Law Firm Fasken Ranks #1 for M&A, Capital Markets, Private Equity in Canadian Q1 2022 League Tables

The Canadian law firm Fasken further strengthened its position as a leading advisor in M&A, private equity, and capital markets deals in the first quarter of 2022.

Fasken ranked #1 on completed M&A deals with any Canadian involvement as measured by both deal value and deal count, according to Refinitiv:

• #1 Any Canadian Involvement Completed - by Deal Value (up from #11 in Q1 2021)
• #1 Any Canadian Involvement Completed - by Deal Count (up from #2 in Q1 2021)

In Bloomberg's M&A league tables, Fasken retained its rank as the top legal advisor for mid-market deals as measured by deal count:

• #1 Canada Mid-Market by Deal Count (Up to US$500 million) - (retaining #1 from Q1 2021)
• #1 Canada Mid-Market by Deal Count (Up to US$250 million)) - (retaining #1 from Q1 2021)

Fasken ranked second and third in Bloomberg's M&A league tables for mid-market deals by value:

• #2 Canada Mid-Market by value (Up to US$250 million) - (up from #8 in Q1 2021)
• #3 Canada Mid-Market by Value (Up to US$500 million) - (up from #8 in Q1 2021)

In PitchBook's M&A and PE league tables, Fasken received four #1 rankings: 

• #1 PE deals, representing - most active in "rest of world" (i.e., global, excluding the US and Europe): companies
• #1 M&A deals, geography - most active in rest of world
• #1 M&A deals, representing - most active in rest of world: companies
• #1 M&A deals, representing - most active in rest of world: investors

And MergerMarket ranked Fasken #4 in its M&A Canada league table by deal count.

Fasken surged in Refinitiv's Q1 Private Equity and venture capital results:

• #11 - Advisors to Company: Venture Capital Rounds, Based on Round Value (up from #14 in Q1 2021)
• #8 - Advisors to Company: All Rounds, Based on Number of Rounds (up from #9 in Q1 2021)
• #6 - Advisors to Company: Venture Capital Rounds, Based on Number of Rounds (unchanged from Q1 2021)
• #18 - Advisors to Company: LBO & Related Rounds, Based on Number of Rounds (up from #28 in Q1 2021)
• #21 - Advisors to Firm: Venture Capital Rounds, Based on Number of Rounds (up from #40 in Q1 2021)
• #20 - Advisors to Company: Americas Advisors, All Rounds: Based on Round Value (N/A)

In capital markets, Fasken dominated the top two positions in multiple categories of Bloomberg's league tables:

• #1 Canada Equity Offerings: Legal Adviser - Manager - by Deal Count
• #1 Canada Equity & Equity Linked: Legal Adviser - Manager - by Deal Count
• #1 Canada Equity, Equity Linked & Preferred: Legal Adviser - Manager - by Deal Count
• #2 Canada Equity Offerings: Legal Adviser - Issuer - by Deal Count
• #2 Canada Equity IPO: Legal Adviser - Issuer - by Deal Value
• #2 Canada Equity IPO: Legal Adviser - Issuer - by Deal Count
• #2 Canada Equity & Equity Linked: Legal Adviser - Issuer - by Deal Count
• #2 Canada Equity, Equity Linked & Preferred: Legal Adviser - Issuer - by Deal Count

Refinitiv ranked Fasken among the leading firms in several capital markets categories: 

• #1 Global Equity & Equity-related - Manager Legal Advisor by Deal Count
• #1 Canada Equity & Equity-related - Manager Legal Advisor by Deal Count
• #3 Canada Equity & Equity-related - Issuer Legal Advisor by Deal Count

The Financial Post also named Fasken among the top firms for equity offerings:

• #3 for Canadian Legal Counsel on Equity Offerings - Canadian Legal Counsel to the Underwriter

"Q1 was another great quarter for Fasken's Capital Markets and M&A team," said Sean Stevens, Co-Leader of the Firm's Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions group. "Our continued excellent results in the rankings reflects the combination of our deep bench strength, specialist knowledge, and our focus on client service. We are committed to helping our clients achieve their objectives and appreciate the trust they have placed in us. We are extremely proud of these results." 

Sarah Gingrich, Co-Leader of Fasken's Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions group, added: "Both M&A and corporate finance activity in Q1 were negatively impacted by a number of factors, including inflation, the prospect of increased interest rates, continued supply-chain disruptions, and Russia's war on Ukraine. Capital markets don't like uncertainty, and the volatility has led many companies to step back and see where things are going."

Fasken's M&A practice is among Canada's largest, with more than 200 dedicated lawyers, and another 500 industry and subject matter specialists available to step in with advice on tax strategies, competition and foreign investment laws, acquisition financing, labour and employment, corporate finance, intellectual property, foreign corrupt practices and government relations, among other specialty areas.

Fasken's Corporate Finance & Securities practice advises corporations issuing securities and investment banks underwriting deals, small and mid-cap companies, and institutional investors. Clients include many companies listed on the TSX, TSX-V, NEO, NYSE, LSE, JSE and AIM. 

Fasken's Private Equity and Venture Capital practice is one of the largest among Canadian law firms, with over 100 lawyers, and is consistently recognized as a leading national PE practice group.