Aarondeep (Aaron) S. Bains
-
Toronto
- Bio
- Awards & Recognition
- Professional Involvement
- Representative Matters
- Selected Speaking Engagements
- Insights
- Education
With an international background and hands-on business experience, Aaron provides practical and strategic advice to domestic and international investors and businesses. Aaron is a natural problem solver who uses a personal approach to gain a comprehensive understanding of his clients’ needs. He has a keen eye for strategy and works with his clients to structure their transactions accordingly. This work includes advising high net worth clients on building family offices and successfully protecting and transitioning wealth to future generations. When possible, Aaron leverages his network to help clients with their local and international legal and business needs, including connecting clients to investors and advisors across the globe.
Aaron is a member of the firm’s Capital Markets Group and Venture Finance Group. He practices corporate law with an emphasis on debt and equity financing and domestic and international M&A. On financing matters, Aaron works closely with investors, often U.S. and Canadian banks or investment funds on their lending transactions in Canada. Aaron also assists emerging and high growth companies as they use debt to grow their businesses. On M&A transactions, Aaron serves a broad range of the firm’s clients, including, strategic/financial buyers, family offices and retiring or otherwise divesting sellers. Aaron’s range of client experience allows him to see issues from all sides of a deal and provide effective solutions to meet client needs.
Aaron was recently named as one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in 2020 by Canadian Lawyer magazine in the Young Influencer category. He was also recognized as a 2020 Precedent Setter by Precedent Magazine, which recognizes six outstanding young Toronto lawyers who have shown excellence and leadership in their practice and their community.
Aaron is Chair of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. He is responsible for developing and implementing firm strategies around equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives. Aaron works closely with the firm’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer and acts as a resource and advocate for lawyers and staff in respect of equity, diversity and inclusion issues.
Other Languages
Punjabi
Awards & Recognition
- Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada for his expertise in Mergers & Acquisitions Law and Securities Law (2024)
- Named 2024 NAPABA Best Under 40 Award Winner (2024)
- Recognized in The Peak: Emerging Leaders for his expertise in Capital Markets (2023)
- Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada for his expertise in FinTech (2022)
- Named a Rising Star by the South Asian Bar Association of North America (2021)
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada Man of the Year (2021)
- Precedent Setter Award Winner (2020)
- Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers - Young Influencer (2020)
Professional Involvement
Professional Activities
- Member, Private Equity Committee, Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association
- Board Member and Chair of the Advancement Committee, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada
- Advisor and Expert in Residence, the Hult Prize
- Former President and Treasurer, The St. George’s Society of Toronto
- Former President and Board Member, South Asian Bar Association of Toronto
- Board of Directors Member, Interlaw
- Global Chair, Interlaw NexGen Special Business Team
- Former Regional Advisor, World Sikh Organization
- Member, JusticeNet's Advisory Board
- Member, Interim Law Advisory Council for the Toronto Metropolitan University law school
- Past President, Vice President and Board Member, Canadian International Council – Toronto Branch
- Executive Committee Member, Breakfast of Champions Charity for SickKids Hospital
Memberships
- Canadian/Ontario Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- International Bar Association
- South Asian Bar Association of Toronto
- Canadian International Council
Representative Matters
Represented an investment management firm in its acquisition of retail assets associated with Canadian retail brands as part of a restructuring matter.
Represented a digital marketing corporation in connection with the acquisition of digital marketing assets from an Ontario marketing and technical services company.
Represented an investment management firm in connection with the acquisition of shares from a Canadian retail company.
Represented a group of family members in a complex dispute over the rightful ownership of a successful trucking and logistics business.
Represented an international media company in its acquisition of Canadian online film and television streaming assets.
Represented a Canadian fintech company in the completion of its concurrent private placement financing and acquisition of the assets of a French fintech company.
Advised TELUS in the completion of an early stage funding round to invest in Waymap, a London-based deeptech startup. TELUS was the lead investor on the £7-million funding round.
Advised an Ontario multi-generational family business focused on the manufacturing of steel tubing products on the sale of its business for aggregate consideration in excess of $100 million to a strategic acquiror from Western Canada.
Acted as Ontario and Quebec counsel to Gillfor Distribution Inc. in connection with the acquisition and financing of AFA Forest Products Inc., a leading and long-standing distributor for building products in Canada.
Acted as Ontario counsel to Premier Parks LLC in connection with EPR Properties’ US$142 million acquisition of the Village Vacances Valcartier resort and hotel in Quebec City and Calypso Waterpark in Ottawa, Ontario, and the simultaneous leasing of the properties to Premier Parks.
Represented Juno Pharmaceuticals Corp., a Canadian specialty generics pharmaceuticals company, in a strategic growth investment from Signet Healthcare Partners, a New York-based healthcare growth equity firm.
Represented a U.S. private equity firm that invests in technology, business services and industrial companies as Canadian counsel in its acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of a Canadian-based cybersecurity firm and amendments to the fund’s term and asset-based credit arrangements.
Represented a leading global transportation industry manufacturer and supplier as Canadian counsel in its purchase of certain assets of a cross-border privately-owned commercial vehicle, bus and trailer manufacturing business.
