15M brokered subscription receipt financing and listing on TSX Venture Exchange
  • Counsel to Sol Cuisine Ltd. (TSXV: VEG) in connection with its acquisition by PlantPlus Foods LLC in a $125.4 million transaction
  • Counsel to The Real Brokerage Inc. (TSX/NASDAQ: REAX) on its reverse takeover of ADL Ventures Inc. and listing on TSX Venture Exchange
  • Counsel to The Real Brokerage Inc. (TSX/NASDAQ: REAX) on its US$20 million strategic investment by Insight Partners
  • Counsel to The Real Brokerage Inc. (TSX/NASDAQ: REAX) on its acquisition of certain business assets of RealtyCrunch Inc.
  • Counsel to The Real Brokerage Inc. (TSX/NASDAQ: REAX) on its acquisition of certain business assets of Redline Real Estate Group
  • Counsel to The Real Brokerage Inc. (TSX/NASDAQ: REAX) on its acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of LemonBrew Lending Inc.
  • Counsel to the "Toronto Defiant," and related ownership group, Overactive Media Group Inc., in being successfully awarded a professional eSports team in the Overwatch League