overview
Bruce gets deals done and gives practical advice.
He practices business law with an emphasis on corporate/commercial advice, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and complex commercial transactions including joint ventures, limited partnerships and structuring. This encompasses domestic businesses, subsidiaries of international corporations, real estate structuring, acquisitions and divestitures in the Canadian market as well as advising on Canadian issues associated with international transactions.
Bruce regularly advises public and private corporations, private equity funds, investment vehicles and other clients. He has experience in a variety of industries and leading economic sectors including real estate, industrial, pharmaceutical, health care, retail, financial and other service industries, automotive, insurance, film and computer software.
Bruce is very involved in the community. He led the firm’s Leadership United Way campaign for many years, is Past Chair of the Board of Governors at Royal St. George’s College, and is currently a Director at Alpine Canada.
Bruce has held several leadership positions at McMillan LLP. He is currently the firm’s Chief Financial Partner and has been the firm’s Chief Firm (Engagement) Partner. He sat on the firm’s Professional Services Committee for 6 years.
Representative Matters
- NYX Capital, acted on the investment by a new investor in various NYX storage facilities
- Great Point Capital, acted as Canadian counsel in connection with an investment in Axiom Real-Time Metrics
- Gentherm (Nasdaq), a thermal technology company, which develops and manufactures heating, cooling and ventilating devices for global markets - represented Gentherm in its acquisition of Etratech, in a minority investment in Etalim and its acquisition of Global Thermoelectric
- Apache Industrial Services, represented Quantum SCL Holdings Limited and Somad Holdings PTY Ltd., in the acquisition of Apache, a Houston based industrial services business, and the roll-in of Skyway Canada Limited
- Robert Bosch Venture Capital, represented RBVC in its Series A investments in Flybits (and Trellis Capital as co-investor), Airy3D and Poka
- Alignvest Capital Management, represented Alignvest in the structuring and establishment of its fund as well as several platforms, including student housing and provide regular corporate advice
- WESCO Distribution Canada LP, provide regular corporate advice and participated in the representation of WESCO in its acquisition of EECOL Electric Corp.
- Messer Canada Limited, provide regular corporate advice
- Parallax Development Corp. (formerly, Nico Puff Corporation), represented Nico Puff with Plan of Arrangement
- Lone Star, a Canadian based restaurant chain, provide regular corporate advice
- Picton Mahoney Asset Management, provide regular commercial and partnership advice
- Competitive Foods Canada, represented Competitive Foods in acquiring a minority interest in SIR Corp. (owner of Jack Astor's and Alice Fazooli's)
- Connell Limited Partnership, represented Connell in the add-on acquisition of the assets of AWC Manufacturing Inc. as well as its original acquisition of Anchor Lamina
- Catterton, represented Catterton Growth Fund on its investment in Cover FX and on its acquisition of Naya Waters and other multiple investments and related portfolio companies since 2001
- Skyway Canada/PERI, represented Skyway in acquisition of all the outstanding shares of PERI Scaffolding Services Inc. a subsidiary of PERI GmbH and representation of Skyway in refinancing
- Titan Outdoor, an outdoor media company - represented Titan in the acquisition and ultimate sale of its Canadian business
- HiIlcore Financial Corporation, provide regular corporate advice and represented Hillcore in closing multiple transactions since 2005
- A Place for Mom, a senior care referral company - assisted in setting up business in Canada and provide regular corporate advice to its Canadian subsidiary
- Voith, is a globally active engineering company with its broad portfolio covering plants, products and industrial services, provide regular corporate advice
- Fresenius Kabi Canada / Calea, provide regular corporate advice in respect of the Canadian operation of Fresenius Kabi, a German public company in the medical and drug therapy business
- Olin Chlor Alkali Products, a leading North American manufacturer of chlorine, caustic ClV soda, industrial bleach, hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide, hydrogen and related products - provide regular corporate advice
- Southwest Capital, an alternative asset manager and real estate private equity fund focused on the Southwestern United States - provided partnership and corporate advice including the establishment of Funds 2, 3, 4 and 6
- Huron Capital Partners, acted as Canadian counsel on the acquisitions and divestitures of OE Quality Friction Inc., Labstat International Inc. and Olon Canada Inc. and provided regular corporate advice to its Canadian portfolio companies
Presentations
Professionalism
Acquisitions: Letters of Intent and Confidentiality Agreements
Private M&A
Responsive Q and A Panel: We Take on Your Minute Book Questions
Building Essential Negotiating and Drafting Skills Shareholder Agreements (annually since 2014)
Raising Capital and Planning an Exit Strategy
Fundamentals of Unanimous Shareholder Agreements
Doing Private Equity Deals in 2012 – Identifying and Resolving Top Legal Issues
Acting for Start-Up Business
At the Heart of Contract Law
Publications
Thinking About Real Estate in Canada? Practical Considerations for Structuring a Private REIT
Getting the Deal Through (Canada Chapter) – Private Equity 2019 – Fund Formation
And then there were none; Ontario has repealed the Bulk Sales Act
Business Law Advisory Council Releases Fall 2016 Report
Limited Partnerships: When to Head to Manitoba and When to Stay at Home?
Common Business Agreement and Drafting Agreements – Corporate Governance Chapters (2006)
International Asset Transfer - An Overview of the Main Jurisdictions (Canadian Chapter)
The growing interest of international private equity funds to invest in Canada
Common Business Agreement and Drafting Agreements – Corporate Governance Chapters (2006)
An Unbiased Look at Unlimited Liability Companies in Canada
Confidentiality, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Covenants - A Practical Guide
News
62 McMillan Lawyers Recognized in the 2020 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
60 McMillan Lawyers Recognized in the 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
McMillan lawyers well-represented in the 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
McMillan lawyers well-represented in the 2017 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
McMillan lawyers well-represented in the 2016 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
McMillan lawyers are well represented in the 2015 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
McMillan lawyers are well represented in the 2014 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Education
- University of Toronto, LLB - 1995
- Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, B.Sc. Econ. Cum Laude – (At the Wharton School, Bruce studied a broad-based business curriculum including international business) - 1991
Year Of Call
- Called to the Ontario bar - 1997
Practices
venture capital
private equity
business law
private m&a
negotiated transactions
business formation
Industries
consortia
investments
venture capital
private equity - buyouts & venture capital investment
automotive
Directorships and Professional Associations
- Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA)
- Past Chair of the Board of Governors of Royal St. George's College, Toronto
- Director at Alpine Canada Alpin (the national governing body for alpine, para-alpine and ski cross racing in Canada)
Community Involvement
- Member of United Way Greater Toronto
Awards & Rankings
- Recognized in the 2020 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of Corporate Mid-Market
- Recognized in the 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of Corporate Mid-Market
- Recognized in the 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of Corporate Mid-Market
- Named in 2017 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as repeatedly recommended in the area of Corporate Mid-Market
- Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2016 as a leading lawyer in the area of Corporate Mid-Market