Brian is Chair of Osler’s Private Equity practice. His practice is focused primarily on complex corporate and transactional matters, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions.
Brian has extensive experience advising on private equity and cross-border transactions, and frequently counsels clients on a variety of securities law, corporate governance and strategic matters. In addition to private equity, Brian's industry experience includes financial services, manufacturing, automotive, information technology, retail and mining.
Representative Work
- Create Music Group
Create Music Group in its acquisition of Monstercat
- Alexander & Blake Limited
Alexander & Blake Limited in its acquisition by Lauritzen Bulkers A/S
- Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Canada in its development of the new Rogers Stadium
- Monex Group Inc
Monex Group in its acquisition of 3iQ Digital Holdings Inc.
- iCON Infrastructure
iCON Infrastructure in its investment in QSL
- Contractor Compliance
Contractor Compliance in its acquisition by VelocityEHS
- First Quality Enterprises LLC
First Quality Enterprises in its acquisition of Domtar’s Pulp and Paper Mill in Dryden, Ontario
- Canalyst
Canalyst in its acquisition by Tegus
- Epiq
Epiq in its acquisition of Simplex Services Inc.
- Frontenac Company
Frontenac in its acquisition of EFC International
- TransUnion
TransUnion in its $638 million acquisition of Sontiq
- The Levy Family
The Levy Family in theScore’s US$2 billion acquisition by Penn National Gaming
- TopBuild
TopBuild in its $1 billion acquisition of Distribution International
- Higher Logic
Higher Logic in its acquisition of Vanilla
- Fengate Capital Management
Fengate Capital in its preferred share investment in eStruxture
- Sokanu Interactive
Sokanu Interactive in its acquisition by Penn Foster
- Borrowell
Borrowell’s acquisition of Refresh Financial
- Borrowell
Borrowell in its $25 million financing round
- Blackstone Credit
Blackstone Credit in its partnership with Westland Insurance Group Ltd.
- Newterra Group Ltd.
Newterra Group Ltd. in its acquisition by Frontenac
- Enterprise Holdings Inc.
Enterprise Holdings Inc. in its Canadian subsidiary's acquisition of Discount Car and Truck Rentals
- Right-Health Inc.
Right-Health Inc. in its acquisition by Telus Corporation
- The Bank of Nova Scotia
The Bank of Nova Scotia in the sale of its Caribbean banking operations to Republic Financial Holdings Limited
- Radicalogic Technologies Inc. (RL Solutions)
RL Solutions in its acquisition by Datix
- Dominion Voting Systems
Dominion Voting Systems in its acquisition by its management team and Staple Street Capital
- Vector Capital in its sale of Corel Corporation
- ADT Inc. in its sale of ADT Canada to TELUS Communications for $700 million
- Magna International Inc. in the sale of its global fluid pressures and controls business to South Korean automotive parts maker Hanon Systems for US$1.23 billion.
- The underwriters, led by CIBC Capital Markets, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and RBC Capital Markets in the initial public offering of Canada Goose Holdings Inc.
- Hydro One Limited in its initial public offering.
- Hydro One Inc. in connection with its agreement to acquire Great Lakes Transmission LP.
- Royal Bank of Canada in its sale of RBC Royal Bank (Jamaica) Limited.
- Google Inc. in its acquisition of various Canadian technology businesses.
- American Capital, Ltd. in its acquisition of Lennox International Inc.’s business unit, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.
Create Music Group in its acquisition of Monstercat
Alexander & Blake Limited in its acquisition by Lauritzen Bulkers A/S
Live Nation Canada in its development of the new Rogers Stadium
Monex Group in its acquisition of 3iQ Digital Holdings Inc.
iCON Infrastructure in its investment in QSL
- Contractor Compliance
Contractor Compliance in its acquisition by VelocityEHS
- First Quality Enterprises LLC
First Quality Enterprises in its acquisition of Domtar’s Pulp and Paper Mill in Dryden, Ontario
- Canalyst
Canalyst in its acquisition by Tegus
- Epiq
Epiq in its acquisition of Simplex Services Inc.
