Kevin Ackhurst

Kevin Ackhurst, a seasoned partner within the Competition & Foreign Investment Group, brings over two decades of invaluable experience to the table, specializing in guiding businesses through the intricacies of Canadian regulatory frameworks pertinent to mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. His advisory scope encompasses both civil and criminal aspects of competition law, ranging from issues like dominance abuse and cartel activities to merger regulations, deceptive marketing practices, and pricing and distribution concerns. Kevin's proficiency extends to crafting and implementing comprehensive competition law compliance programs for organizations of varying sizes, ensuring adherence to the Competition Act. Additionally, his expertise covers the scrutiny of foreign investments under the Investment Canada Act's net benefit and national security criteria.

Kevin's client portfolio is as diverse as it is international, covering sectors from aerospace and agribusiness to pharmaceuticals and telecommunications, earning him widespread recognition across prominent legal directories such as Chambers Canada and Lexpert for his pivotal role in Canada's antitrust arena.

As a prolific writer, Kevin contributes to various authoritative texts on competition and antitrust law, including chapters on pharmaceutical antitrust and merger control in Canada. His insights also regularly grace the Twitterverse under the handle @CanadaAntitrust, where he engages in discussions on competition and foreign investment trends.

His commitment to the legal community is evident through his active involvement with the Canadian Bar Association, where he has held leadership roles in the Foreign Investment Review and Mergers Committees. Additionally, Kevin has shared his expertise as an adjunct professor at Western University Law School, teaching Competition Law.

Kevin's early career included a significant secondment to the Canadian Competition Bureau's International Affairs Division, where he played a crucial role in supporting the International Competition Network steering group and contributed to the dialogue on the convergence of trade and competition law.

Before his tenure at Stikeman Elliott, Kevin led the Canadian competition practice at an international law firm, further solidifying his reputation as a leading authority in the field.

Kevin's academic credentials include an LL.M. from the University of Toronto, an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School, and a B.A. from Western University, Huron College. He was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1999, marking the beginning of a distinguished career that continues to influence the landscape of competition and foreign investment law in Canada.