Legal services for Canadian Credit Unions

Peter Drazic

Partner, M&A, Credit Unions & Cooperatives Lead

Peter focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial law, secured financing and governance, with significant experience in the credit union sector. He advises credit unions and their affiliated entities across Canada, supporting a range of commercial initiatives, including merger activity and consolidation efforts.

With extensive experience representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders within the credit union system as well as financial institutions, credit unions and centrals across Western Canada, Peter has a deep understanding of the sector’s unique dynamics, challenges and strategic opportunities. He has played a key role in merger, acquisition and securities transactions involving both national and international businesses.

Peter also has extensive experience in private and public Canadian and cross-border merger and acquisition transactions. In addition, he has a broad base of general corporate and commercial, real estate and securitization experience acquired by advising clients in various industries at all stages of development.

Experience

• Counsel and transaction adviser in respect of some of the largest credit union mergers in Canada, including most recently serving as joint transaction counsel and legal adviser to connectFirst and Servus credit unions in a historic landmark merger, resulting in a combined credit union with more than $30 billion in assets under administration
• Joint transaction counsel and legal adviser to Propsera Credit Union and Westminster Savings Credit Union
• Counsel to Canadian credit union centrals and CUMIS Group Ltd. in the merger that led to the formation of Aviso Wealth Limited Partnership
• Advised various credit unions with respect to governance support, review, transition and modernization

Yassir Alnaji

Associate, M&A, Corporate Governance, Credit Unions & Cooperatives

Yassir is a corporate and commercial lawyer with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, governance and business strategy. He has substantial experience advising credit unions, centrals across Western Canada and other system partners, with a particular emphasis on corporate governance, merger transactions, integrations and system-level collaboration initiatives.

Yassir regularly represents a broad range of stakeholders within the credit union system and is recognized for his practical understanding of the sector’s regulatory environment, cooperative principles and strategic imperatives.

In addition to his work in the credit union space, Yassir advises on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions in both the private and public sectors, and supports clients across industries with general corporate matters, commercial agreements, real estate and secured lending.

Drawing on his background as an entrepreneur and business owner, Yassir brings a commercially minded approach to legal challenges, helping clients implement operational, tactical and strategic decisions with efficiency and clarity.

Experience

• Advised on merger, acquisition and securities transactions involving both national and international businesses
• Joint transaction counsel and legal adviser to connectFirst and Servus credit unions in a historic landmark merger, resulting in a combined credit union with more than $30 billion in assets under administration
• Joint transaction counsel and legal adviser to Propsera Credit Union and Westminster Savings Credit Union
• Advised various credit unions with respect to governance support, review, transition and modernization