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Michael Bourassa Toronto Lawyer

Michael J. Bourassa

Partner Fasken
Knowing how to manoeuver on international issues and working with local counsel is a fundamental part of our expertise for exploration and mining projects.
Jurisdiction Ontario, 1986
Language(s) English
Office(s) Toronto
Contact

Overview

Michael Bourassa’s practice is focused in the mining industry. A member of the Global Mining Group, he acted as the group’s co-ordinator from 2004-2012. A recognized expert, Michael has accumulated extensive experience on both Canadian and international mining projects.

Providing advice on public financings, commercial mining agreements, and corporate social responsibility, and litigation support, Michael also has significant expertise in international mining due diligence issues concerning title, technical matters and environmental risks.

Michael was elected Vice-President of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation) in July 2023 and continues to sit on council for the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Section on Energy, Environment, Resources and Infrastructure Law. He previously served as the Co-Chair of the IBA’s Mining Law Committee and was a Director of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. Michael frequently speaks and writes on important trends in the mining industry.

Widely recognized for his mining expertise, Michael has been ranked in several leading legal publications including Chambers Global, Chambers Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. He has also been named Who's Who Legal’s "Mining Lawyer of the Year" in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2017, and been recognized in their International Who's Who of Mining Lawyers, for 13 consecutive years.


Achievements

Client Work

  • Zijin Mining signs share purchase agreement with Freeport-McMoran to acquire remaining interest in the lower zone of the Timok copper and gold mine in Serbia for up to US$390 million,
  • HudBay Minerals Inc. Acquires Interest in Rosemont Copper Project JV,
  • Gold Fields Acquires Joint Venture Interest in the Asanko Gold Mine for US$185 Million,
  • Wuxi Baichuan Chemical Industrial acquires 10% of MetalsTech Limited,
  • IAMGOLD announces strategic agreement with Sumitomo Metal Mining for the development of Côté Gold,
  • Zijin Mining acquires 49.5% of Ivanhoe’s Kamoa Copper Project Stake for a total aggregate consideration of US$412 million,
  • Zijin Mining Group agrees to pay C$105 million to acquire a 9.9% stake of Ivanhoe Mines,
  • IAMGOLD completes sale of Niobec Mine for total consideration of US$530 million,
  • Zijin Mining acquires 51% equity interest in La Compagnie Minière de Musonoie Global SAS for approximately US$78 million,

Career & Education

Education

  • LLB University of Saskatchewan
  • BSc (Hons), Physical Geography University of Saskatchewan

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Vice-President, Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation)
  • Past-Chair, Ontario Bar Association, Natural Resources Section
  • Member, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
  • Past Director, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada
  • Co-Chair, Mining Committee, International Bar Association 
  • Former Director and Former Trustee, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Ontario Bar Association

Knowledge

Fasken Institute

News

Publications

Speaking Engagements

Governing Ethics and Sustainability for Companies, An Evolving Legal Regime CCCA National Spring Conference location location Toronto
International Bar Association’s Model Mineral Development Agreement Osgoode Certificate in Mining Law, Osgoode Professional Development location location Toronto

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