Mark Lively

Mark is a lawyer specializing in mergers and acquisitions, known for his adept handling of complex transactions across Canada, the United States, and globally. His expertise extends to guiding both domestic and international clients through the intricacies of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Mark is not only sought after by clients for strategic buyouts and sales but also by private equity firms and their subsidiaries for his advice on investments, consolidations, separations, and sales.

His legal acumen also encompasses a broad spectrum of financing matters, including venture capital, private placements, and convertible debts, along with corporate restructuring and governance. Mark's commitment to his clients is evident in his personalized approach, ensuring that his legal advice is finely tuned to the unique demands of their industries, which range from IT and biotech to consumer goods, financial services, and construction. This breadth of industry knowledge enables him to navigate the specific challenges and leverage opportunities unique to each sector.

Before his tenure at Blakes, Mark honed his skills in the corporate commercial sector at a prominent law firm based in Vancouver. His recent professional accomplishments include facilitating significant transactions such as the sale of the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Team to a U.S. entity, guiding a heavy machinery manufacturer through the sale of a Canadian division, and advising New Water Capital in its acquisition of a flexible packaging company.

Additionally, Mark played a crucial role in the acquisitions by CAI Capital and a strategic sale involving a Chilean digital services firm. His expertise also proved pivotal in transactions involving a cloud-based dental imaging company, a ski resort in British Columbia, a cloud-based hotel management system, and a global consumer products company.

Mark's legal education includes a JD from the University of Victoria, complemented by a BSc in Business Management and Marketing from Chestnut Hill College. He is duly admitted to practice law in both California and British Columbia. His practice areas are primarily in corporate and commercial law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, and he has a particular interest in the private equity and technology sectors. Mark's career is distinguished by his versatile expertise and a deep commitment to delivering strategic, industry-specific legal guidance