As Copenhagen welcomes the global legal community for the 2026 IBA Annual Conference, we are pleased to reconnect with colleagues, clients and friends from around the world. Whether you are meeting members of our team at the conference, joining us for dinner or attending one of our speaking engagements, we invite you to learn more about Aird & Berlis and how we help international businesses and law firms navigate Canadian and cross-border legal matters.
Aird & Berlis is a full-service law firm with offices in Toronto and Vancouver. The firm has more than 270 lawyers across all major practice areas and provides expert legal counsel on Canadian matters to a wide range of clients, including multinational corporations, governments, individuals and Indigenous Nations, spanning corporate, regulatory, litigation and specialized fields.
We look forward to hosting several Aird & Berlis events in Copenhagen and to strengthening relationships with colleagues and friends. If you are interested in scheduling a meeting with a member of our team during the conference, please contact Robyn Cooper.
Jack Bernstein
Co-Leader, Tax
Partner, Private Client
Extensive experience in international tax planning, M&A, corporate restructuring, reorganizations, financing and cross-border estate planning. Advises public and private corporations, hedge funds, venture capital funds and real estate funds.
Chair, IBA Finance and Capital Markets Tax Conference in London
Member, IBA Taxes and Private Client Tax Committees
Francesco Gucciardo
Partner and Co-Leader, Tax
Member, Executive Committee
Extensive experience in M&A, reorganizations and divestitures, divisive reorganizations, structured finance, income funds, REITs, structuring Canadian inbound investment, private equity investment, structuring executive compensation plans, partnership agreements and joint ventures.
Speaking Engagement:
When Tech Triggers Tax
Thursday, October 8, 2026 - 11:15 a.m.
Dasha Peregoudova
Co-Leader, Sports & Entertainment
Partner, Workplace Law
Advises clients on employment and labour matters, including drafting contracts and policies, managing grievances and collective bargaining, and handling civil and commercial disputes arising from employment relationships.
Officer, IBA North American Regional Forum
Jeffrey Merk
Co-Leader, Mergers & Acquisitions,
Mining and Private Equity
Partner, Capital Markets
Practises corporate law with an emphasis on public and private financings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and ongoing general corporate and commercial activities.
Melanie Cole
Partner, Capital Markets and
Mergers & Acquisitions
Practises corporate and securities law with a focus on public and private financings, mergers and acquisitions, ongoing securities and continuous disclosure, corporate governance and going-public transactions.
Aaron Bains
Partner, Capital Markets, Financial Services
and Mergers & Acquisitions
Co-Leader, Venture Finance
Practises corporate law with an emphasis on debt and equity financing and domestic and international M&A. Works closely with investors, often U.S. and Canadian banks or investment funds on their lending transactions in Canada.
Sean Mason
Partner, Capital Markets and
Mergers & Acquisitions
Co-Leader, Private Equity
Advises domestic and international clients with a focus on private equity and private capital matters, including real estate, search and other investment fund formation, limited partner advisory and M&A.
Co-Chair, IBA Alternative and New Law Business Structures Committee