- Frontenac Company
Frontenac in its acquisition of EFC International
- TransUnion
TransUnion in its $638 million acquisition of Sontiq
- The Levy Family
The Levy Family in theScore’s US$2 billion acquisition by Penn National Gaming
- TopBuild
TopBuild in its $1 billion acquisition of Distribution International
- Higher Logic
Higher Logic in its acquisition of Vanilla
- Fengate Capital Management
Fengate Capital in its preferred share investment in eStruxture
- Sokanu Interactive
Sokanu Interactive in its acquisition by Penn Foster
- Borrowell
Borrowell’s acquisition of Refresh Financial
- Borrowell
Borrowell in its $25 million financing round
- Blackstone Credit
Blackstone Credit in its partnership with Westland Insurance Group Ltd.
- Newterra Group Ltd.
Newterra Group Ltd. in its acquisition by Frontenac
- Enterprise Holdings Inc.
Enterprise Holdings Inc. in its Canadian subsidiary's acquisition of Discount Car and Truck Rentals
- Right-Health Inc.
Right-Health Inc. in its acquisition by Telus Corporation
- The Bank of Nova Scotia
The Bank of Nova Scotia in the sale of its Caribbean banking operations to Republic Financial Holdings Limited
- Radicalogic Technologies Inc. (RL Solutions)
RL Solutions in its acquisition by Datix
- Dominion Voting Systems
Dominion Voting Systems in its acquisition by its management team and Staple Street Capital
- Vector Capital in its sale of Corel Corporation
- ADT Inc. in its sale of ADT Canada to TELUS Communications for $700 million
- Magna International Inc. in the sale of its global fluid pressures and controls business to South Korean automotive parts maker Hanon Systems for US$1.23 billion.
- The underwriters, led by CIBC Capital Markets, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and RBC Capital Markets in the initial public offering of Canada Goose Holdings Inc.
- Hydro One Limited in its initial public offering.
- Hydro One Inc. in connection with its agreement to acquire Great Lakes Transmission LP.
- Royal Bank of Canada in its sale of RBC Royal Bank (Jamaica) Limited.
- Google Inc. in its acquisition of various Canadian technology businesses.
- American Capital, Ltd. in its acquisition of Lennox International Inc.’s business unit, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.
Latest Insights
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Osler Update June 19, 2025
Return of the hybrid: the rise of structured equity solutions
Organizations can achieve transformative capital solutions through structured equity transactions.
Read more -
Osler Update May 8, 2025
How will private credit impact M&A transactions?
We look at how private credit entered the Canadian market and the role it could play in M&A transactions in the years to come.
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Report December 5, 2024
Private equity M&A: strong appetite for exchangeable share structures
Exchangeable share structures are expected to become increasingly popular in the coming years.
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Osler Update February 8, 2023
Corporate opportunity waivers make their way to Canada: Implications for private equity and venture capital investments
Alberta is the first jurisdiction in Canada to permit a corporate opportunity waiver in its articles or unanimous shareholder agreements - we discuss...
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Recognized in Mergers & Acquisitions
—Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory -
Recognized as a Rising Star (2023)
—Lexpert Rising Stars
Media Mentions
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Osler News November 23, 2023
Brian Gray and Jessica Harding named 2023 Lexpert Rising Stars
Congratulations to Brian Gray and Jessica Harding on being named 2023 Lexpert Rising Stars: Canada’s Leading Lawyers Under 40.
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Media Mentions July 26, 2023
Analysis: Small firms offer private equity job market bright spot – Reuters
In a recent Reuters article, Brian Gray, corporate partner and Chair of Osler’s Private Equity practice, explains why smaller private equity firms...
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Osler News November 4, 2022
Osler names M&A and Private Equity leaders
Osler is pleased to announce two new practice group leaders.
Read more
Credentials
Education
- Osgoode Hall Law School, J.D.
- Schulich School of Business, M.B.A.
- University of Western Ontario, B.A.
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- Law Society of Ontario