Sandra Abitan

Sandra Abitan, Partner, Insolvency & Restructuring

Contact Information

  • tel: 514.904.5648
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Areas of Expertise

Bar Admission

Québec, 1990

Education

  • Université de Montréal, LL.B.

Office

Montréal

Language(s)

English, French

Biography

Sandra is a Partner in the Insolvency & Restructuring group of the law firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Montreal. Sandra specializes in consensual and court supervised corporate restructuring and reorganizations. She advises major corporations, equity sponsors and strategic purchasers, financial institutions, monitors, as well as Canadian and U.S. asset-based lenders and liquidators. Sandra has also provided restructuring/financing advice to a number of major private and public corporations operating in a variety of areas including manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors and has been involved in a number of significant restructurings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. She has given numerous lectures and seminars on topics focusing on insolvency law and corporate reorganizations.

Notable Matters

  • Homburg Invest Inc. - in connection with its stabilization and operational restructuring under the CCAA.
  • Mechtronix Inc. - in the context of the sale of its business under the BIA.
  • Aveos Fleet Performance Inc. - in the context of its consensual out of court $800 Million restructuring.
  • White Birch Paper Company - representing the debtor-in-possession lenders and first lien lenders in connection with the restructuring of White Birch under the CCAA.
  • MEGABrands Inc. - and its subsidiaries in their operational and capital restructuring implemented under the Canada Business Corporations Act.
  • Davie Yards Inc. in the context of its current restructuring under the CCAA.
  • ART Advanced Research Technologies Inc. in the context of its restructuring under the BIA and CBCA.
  • AbitibiBowater Inc.- acting for certain senior secured term lenders in the context of AbitibiBowater’s restructuring under the CCAA.
  • Inteplast Group - in the context of the acquisition of the assets of Salermo Plastic Film & bags by a strategic purchaser.
  • SR Telecom Inc. in the context of its CCAA and CBCA restructuring including the sale of its operating assets.
  • Ernst & Young Inc. in the context of the CCAA restructuring of Main Knitting Group.
  • Greater Toronto Airport Authorities (GTAA) in the Jetsgo insolvency and the Inter-Canadian bankruptcy.
  • Brookfield Asset Management in the context of its acquisition of Maax Corporation.

Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association, Insolvency Section
  • The Insolvency Institute of Canada
  • Member of Comité de liaison, Superior Court, Commercial Division
  • Turnaround Management Association, Member of the International Board of Directors
  • Canadian Insolvency Foundation
  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Member of the International Committee
  • International Association of Insolvency Practitioners (Insol International)
  • International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation

Industry Recognition

  • Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2013: Insolvency & Restructuring
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2012: Insolvency & Financial Restructuring
  • The Best Lawyers in Canada 2013: Insolvency & Financial Restructuring
  • Lexology Client Choice Award Winner (2011, 2012 & 2013): Insolvency & Restructuring (Québec)

Publications/Events/Education

  • Companies. Creditors Arrangement Act, Overview, impact of amendments on asset sales and DIP lending and corporate governance, OBA Professional Development, May 27, 2010
  • Co-author of a chapter on Directors’ Liability for LexisNexis publication Juris Classeur, April 2010
  • Recent Amendments to Canadian Insolvency Legislation, January 19, 2010.
  • Strategies for Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Managing Tenants in Distress, Montreal Real Estate Leasing Conference March 25, 2009.
  • Naviguer en eaux troubles: le rôle des adminstrateurs de sociétés insolvables, (Director Liability in Insolvent Companies) Canadian Institute, October 16, 2008.

Downloadable Profile

Sandra Abitan