William Braithwaite

William Braithwaite holds the position of senior counsel within his law firm, a role he stepped into after serving as the firm's Chair from 2012 to 2018. His prior contributions to the firm include membership on the Partnership Board and Executive Committee, along with leading the Corporate Group in the Toronto office. Specializing in mergers and acquisitions alongside corporate finance, Bill has been instrumental in facilitating major cross-border mergers, offering his expertise to significant Canadian corporations, director boards, institutional shareholders, and even governments and regulatory bodies.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field, Bill was honored as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada by Canadian Lawyer magazine in 2018. His peers and clients laud him for his leadership in managing complex deals, highlighting his ability to navigate the intricacies of corporate transactions with ease and ensure client comfort throughout the process. His adeptness at focusing on the core elements of a deal and steering it to completion has earned him widespread admiration and respect.

Bill's influence extends beyond his immediate professional circle. He has served as the past chairman of the Ontario Securities Commission's Advisory Committee and contributes as a special lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School’s LL.M. program. His engagement with the legal community is further evidenced by his participation in various panels and conferences focused on corporate and securities law. Additionally, he holds the chairmanship of Computershare Trust Company of Canada's board of directors and has authored several articles on mergers and acquisitions, as well as corporate and securities law.

Before his tenure at Stikeman Elliott, Bill's illustrious career included serving as a clerk to the Chief Justice at the Supreme Court of Canada. This was followed by an academic stint as an associate professor and assistant dean at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he contributed significantly to the legal education landscape.