W. Ian Palm

Ian Palm is a partner in the Toronto office of Gowling WLG. His practice focuses on corporate finance, M&A and private equity.

Ian has extensive experience working with Canadian and international clients in a variety of industries, with particular expertise in the energy, technology and infrastructure sectors. He represents private and public companies, major corporate clients, pension funds, and private equity and venture capital investors.

Acting for issuers, investors and underwriters, Ian has advised clients in a range of corporate finance and M&A transactions, including private placements, public offerings, private equity and venture capital transactions, joint ventures and public and private M&A.

Lexpert magazine previously named Ian one of the "Top 40 Lawyers Under 40" in Canada. He has since been recognized as a leading practitioner in his field by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada and the Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading Private Equity Lawyers.

Ian frequently lectures at law schools, conferences and elsewhere on private equity, M&A and securities law.

  • Speaker, "Buying and Selling a Business: A Comprehensive Guide" (Topic: Addressing Emerging Issuing in Buying and Selling a Technology Business: Blockchain, AI and other recent developments), Ontario Bar Association, Sept. 30, 2020.

Mandats représentatifs

Mergers and Acquisitions

Represented Enwave Energy Corporation in its $480-million acquisition by Brookfield Asset Management

Represented OMERS Private Equity and Berkshire Partners in their $2.1-billion acquisition of Husky Injection Molding Systems

Represented ABB in Canada in its $3.9-billion acquisition of Thomas & Betts Corporation

Represented Wintrust Financial in its purchase of Macquarie Premium Finance

Represented many Canadian mobile and Internet-based technology companies (such as Five Mobile Inc., PushLife Inc., BumpTop Inc., Truition Inc. and Xkoto Inc.) through acquisitions by large, integrated, multinational public and private companies (such as Google, Microsoft, Zynga IBM and CA)

Represented TeraGo Inc. in its acquisition of the broadband customer and network assets of Metrobridge Networks Inc.

Represented many international energy and infrastructure companies (including Borealis, Renewable Energy Systems, AES Corporation, Bruce Power, Suncor and Enbridge) in acquisitions, investments and joint venture arrangements involving hydro, gas, co-generation facilities, wind farms, solar projects, transmission and other energy facilities

Represented broadcast and specialty television company in $265-million sale to another broadcast and specialty television company

Represented TSX- and Nasdaq-listed biotechnology company in plan of arrangement sale to a biotechnology company and an equipment leasing and services company

Represented public Canadian-based energy company in $1-billion sale of Ontario-based retail energy business

Represented TSX- and Nasdaq-listed software company in plan of arrangement sale to international telecom technology company

Private Equity

Represented Berkshire Partners in its growth equity investment in Farm Boy Inc.

Represented Tricor Pacific Capital in various purchase and sale transactions, including in respect of Interplast Packaging, Tharco, BFG Supply and CPI Card Group

Represented Caldic B.V. in its acquisition of Nealanders International

Represented Olympus Partners in Canada in their acquisitions of Centerplate Inc. and Waddingtons North America

Represented Welsh Carson Anderson & Stowe in $188-million Canadian acquisition of the operating business of a TSX-listed income trust

Represented U.S. and Canadian private equity investors in an acquisition of an Ontario-based automotive parts manufacturer

Represented broad range of U.S. and Canadian venture capital investors in multiple cross-border financings

Represented many investors on fund investments into many private equity funds

Represented investors and sponsors on the establishment of various private equity and venture capital funds

Corporate Finance

Represented TeraGo Inc on initial public offering and listing on TSX and in subsequent transactions

Represented Enbridge Inc. on its private placement in Hydrogenics Inc.

Represented Constellation Software Inc. on initial public offering and listing on TSX and in subsequent transactions

Represented various Canadian biotech and technology companies listed on TSX and Nasdaq on prospectus offerings

Represented cellulosic ethanol technology company in reverse takeover and listing on TSX Venture Exchange