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Peter Villani Associé/Partner Montréal

Peter Villani

Partner Fasken
In comparison with the SEC, the Canadian Security Administrators will take a more conservative approach to putting rules around the use of social media for financial disclosure.
Jurisdiction Ontario, 1991 | Québec, 1987
Language(s) French, Italian, English
Office(s) Montréal
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Overview

Peter Villani leads complex transactions with major players in the retail, ecommerce, fibre optics testing, and telecommunications sectors. With dealings in the US, South Africa, South America, Europe and Asia, Peter possesses exceptional international insight and perspective.

Peter is active in the community, having been president of the Jewish Vocational Service and JVS Jewish Workshop Inc., and acting as current legal counsel to the Canadian Italian Business & Professionals Association (CIBPA). He is also a Governor of the Canadian-Italian Community Foundation and past-president of United Talmud Torah, an organization of Jewish day schools in Montréal.

Peter advises Canadian businesses (operating both inside and outside of Canada), on how to best manage the risk of human rights impacts in their operations and supply chains, as well as guiding them on corporate reporting obligations, including those under Canada’s new Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act.

Achievements

  • Recognized as Lawyers of the Year in Mining Law in Montreal, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2024 to 2026
  • Best lawyers Canada Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law in Montreal, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2024 to 2026
  • Recognized in Mergers & Acquisitions Law in Montreal, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2020 to 2026
  • Reconnu dans le répertoire Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory en Environnement, social et gouvernance (ESG) et Financement d'entreprise et valeurs mobilières, Lexpert 2025 to 2026
  • Recognized nationwide as a Notable practitioner in Mergers & Acquisitions, IFLR 1000 2024 to 2025
  • Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in Mining and Corporate Finance & Securities, Lexpert 2024
  • Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in ESG, Lexpert Canadian Legal Directory 2024
  • Recognized nationwide as a Notable Practitioner in Capital Markets, IFLR 1000 2022 to 2024
  • Recognized in the areas of Corporate Finance & Securities and Mining Law by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Lexpert 2020 to 2023
  • Awarded "Corporate and Strategic Deal of the Year" at the M&A Advisor Awards, 11/22/2019

Experience

  • Awendio Solaris completed new partnership with The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK), [Deal - Awendio Solaris], Major renewable energy project.
  • Desjardins Group issues $500 million in senior “sustainable” notes in the Canadian market, [Deal - The syndicate of agents led by Desjardins Securities Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and TD Securities Inc.], On August 25, 2025, Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in North America and the sixth largest cooperative financial group in the world, issued C$ 500 million in senior “sustainable” notes in the Canadian market. A Fasken team composed of Peter Villani, Guillaume Saliah, Dam...
  • Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec filed a short form base shelf prospectus to issue $2 billion in medium term notes, [Deal - The brokers], Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec filed a short form base shelf prospectus to issue $2 billion in medium term notes.
  • Issuance of C$1.25 billion of 4.264% Non-Viability Contingent Capital (NVCC) Notes (Subordinated Indebtedness) by Fédération des Caisses Desjardins du Québec, [Deal - Desjardins Securities Inc.], Issuance of C$1.25 billion of 4.264% Non-Viability Contingent Capital (NVCC) Notes (Subordinated Indebtedness) by Fédération des Caisses Desjardins du Québec.
  • Desjardins Group issues $1.25 billion in senior notes in the Canadian market, [Deal - The syndicate of agents led by Desjardins Securities Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and CIBC World Markets Inc.], On September 24, 2024, Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in North America and the sixth largest cooperative financial group in the world, issued C$1.25 billion in senior notes in the Canadian market. A Fasken team composed of Peter Villani, Guillaume Saliah and Damien Hall...
  • WorkJam announced US$20 million investment from Export Development Canada, [Deal - WorkJam Inc.], Investment of US$20 million for WorkJam.
  • Issuance of C$1 billion of 5.279% Non-Viability Contingent Capital (NVCC) Notes by Fédération des Caisses Desjardins du Québec, [Deal - Desjardins Securities Inc.], Issuance of C$1 billion of 5.279% Non-Viability Contingent Capital (NVCC) Notes (Surborbinated Indebtedness) by Fédération des Caisses Desjardins du Québec.
  • Desjardins Group issues $1.25 billion in senior notes in the Canadian market, [Deal - The brokers], On November 17, 2023, Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in North America and the fifth largest cooperative financial group in the world, issued CAN $1.25 billion in senior notes in the Canadian market. A Fasken team composed of Peter Villani, Alexandre Morin and Damien Hal...
  • Desjardins Group issues $500 million in sustainable bonds in the Canadian market, [Deal - The brokers], This issuance is part of a broader program led by Desjardins Group to solicit the sustainable bond market.

