Industry

Banking and Financial Services

Bank of Canada

The banking and financial services industry faces some of the most significant competitive, regulatory and technological challenges in its history. Emerging technologies — including blockchain, open banking and mobile devices — and business models — such as peer-to-peer lending and crowdsourcing — radically change how our banks and financial sponsors operate.

Customers are re-examining how they access financial services, ramping up competition between larger players and new entrants. Players must navigate developing new products and customer experiences without jeopardizing risk management.

Banks and other financial services firms also play an essential role in Canadian deal-making: advising corporate clients on M&A transactions, financing acquisitions and acting as underwriters on capital markets offerings. They need legal advisors who understand the deal landscape and have broad experience across all domestic and cross-border transactions.

How we can help

We are here to help you navigate today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Osler acts for every major Canadian financial institution and many foreign players and we bring a deep understanding of the industry’s key drivers.

Our integrated “one firm” approach offers a one-stop shop for our diverse financial services clients: corporate and investment banks, wealth advisors, broker-dealers, investment managers, financial sponsors, fintech, payment service providers, exchanges, alternative trading systems, insurance companies, settlement systems, trade repositories and other financial services businesses. We deliver highly strategic and innovative advice to support all aspects of our clients’ business activities, including compliance, investigations, litigation, corporate development, proprietary M&A and capital issuance, investment banking advisory, trading and capital markets, wealth management and private banking, and insurance and reinsurance.

At the heart of our capabilities is our Financial Services practice, backed by leading expertise in all areas of strategic and operational importance in the financial services sector. We offer seamless access to our tax, securities, lending, M&A, insolvency, regulatory and other expertise, and integrated risk management and litigation defence services in all aspects of your business, including corporate commercial litigation, investigatory work, white-collar defence, class actions and more.

Key Contacts

Chris Bennett

Partner, Financial Services, Toronto


Awards and Recognition

  • Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Banking & Finance
  • Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Banking & Finance
    • “Osler’s highly regarded banking and finance legal specialists have established the firm’s position as primary counsel to some of Canada’s largest financial institutions.”