James Lisson is counsel to the firm and a member of the firm's Corporate/Commercial practice group.
James practices business law and assists clients in achieving a wide variety of strategic objectives. He has extensive experience in Canada and the United Kingdom working with clients and their boards, senior management, general counsel, auditors and advisors on public and private mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and alliances, private equity investments, cross border equity and debt financings, multi-jurisdictional restructurings and governance and regulatory issues.
Jim has led or played a key role on legal teams involved in complex transactions in several sectors. He advised the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in 2006 on its acquisition, together with two other parties, of UK airport operator, BAA Plc. In that year, he also assisted Terra Firma Capital Partners Limited on the financing of a bid for RWE Thames Water plc. In 2003/04 Jim worked closely with the Canadian developer of Canary Wharf in connection with the privatization of Canary Wharf Group Limited.
Jim was the Executive Chairman of The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited, one of North America's largest commercial real estate companies in 1993 – 1994, after serving for several years as a company director. While on executive interchange with the Department of Finance (Canada), Jim advised on reform in the financial services sector. He was a lead advisor to the Canadian Government on the failure of the Canadian Commercial Bank and the Northland Bank and acted as legal advisor and then principal federal government negotiator in connection with the Newgrade Upgrader, Canada's first public private partnership.
Jim is a frequent speaker and author of papers concerning board responsibilities, the negotiation of major business agreements, restructurings, innovative securities, shareholder agreements and various financial sector matters including the interplay of strategic initiatives and regulation, ownership restrictions, business powers and investments, alliances and capital issues.
Community Involvement
- Member, Advisory Committee, Institute of Psychiatry (London) (2003-present)
- Director, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation (Toronto) (1996-2002)
- Co-ordinator, Terry Fox Charitable Foundation (1998-2001)
- Co-ordinator, United Way of Greater Toronto (1980-1991)
Membership/Affiliations
- Institute-certified Director (ICD.D), Institute of Corporate Directors
- Member, International Bar Association (2003-present)
- Member, International Corporate Governance Network (2004-present)
- Member, Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce (2003-present)
- Member, The Law Society of England & Wales
- Member, Law Society of Upper Canada
- Canadian Nominee, Financial Services Dispute Resolution Panel, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (2001-present)
- Co-Chairman, Joint Committee on Audit Committee on Audit Inquiries, Canadian Bar Association and Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (1994-1999)
- Canadian Bar Association
- Chairman, National Business Law Section (1992-1994)
- Chairman, Business Law Section - Ontario (1990-1992)
- Member, Subcommittee on Legal Opinions, Business Law Section - Ontario (1991-1995)
- Executive Member, Business Law Section - Ontario (1985-1990)
- American Bar Association
- Business and International Law Sections (1998-present);
- Business Law Section Committee on Legal Opinions (1990-2000)
- Davies, Ward & Beck Canadian Corporate/Securities Law Moot Court Competition
- Member, Advisory Committee (1999)
- Judge, (1994 - 2001)