Overview
CHRIS HAS OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECURITIES OFFERINGS, STOCK EXCHANGE LISTINGS, MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, TENDER OFFERS, PROXY CONTESTS, CONTESTS FOR CORPORATE CONTROL AND SHAREHOLDER DISPUTES, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND GENERAL BUSINESS COUNSELING, NEW BUSINESSES FORMATION AND VENTURE CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS.
Chris has acted as lead counsel in a broad variety of complex financing transactions and acquisitions and is an internationally recognized expert in structuring and competing cross-border financings and acquisitions. He has represented issuers, underwriters and investors in numerous public and private securities offerings and venture capital transactions. He has served as the legal advisor and counselor to a variety of U.S. and non-U.S. companies, assisting them in managing their general legal affairs, corporate governance and long-term strategic planning.
Chair of the firm’s Canada Practice Group, a major portion of his practice involves advising Canadian and other non-U.S. clients in accessing the U.S. capital markets, cross-border mergers and acquisitions and investment transactions and U.S. securities law compliance. Chris is a leader in the firm's representation of mining, energy and natural resources clients. The firm’s mining practice has received international recognition for its excellence.
Chris has advised clients in a variety of industries, including mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, medical equipment and devices, software, Internet and e-business, telecommunications, radio broadcasting, financial services, retailing, manufacturing, forest products, transportation and restaurants. Chris also advises clients that participate in the cannabis industry, including non-U.S. interests, concerning regulatory and financing matters.
Education & Admissions
University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 1976), Member, Editorial board, Virginia Law Review, 1974-1976
Harvard University (B.A., cum laude, General Studies, 1969), Field of Concentration: Physics
Admissions
- Washington
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Qualified as a foreign legal consultant in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, Canada
Experience
Representative Transactions
- Talisman Energy Inc.
Numerous U.S. public offerings of debt and preferred securities
Private note placements
Mergers and acquisitions
New York Stock Exchange listing of common shares
Shareholder Rights Plan
U.S. securities law reporting and compliance - Franco-Nevada Corporation
Cross border securities offerings
Acquisition of Gold Wheaton Corporation ($1.1 billion)
New York Stock Exchange listing of common shares
Shelf registration of securities (C$1 billion) and cross border public offering of common shares (C$340 million)
Structuring and compliance matters - NovaGold Resources
Cross border private placements of securities
Cross border public offerings of Common Shares ($332 million and $172 million)
Successful defense of unsolicited takeover bid by Barrick Gold
Cross border public offering of convertible debt securities ($95 million)
Registered direct offering of equity securities ($175 million)
Spin-off of NovaCopper
New York Stock Exchange MKT listing
U.S. securities law reporting and compliance
Merger and acquisition transactions - NovaCopper Inc.
Spin off from NovaGold and New York Stock Exchange MKT listing - Banro Corporation
Three multinational public offerings of equity securities
U.S. high yield debt offering
U.S. securities law reporting and compliance - Avalon Rare Metals
New York Stock Exchange MKT Listing
Shelf Registration of $500 million in securities
Cross border public offering ($48 million) of Common Shares - U.S. Geothermal
Cross border securities offerings in the U.S. and Canada
TSX and New York Stock Exchange MKT listings for U.S. company
U.S. securities law reporting and compliance - Miramar Mining Corporation
Cross border public offering of Common Shares
Cross border private placements of equity securities
New York Stock Exchange MKT listing
U.S. securities law compliance
Sale of company to Newmont Mining
U.S. securities law reporting and compliance - High Yield Debt.
Represented the several Canadian companies issuing high yield debt. - Underwriters Counsel
Underwriters’ counsel in numerous cross-border and U.S. domestic public offerings and private placements of securities
News & Resources
News & Press Mentions
Select Presentations
Industries & Practices
Corporate Governance & Compliance
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceEnergy & Natural Resources
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceFood, Beverage & Agribusiness
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceBanking & Financial Institutions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Asia-Pacific
- Banking & Financial Institutions
- Canada
- Cannabis
- Capital Markets
- Corporate Governance & Compliance
- Emerging Companies
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
- Healthcare
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Mining
- Private Equity
Accolades
- Finance Monthly Law Awards – U.S Mining & Energy Law Firm of the Year, 2013
- Lawyers World Law Awards – Mining Law Firm of the Year, 2011
- InterContinental Finance Magazine – “Highly Recommended” – Top Tier Firms, 2011
- InterContinental Finance Magazine – Law Firm of the Year – Mining, 2011
- DealMakers Annual Awards – U.S. Mining Law Firm of the Year, 2010
- DealMakers Annual Awards - Law Firm of the Year - Mining, 2012
- ACQ Finance Magazine – U.S. Mining Law Firm of the Year, 2008 and 2009
- Thomson Reuters – Ranked No. 1 for Canadian equity offerings issuer advisor by deal count, 2011
Personal Honors
- Recognized as a Foreign Expert (Based Abroad) for Corporate/M&A: Canada by Chambers Global, 2013-2016, 2019
- Recognized as a Foreign Expert (Canada) for Corporate/M&A: USA by Chambers Global, 2013-2016, 2019
- Ranked as one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” by Chambers USA (Corporate/Commercial), 2010-2018 (Band 1 in 2012-2016)
- Included in Best Lawyers in America© for Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, and Securities / Capital Markets Law, 2009-2019
- Listed as a Washington Super Lawyer, 2001-2018
- Corporate LiveWire Magazine, Recognized in Global Awards 2016 for “Energy & Natural Resources”
- Euromoney Magazine, Named in the Guide to Leading U.S. West Coast Lawyers
- Whos Who of Mining Lawyers, 2006-2014
- Avvo Top 10 Corporate Lawyer, 2008
- Avvo Top 10 Financial Markets and Services Lawyer, 2008
- Avvo Top 10 Securities Offerings Lawyer, 2008
- Washington CEO Magazine, Named a Top Business Attorney in Washington, 2008