Advised Putman Investments Inc., a Canadian-based, family-owned enterprise, on its acquisition of Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us Canada from Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.
Advised Venture Capital Firm on its initial and follow on investments in clean tech businesses in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta.
Regularly advise a U.S. Bank on its loan and warrant arrangements with emerging and high growth companies across Canada.
Advised a European Venture Finance Lender on its loan transaction with a global technology driven tourism firm with operations in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
Represented Launchlife International Inc., a North American private career college operator and franchisor, on a management buyout. Simultaneously with the management buyout, advised Launchlife on the closing of a financing and assisted with the acquisition of Pitman Training Group Limited, a United Kingdom-based operator and franchisor of career colleges.
Represented Morgan Stanley in Canada in connection with an initial US$200 million private placement and subsequent private placements of Senior Secured Notes of Ironshore Pharmaceuticals & Development, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Highland Therapeutics Inc.
Represented the controlling shareholder of Bullfrog Power in its divestment to Spark Power Corp.
Advised the investment team of a family office on the acquisition of a North American furniture and cabinet design and manufacturing company, with operations in Ontario, Illinois, Indiana and North Carolina. The purchase involved the simultaneous closing of a credit facility with a major Canadian bank, which included a term loan and multiple asset-based revolving credit facilities.
Advised a high growth lumber company on the acquisition of a privately-held regional lumber company. The transaction involved the simultaneous closing of a large credit facility with a major Canadian bank, which included a term loan and an asset-based revolving credit facility.
Represented a large Canadian FinTech company in connection with the replacement and increase of its existing credit facility with a New York-based private equity fund.
Represented Trevali Mining Corporation (TSX:TV) in connection with the acquisition of a portfolio of zinc assets, including an 80% interest in the Rosh Pinah mine in Namibia and a 90% interest in the Perkoa mine in Burkina Faso, for an aggregate purchase price of US$417.86 million.
Acted for shareholders of Fleetwood Metal Industries Inc., a successful Tier 1 automotive metal stamping, welding and assembly business with facilities in Ontario and Alabama, recently announced the completion of its sale to Milestone Partners, a U.S.-based private equity.
Selected Speaking Engagements
Presenter, "The Nuts and Bolts of Secured Lending," Presentation to Ontario Ministry of Finance, September 11, 2024.
Panellist, "Investments of Tomorrow: Trends and Emerging Issues in Cross-Border Public and Private M&A and Investment Transactions," 2023 SABA North America Conference, July 22, 2023.
Panellist, "The Unfriendly Shareholders: Common Issues and Disputes Arising from Shareholders' Agreements," CBV Connect 2023, June 8, 2023.
Panellist, "Lawyers & Accountants Panel," SABA Young Lawyers' Division/RSM Canada Event, April 6, 2023.
Panellist, “How to Renegotiate a Deal,” Buying and Selling a Business: A Comprehensive Guide, OBA Business Law Section’s Professional Development Session, September 20, 2022.
Panellist, "Standing out from the Crowd," Canadian Lawyer Women in Law Canada, February 17, 2022.
Moderator, "EDI and Big Law: A Peek into the Progress at Canadian Law Firms and Corporations," LegalVoices Conference, November 13, 2021.
Panellist, "Justice System," University of British Columbia National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism, June 10, 2021.
Panellist, “Building Better Outcomes: A New Era For Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession,” Canadian Law Awards 2021, May 20, 2021.
Presenter, "M&A in a Pandemic - What We Saw, What We Learned and What Will Stick," Interlaw 2021 Next Generation Lawyers Retreat: Forward to Better: Resetting the Agenda for your Future in Law, March 16, 2021.
Presenter, "2021 Business Planning for Young Leaders: Tips and Tricks for a Successful Year," Aird & Berlis LLP Webinar, March 4, 2021.
Panellist, "Practical Tactics for Ensuring Visibility, Inclusion and Recognition in a Hybrid Work Setting," Canadian Lawyer Women in Law Canada, February 18, 2021.
Presenter, "Setting a Family Business Up for Success," OBA’s Institute Series, Serving the Family: Critical Insights on the Issues Impacting Individuals, Small Businesses and Families in Corporate, Estates and Family Law, February 3, 2021.
Presenter, "Doing Business in Canada," HealthTech Trade Mission from the Netherlands, Toronto Global Forum 2020, October 26, 2020.
Panellist, "Strategies for Young Lawyers to Manage and Take Charge of Challenging Workplace Relationships," Canadian Lawyer Young Lawyers Summit, November 24, 2020.
Presenter, “How & Why We Fight. Citizens in the Space of Protest,” Democracy Xchange, January 2019.
Speaker at multiple Law Society of Ontario panels relating to Asian Heritage Month and diversity issues facing lawyers and law firms.
Insights
Education
- LLM International and European Business Law, Université Jean Moulin, 2014
- JD, Queen’s University Faculty of Law, 2014
- International Business Law Certificate, Bader International Study Centre, U.K., 2012
- BA (Political Science), University of British Columbia, 2011
- International Relations Certificate (Hons.), Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris, 2010