Peter Ascherl is engaged in the practice of corporate, commercial and securities law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions. Peter has represented international investors in connection with numerous acquisitions and joint ventures in Canada. As general counsel to a broad range of companies, he is conversant with day to day legal requirements of businesses, including: employment, sales representative, distribution, license and other agreements; terms and conditions of purchase and sale; federal and provincial compliance requirements; and regulatory matters pertinent to foreign investors.
Over the past five years, Peter's practice has focused on energy law where he has participated in the financing, development and acquisition of wind farm projects in Canada, which include:
- 272 MW wind farm in Seigneurie de Beaupré, Quebec comprising of 126 wind turbines
- 138 MW wind farm in Le Plateau, Quebec comprising of 60 wind turbines
- 100 MW wind farm in the Montéregie region, Quebec comprising of 44 wind turbines
- 90 MW Thames River Project consisting of a portfolio of nine separate 10 MW wind farms located in Southwestern Ontario between Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie, comprising of 45 wind turbines
- 102 MW wind farm near Bear Mountain -- Kiskatinaw Ridge, British Columbia, comprising of 34 wind turbines
- 76 MW wind farm near Ripley, Ontario, comprising of 38 wind turbines
- 76 MW wind farm near Pincer Creek, Alberta, comprising of 33 wind turbines
- 62.1 MW wind farm in Antigonish and Pictou Counties, Nova Scotia, comprising of 27 wind turbines
- 44 MW wind farm near Nuttby Mountain, Nova Scotia, comprising of 22 wind turbines
- 22 MW wind farm near Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, comprising of 11 wind turbines
Peter recently advised a U.S. electricity generating company on the acquisition of one of Canada's largest independent wind farm developers. In addition, Peter advised International Power plc, a U.K. electricity generating company, on Canadian aspects of its combination with GDF SUEZ's Energy International Business Areas (outside Europe). The combined business creates a global leader in independent power generation with over 66,000 MW of gross capacity in operation and committed projects expected to deliver 22,000 MW of gross capacity by 2013.
Peter also has experience with solar energy projects and recently advised a U.S. aggregator of solar installations on the development of solar rooftop energy projects under the Ontario Power Authority's Feed-in Tarriff (FIT) Program.
Peter has participated in numerous RFPs including Ontario's 500 MW RES III RFP, Hydro Québec's 2000 MW RFP for wind power, Hydro Québec's 250 MW RFP for wind power generated from aboriginal projects, Hydro Québec's 250 MW RFP for wind power generated from community projects and British Columbia's 2008 5,000 GWh Call for Clean Power.
Peter acts for a number of German clients with respect to a broad range of business law matters, including: a film distribution company in connection with a $140 million investment in a Canadian public corporation; a number of German aircraft lessors in the Air Canada CCAA proceedings; a major wind turbine manufacturer in respect of all of its Canadian activities; a major clothing manufacturer in respect of all of its Canadian activities; and a major plastics manufacturer in connection with its acquisition of a Canadian target corporation.
Before joining the firm, Peter spent six years working in Mannheim, Cologne and Dusseldorf, Germany. During that time he also studied German law at Karl Ruprechts University in Heidelberg, Germany. For six months in 1988 he worked for the law firm of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer whose offices are located throughout Germany and was involved in Eurobond financings and cross-border transactions.
Membership/Affiliations
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, International Bar Association
- Member, Metropolitan Toronto Lawyers Association
- Member, Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce