Ross Bentley

Ross excels in the realm of securities and corporate law, particularly shining in the sectors of mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. His expertise spans across assisting acquirers, targets, boards, and special committees in significant take-over bids, plans of arrangement, and mergers. His skill set extends to representing various parties in notable proxy contests.

With a broad spectrum of experience in equity and debt offerings, Ross has guided numerous project financings and offerings across investment grade, subordinated, and high-yield debt categories. His proficiency in facilitating shelf financing programs is notable, encompassing both domestic and cross-border offerings under the collaborative Canada/US system.

Ross's portfolio includes serving issuers, underwriters, and selling shareholders in sectors such as airlines, pipelines, energy infrastructure, agribusiness, energy services, exploration, development, banking, and railroads. His advisory capabilities cover corporate governance, continuous disclosure, stock exchange matters, and general corporate issues, with a keen focus on ESG considerations related to governance, compliance, disclosure, and sustainable finance.

His recent advisories include significant transactions like TC Energy Corporation's spinoff, WestJet's C$5.0-billion acquisition by Onex Corporation, and Cenovus Energy Inc.'s asset acquisition from ConocoPhillips. His defense against proxy contests for Agrium Inc. and The Forzani Group Ltd. underscores his prowess in shareholder activism.

In financing, Ross facilitated the Calgary Airport Authority's bond issuance and exchange, Canadian Pacific Railway's senior unsecured notes offering, and multiple financing transactions for Cenovus Energy Inc. and TransCanada Corporation, totaling over C$30-billion.

Ross's excellence has been acknowledged in several prestigious publications, reflecting his leadership in corporate/M&A, corporate finance & securities, and more. He has been recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" multiple times, underlining his distinguished contributions to corporate governance practice and mergers and acquisitions.

Beyond his professional achievements, Ross has dedicated time to serve on advisory committees and boards, contributing to the Toronto Stock Exchange and community institutions like YMCA Calgary and West Island College. His educational foundation includes a LLB and MBA from the University of Alberta, complemented by a Bachelor of Commerce, marking a comprehensive journey of legal and business acumen since his bar admission in 1995.