Career & Education

Education

  • LLB, BCL McGill University
  • BA McGill University

Community involvement

  • Peter has been active in both the Italian and Jewish communities, having been the President of the Jewish Vocational Service and JVS Jewish Workshop Inc. and is currently acting as legal counsel to the Canadian Italian Business & Professionals Association (CIBPA) and is a Governor of the Canadian-Italian Community Foundation. In addition, Peter was President of United Talmud Torah, an organization of Jewish day schools in Montréal.

Knowledge

  • 2026 ESG Disclosure Study, 3/3/2026
  • CSA Pauses New Climate and DEI Disclosure Rules to Focus on the Competitiveness of Canada’s Capital Markets, 4/24/2025
  • Global Market Uncertainty Prompts Securities Regulators to Act to Encourage IPOs and Increase the Competitiveness of Canada’s Capital Markets, 4/22/2025
  • 2025 ESG Disclosure Study, 2/24/2025
  • The AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) Incorporates ISSB Standards Into Its New Climate Risk Management Guideline, 7/10/2024
  • The SEC's Final Rules on Climate Related Disclosure and What They May Mean for Canadian Issuers, 3/13/2024
  • 2024 ESG Disclosure Study, 1/9/2024
  • Capital Markets : 6 Highlights in 2022, 12/7/2022

Events

  • New federal legislation on the use of forced labour: your supply chain in the spotlight, 10/5/2023
  • Colloque 2022 - Marchés des Capitaux de Fasken, 11/29/2022
  • Colloque en valeurs mobilières, 2/26/2019
  • Annual Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions Seminar - 2017, 2/1/2017
  • Breakfast Seminar, 6/22/2015
  • Fasken Martineau Symposium 2014 - Montréal, 5/13/2014
  • Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions Annual Seminar 2014, 2/6/2014
  • Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions Annual Seminar 2013, 2/7/2013
  • Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions Annual Seminar 2012, 2/9/2012
  • Plan Nord: What Every Investor Should Know, 1/26/2012

News

  • Fasken Team Helps Clients Align ESG With Their Business Objectives, 9/21/2022
  • Fasken Attends IBA 2022 in Miami, 7/21/2022
  • Fasken Martineau advises Southfield Capital in its sale of RCR International, 8/13/2014
  • Droit-Inc mentions a team of Fasken Martineau lawyers in an article on the significant acquisition of a British company by Lumenpulse, 7/18/2014
  • Fasken Martineau advises Lumenpulse in the asset acquisition of Projection Lighting Limited, 7/10/2014
  • Droit-inc quotes Peter Villani in an article on Lumenpulse, a Montreal business that has completed its initial public offering, 4/25/2014
  • Fasken Martineau advises Lumenpulse in a $100 Million Initial Public Offering, 4/17/2014

Publications

  • Corporate Disclosure by Reporting Issuers on Social Media, 3/20/2017
  • Cybersecurity Risk Disclosure and Reporting Issuers, 2/10/2017
  • Canadian Securities Regulators Publish Final Proxy Voting Protocols to Improve the Proxy Voting Experience, 2/9/2017
  • The AMF Decides Not to Offer Financial Compensation to Whistleblowers, 7/26/2016
  • Getting the Deal Through - Mining 2012 - Canada, 7/1/2012
  • Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions Newsletter, 4/12/2010
  • The Canadian Securities Administrators Propose Major Amendments to Insider Reporting Requirements and Exemptions, 1/31/2009
  • Amendments to National Instrument 51-102 regarding material contracts to come into force on March 17, 2008, 3/5/2008
  • Latest News for 2008 Proxy Season, 2/8/2008
  • Amendments To National Instrument 51-102 (NI 51-102) (Continuous Disclosure Obligations), 1/9/2008
Article Corporate Disclosure by Reporting Issuers on Social Media TIMELY disclosure
Article Cybersecurity Risk Disclosure and Reporting Issuers TIMELY disclosure blog
Article Canadian Securities Regulators Publish Final Proxy Voting Protocols to Improve the Proxy Voting Experience TIMELY disclosure blog

Speaking Engagements

  • The Future of the Initial Public Offering in Québec, 4/28/2015
  • Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods – A Practitioner’s View, 3/13/2013
  • Recent Trends in Mergers and Acquisitions in the Lithium Space, 1/29/2013
  • Le Plan Nord, 5/17/2012
  • Due Diligence - 2nd annual edition, 4/17/2008
  • Due Diligence, 11/7/2007
  • Securities Conference, 9/26/2007
  • Client seminars on Corporate Governance and Disclosure for Public Companies, 5/1/2006
  • Client seminar on Corporate Governance with PricewaterhouseCoopers, 3/1/2005
  • Seminar on Going Public – Biotech Québec, 1/1/2003
The Future of the Initial Public Offering in Québec Workshop - 7th Fasken Martineau Symposium location location Montreal
Recent Trends in Mergers and Acquisitions in the Lithium Space Speaker, 5th Lithium Supply & Markets organized by the Metal Bulletin location location Las Vegas Caesars Palace