Andrew Elbaz, Rory Godinho, Shane Hardy, Michael Osborne, Steven Weisz, and Kevin Zimka were named to the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for 2024. The lawyers named on the Lexpert survey have been recommended by their law firm leaders or Lexpert-ranked lawyer and are considered leaders in their respective fields and prominent in their practice areas and professional organizations. Lexpert surveys all lawyers nominated, as well as inhouse counsel. This year’s Lexpert survey had a total response rate of more than 77 percent.
Elbaz is co-chair of the firm's Canadian Capital Markets & Securities Practice. He concentrates his practice on IPOs, public offerings, private placements, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures in a range of global industries, including technology, life science, mining, and oil and gas. He also represents issuers based in Canada, the United States, and around the globe looking to access Canadian capital market opportunities and list on the Toronto Stock Exchange or the TSX Venture Exchange. Elbaz also advises leading Canadian investment banks on domestic and cross-border public and private financings, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate and securities law matters.
Godinho, who is co-chair of the Canadian Capital Market & Securities practice, has a broad client base, including private and publicly traded companies in the natural resource, technology/biotechnology, health (pharmaceutical/nutraceutical), psychedelics, food and beverage, and industrial sectors and also acts for several independent investment dealers. Godinho has extensive experience advising these clients on a wide array of matters such as IPOs, public and private equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, reverse takeovers, qualifying transactions, corporate restructurings and reorganizations, capital alterations, and continuous disclosure requirements. He advises clients on corporate governance related matters, including regulatory compliance, corporate governance policies, fiduciary duties, and directors’ and officers’ liability. He has also acted as counsel to clients involved with proxy contests takeover defense mechanisms and shareholder rights plans.
Hardy, chair of the firm’s Canadian Intellectual Property Practice, is a strategic business adviser who has assisted in the acquisition, licensing, and marketing of some of the world’s most famous trademarks and IP assets. Hardy is one of a select few Canadian practitioners recognized for his experience in commercial transactions regarding intellectual property assets and is frequently called upon by brand owners around the world to assist with their international acquisition and licensing plans. Hardy has assisted clients with cross-border acquisitions where target entities have an intellectual property focus and is a leader of the firm's luxury law protection team.
Osborne, chair of the firm’s Canadian Competition Practice, helps businesses navigate competition (antitrust), foreign investment, and other regulatory regimes and resolve commercial disputes. His 25 years of experience and broad practice enable him to identify an achievable outcome that best aligns with his clients’ goals and to work towards achieving that outcome. He advises and defends clients worldwide in inquiries and proceedings commenced by the Competition Bureau, including criminal matters, abuse of dominance, and marketing and advertising matters. He defends clients in private proceedings under the Competition Act, including price-fixing class actions.
Weisz concentrates his practice on commercial litigation and insolvency law. Bringing over three decades of experience as a leader in his field, he skillfully guides his clients through all aspects of complex domestic and multinational insolvencies. He prides himself on taking a pragmatic, cost-efficient approach to even the most complex multidimensional and multidisciplinary issues. He regularly represents purchasers of distressed debt and assets, debtors, directors, court-appointed officers, and major stakeholders of insolvent businesses — often on an urgent basis.
Zimka focuses his practice on domestic and international corporate tax issues, including M&A, corporate reorganizations, equity and debt financings, and income tax issues involving partnerships, trusts, and other investment vehicles. He brings a strong background in inbound and outbound transaction structuring and experience handling a range of mining industry tax matters — particularly flow-through shares.
About Cozen O'Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 33 offices across two continents.