Lisa Mantello

Lisa Mantello

Partner, Financial Services

Toronto

(416) 862-6790 

[email protected]

Bar Admission: Ontario, 2003

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Areas of Expertise

Private CreditPension Fund InvestmentsBanking and Financial ServicesSecurities RegulatoryInvestment FundsPrivate ClientDerivativesInsolvency and RestructuringFinancial Services

Lisa Mantello is an experienced transactional lawyer who is recognized for her fresh perspective and creativity in solving problems for her clients. Lisa practices in all areas of financial services with particular expertise in domestic and cross-border financing transactions, private credit, structured finance and derivatives.

She brings to the table a wealth of practical knowledge from being involved in some of the most complex and dynamic transactions of the last decade in the Canadian finance market. She is Canadian counsel for the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA). Her work with ISDA includes drafting and publishing the Netting and Collateral opinions for the Canada, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Québec jurisdictions, which are relied upon by ISDA members and Canadian derivatives market participants from around the world. 

Lisa is consistently recognized as a leading lawyer by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in the area of derivatives, Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of banking and finance and as Highly Regarded by IFLR 1000 in the areas of banking and finance, derivatives and financial restructuring. Recently, Lisa was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada for 2023.  Each year, the Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers list recognizes an individual’s efforts to help shape the law and contribute to the strength and quality of legal services. Lawyers who are selected often contribute to the most nationally significant and strategic legal questions, cases, deals, and disputes.

Lisa has been appointed to the Collateral Infrastructure and Market Practices Advisory Group by the Bank of Canada. This group, comprising key capital market participants, provides guidance on the structure of the Canadian repo market. Lisa’s expertise will not only contribute to the development of a robust financial infrastructure but also serve to enhance Osler’s ongoing relationship with the Bank of Canada. Lisa’s appointment reflects the firm’s deep involvement and influence within the Canadian financial legal landscape.

Lisa received the following client praise as part of her nomination for the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers of 2023: “An ultimate expert in financial services with exceptional technical knowledge in lending and structured finance, she is a trusted leader to nearly all the players in the industry.”

In 2022, Lisa was appointed by the Bank of Canada as Chair of the Legal and Compliance Committee as part of the Canadian Alternative Reference Rate (CARR) working group established to shift Canada to the new Term Canadian Overnight Rep Rate Average (CORRA). Her guidance and leadership on these committees has proven invaluable as Canada seeks a smooth, viable and sound transition. Prior to her work on CORRA, Lisa established the Canadian Legal IBOR Committee to provide thought-leadership on common issues related to London Interbank Offered Rate fallback planning. She led the drafting of the recommended fallback language that will be implemented by every major financial institution and lender in the Canadian market.

Lisa speaks and writes extensively in Canada and internationally about the derivatives industry, fintech and cross-border financings. She is a board member of the Finance Advisory Board for Practical Law – Canada, established by Carswell and is a frequent faculty member for Osgoode Professional Development programs.

Areas of Expertise

Banking and Financial ServicesDerivativesFinancial ServicesInsolvency and RestructuringInvestment FundsPension Fund InvestmentsPrivate ClientPrivate CreditSecurities Regulatory

Representative Work

  • Acted for Merrill Lynch Commodities Inc. in a commodity intermediation transaction with U.S. Oil and Refining Co., which involved the structured purchase and sale of hydocarbons and included multiple hedging strategies with various parties
  • Helping to shape the current Canadian covered bond market as counsel to CMHC in its role as administrator of all Canadian registered covered bond programs
  • Advised CMHC in creating and implementing the Canadian Registered Covered Bond Programs Guide which establishes the structure and requirements applicable to registered covered bond issuers and their programs
  • Represented the Ad Hoc Committee of Noteholders of Pacific Exploration & Production Corporation in connection with the company’s CCAA restructuring which involved the equitization of approximately US$5.3 billion of Pacific’s debt, including the company’s senior unsecured notes, credit facilities and certain other obligations
  • Represented Gramercy Funds Management LLC in connection with the recapitalization of Banro Corporation which involved the refinancing of approximately US$270 million of debt and preference equity with US$197.5 of new Second Lien Notes issued and US$45 million in new money Gold Forward Financing
  • Third Party Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Investors Committee in the $32 billion successful restructuring of ABCP, the largest court-supervised debt restructuring in Canadian history, also believed to be the world’s largest private-market restructuring response to the 2008 world-wide credit crunch

Awards and Recognition

  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Banking & Financial Institutions; Derivative Instruments
  • Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A 2025
  • Lexpert’s Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers: A Guide to Doing Business in Canada: Recognized in Derivative Instruments
  • Canadian Lawyer: Recognized in Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers 2023
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Banking and Finance Law
  • IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Firms: Recognized in Banking; Capital markets : Derivatives; Financial Restructuring (Highly Regarded)

Media Mentions

  • Media Mentions December 12, 2023

    Lisa Mantello’s leadership at Osler helped usher in major reforms to Canada’s financial markets – Canadian Lawyer

    Lisa Mantello has been recognized as a Top 25 Most Influential Lawyer for her leadership in financial benchmark reform,

    Read more
  • Osler News September 13, 2023

    Lisa Mantello named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada for 2023

    Congratulations to Lisa Mantello, partner, Financial Services, for being recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian...

    Read more
  • Osler News April 19, 2023

    42 Osler lawyers recognized by Lexpert as leaders in Finance and M&A

    Osler is proud to announce 42 of our lawyers have been recognized as leaders in the Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A 2023.

    Read more
  • Osler News November 23, 2022

    Osler clients ranked on Deloitte’s 2022 Technology Fast 50

    23 of Osler’s clients have been ranked on Deloitte’s 2022 Technology Fast 50 program

    Read more
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Credentials

Education

  • Osgoode Hall/Schulich School of Business (LL.B/M.B.A, 2002)
  • York University (B.A., 1998)

Professional Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Ontario Bar Association
  • Women in Capital Markets
  • American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers, Fellow
  • Bank of Canada, Collateral Infrastructure and Market Practices Advisory Group, Member
  • International Swaps and Derivatives Association
  • Global Peer Financing Association

Osler is a leading business law firm practising internationally from offices across Canada and in New York. Our clients include industry and business leaders in all segments of the market and at various stages in the growth of their businesses. We have built our reputation on our commitment to our clients' success and the experience, expertise and collaborative approach for which we are recognized. We believe that our success is a reflection of our clients' success.