Brian practises corporate and commercial law, advising clients on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures of businesses, leveraged buy-outs, cross-border transactions, corporate finance and secured lending, corporate governance, commercial real estate and other general commercial matters.
- Acted as lead counsel in the land assembly, financing, construction and leasing of “True North Square”, a major, mixed use development and public plaza in downtown Winnipeg.
- Acted on behalf WGI Westman Group of Companies in the acquisition of the operations of the national steel drainage solutions division of Armtec LP.
- Acted on behalf of the founders/owners of Mondetta/MPG, a global manufacturer/distributor of casual apparel and activewear, in connection with the sale of a substantial equity interest to Webster Equity Partners, a U.S. private equity firm.
- Acted on behalf of the founders/owners of K-Tec Earthmovers Inc., a manufacturer and global distributor of earthmoving equipment, in connection with the sale of substantial equity interest to Owner Resource Group (ORG), a U.S. private equity firm.
- Acted on behalf of True North Sports+Entertainment to negotiate and conclude the equity and syndicated debt financing for the acquisition and relocation of the NHL “Atlanta Thrashers” to Winnipeg.
- Acted in the financing and construction of a new downtown sports and entertainment complex, involving public sector and private sector (equity and debt) participation.
- Acted in the merger of a local private company with a national, publicly-traded company
- Acted in the sale of a national portfolio of commercial real estate properties.
- Member of the MLT Aikins Executive Board
- Director, Health Sciences Centre Foundation
- Director, True North Youth Foundation
- Law Society of Manitoba: Bencher (2009-2012), Complaints Investigation Committee, Chair (2011-2012), Investment Committee (2011-present)
- Director, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (2009-2012)
- Past Chair of the Board of Directors, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (Manitoba Division)
Memberships
- Manitoba Bar Association
- Canadian Bar Association
- Former Sessional Lecturer – University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, Advanced Corporate Law
- Lawyer of the Year, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Best Lawyers (Winnipeg, 2022)
- Lawyer of the Year, Corporate Law, Best Lawyers (Winnipeg, 2021)
- Recognized by Chambers Canada as a Leading Canadian lawyer in Corporate/Commercial law (since 2021)
- Lawyer of the Year, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Best Lawyers (Winnipeg, 2020)
- Recognized in Best Lawyers, Corporate Law (since 2011) and Mergers & Acquisitions Law (since 2020)
- Named consistently in the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guides as one of leading 500 lawyers in Canada
- A leading practitioner, Corporate Commercial, Corporate Mid-Market, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory