Speaker details

Biography

David Chaikof is a highly experienced M&A practitioner, providing sophisticated guidance on clients’ strategies and objectives on all aspects of their deal activity including helping Canadian businesses anticipate and respond to shareholder activism and change of control transactions. David is the managing partner of Torys’ New York office and a leading advisor for public companies and private equity firms on mergers and acquisitions. He has led cross-border acquisitions and takeover bids and regularly advises companies, boards of directors and special committees on M&A, proxy contests and corporate governance matters across industries. David is the lead external advisor to major Canadian enterprises including Fairfax Financial, Walmart Canada and BlackBerry, providing strategic advice on their M&A mandates. He guided BlackBerry and its board and management through its strategic review process along with the related US$1.25 billion financing. David guided Fairfax in its US$4.9 billion acquisition of Allied World Assurance and in its strategic investments in numerous companies, such as Toys “R” Us, Bauer and Easton Sports, Prime Restaurants, Chorus Aviation, Mega Brands, Eacom Timber, The Brick, Sporting Life, Torstar and Resolute. He advised the Caisse de dépôt on its US$1.1 billion cross border public company acquisition of Student Transportation and Cognos on its strategic review process culminating in its US$5.0 billion sale to IBM. David also has extensive Canada-US cross border capital markets experience as counsel to companies and investment banks through his participation in more than 250 Canadian, U.S. and international offerings resulting in more than US$50 billion in capital raised.