Edward Johnston

Based in Toronto, Ed Johnston serves as a partner at Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP and leads the firm's Investment Funds, Private Equity Group on a national level. Specializing in corporate commercial law, his practice is focused on guiding clients through private mergers and acquisitions, private equity investment transactions, fund formation, and both debt and equity corporate finance. Ed is adept at advising on business structuring and establishment in Canada, corporate reorganizations, and the management of commercial and contractual matters.

His client base is diverse, spanning from prominent private equity funds and fund sponsors to burgeoning start-up enterprises. Ed boasts a wealth of experience in crafting investment products related to private equity, real estate, and infrastructure asset classes for significant Canadian pension and endowment funds, asset managers, and investors both within Canada and internationally. Furthermore, he represents a variety of businesses engaged in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, steel, transportation, waste management, distribution, institutional real estate, and infrastructure.

Ed's areas of expertise encompass Capital Markets, Corporate Commercial, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, and Insurance and Reinsurance, illustrating his comprehensive knowledge and versatility in the legal field.

His professional accomplishments have been recognized with listings in Best Lawyers in Canada for consecutive years, underscoring his esteemed position in the legal community. Ed embarked on his legal career after being called to the Ontario bar in 2005, following his academic pursuits where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queen's University and an LLB from the University of Western Ontario.

As an active member of the Canadian Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association, and the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA), Ed Johnston is deeply embedded in the legal and venture capital communities, where he continues to provide invaluable counsel and leadership in the realm of investment funds and private equity.