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
- 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
- The Underwriters
The Underwriters in the US$630 million secondary offering of Canada Goose Holdings Inc.
- Layer 6 Inc.
Layer 6 in its acquisition by the Toronto-Dominion Bank
- 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.
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 in its acquisition by VelocityEHS
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
- The Underwriters
The Underwriters in the US$630 million secondary offering of Canada Goose Holdings Inc.
- Layer 6 Inc.
Layer 6 in its acquisition by the Toronto-Dominion Bank
- 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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Report Dec 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.
Read more
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Osler Update Feb 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 -
Osler Update Dec 8, 2020
Representations and warranties insurance – An increasingly important tool for Canadian dealmakers
In 2020, representations and warranties insurance (RWI) continued to play an increasingly significant role in the Canadian private M&A market.
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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 Nov 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 Jul 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 Nov 4, 2022
Osler names M&A and Private Equity leaders
Osler is pleased to announce two new practice group leaders.
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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
