- Bio
- Awards & Recognition
- Professional Involvement
- Representative Matters
- Selected Speaking Engagements
- Selected Publications
- Insights
- Education
Whether he is working on a transaction or providing strategic advice, Peter puts himself in the shoes of the client to gain a better understanding of what they want to achieve. He doesn’t just consider himself to be a service provider but a champion of his clients’ business goals. Peter provides practical, objective and honest advice tailored to suit his clients’ needs.
Peter is a member of the firm's Corporate/Commercial Group, as well as the Intellectual Property, Mergers & Acquisitions/Private Equity, Technology and Licensing Groups. He is Chair of the Gaming Group and co-Chair of the firm’s Esports & Gaming Group and Sports, Media & Entertainment Group. His practice includes assisting a spectrum of clients ranging from start-up private businesses to large multinationals.
The transactional portion of Peter's practice includes experience in the purchase and sale of businesses and substantial assets in industries ranging from information products and retail businesses to esports, health, mining and heavy industry. He has acted extensively on both domestic and international/multi-jurisdictional matters and on both strategic and financial portfolio/private equity acquisitions.
Peter acts on behalf of high technology clients active in the software, hardware, network and internet fields, including global industry leaders. He advises such parties in respect of strategic, competition, compliance and policy development matters as well as commercial relationship management, including license, distribution, supply, franchise, partnering and service arrangements. He has also provided advice on international trade matters as they relate to the provision of his clients' goods and services.
Peter’s esports practice includes corporate, commercial, transactional and regulatory matters for domestic and international clients. He has advised game publishers, platform providers, financing parties, regulators, payment processors, hardware manufacturers, underwriters, industry associations and other parties active throughout the sector. He frequently writes and speaks on legal issues related to the esports industry.
In the financing area, Peter has represented a number of private and public lenders, including Schedule I and Schedule II banks, in a variety of secured lending relationships. With respect to private lending, he participates in both traditional arrangements and angel, early-stage and venture capital situations.
Peter also has substantial expertise in the area of gambling and gaming law, with experience both in the acquisition/establishment phase and as ongoing corporate counsel managing compliance with applicable regulatory regimes and advising on technological applications. He has acted in both private transactions and public procurements, and has represented a multitude of leading participants in the casino, track, i-gaming, mobile gambling and gaming and social gaming industries.
Other Languages
Hungarian (spoken)
Awards & Recognition
- Recognized in Chambers Canada: Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business as a top practitioner in Gaming & Licensing (Band 1)
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada in the field of Gaming Law and named Best Lawyers' 2023 Lawyer of the Year in Gaming Law (Toronto)
- Recognized in Who's Who Legal: Gaming 2021 as a Global Leader
Professional Involvement
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft, former Secretary-Treasurer
- Canadian Bar Association
- Canadian Franchise Association
- Canadian Technology Law Association (CAN-TECH)
- International Masters of Gaming Law
- Sports Lawyers Association
- Ontario Bar Association
Teaching Engagements
- Former Instructor, The Regulation of Gaming and Legal Framework, Osgoode Hall Law School
- Former Instructor, Business Law Section of Law Society of Ontario Bar Admissions Course
- Lecturer on mergers and acquisition transactions at Osgoode Hall Law School
Representative Matters
Advising Sports Entertainment Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, in respect of its merger with Super Group, the parent of Betway, a global technology company delivering the world’s leading, regulated, online betting and gaming brands, to create a global gaming company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Represented Fluent, Inc., a leading data-driven performance marketing company, in its private acquisition of AdParlor Holdings, Inc. and its group of companies, a digital advertising solution for social media buying.
Represented XYPRO Technology Corporation, a leading data security and encryption firm located in southern California, in connection with its acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding equity of Merlon Software Corporation (the “Merlon Acquisition”), a Canadian software developer and licensing company based in the Greater Toronto Area. The Merlon Acquisition was financed through an initial all-cash payment and the issuance of a promissory note to the Merlon’s vendors payable over the course of five years.
Represented Microsoft Corporation in a significant settlement with Nortel Networks Corporation after insolvency proceedings, which took over nine years. As a result of the proceedings, which involved the largest insolvency in Canadian history, US$7.3 billion of global sale proceeds were allocated amongst the Nortel debtor companies in Canada, the United States and Europe.
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 as Canadian counsel to C.R. Laurence Co. Inc., a leading global manufacturer and distributor of architectural glass based in Los Angeles, in connection with its sale to Oldcastle Building Envelope for US$1.3 billion.
Represented National RV Communities, LLC (now part of Carefree Communities Inc.) in connection with the North America-wide US$800 million refinancing of a recreational-based real estate portfolio.
In addition, in Q3, 2013, we acted for this U.S.-based client in connection with the completion of two acquisition transactions of vacation parks in Ontario:
(a) the acquisition, structuring and financing of the Sherkston Shores property for approximately CAD$90 million. We worked with U.S. counsel in the simultaneous acquisition of Florida and Ontario properties from the same seller group with combined cross-border cross-collateralized financings. The matter value was $90 million; and
(b) the acquisition of 13 Ontario properties from 14 sellers within one ownership group for approximately CAD$33 million with combined cross-border, cross-collateralized financings. The matter value was $33 million. This transaction closed in January 2014.
We acted for the purchaser in both transactions, which included not only the acquisition of the real estate (challenging in its own right due to the complexity of the titles as well as involving more than 20 parcels and over 16 municipal requirements), but also the tax reorganization needed by the sellers. In the midst of the Sherkston Shores transaction, the buyer itself was acquired, which meant that the acquirer of the buyer and its counsel and its lenders and their counsel were now actively involved in every aspect of the transaction and we became involved in the acquirer’s financing. Since these were cross-border transactions, ultimately with an American REIT owning non-U.S. real estate, the U.S. REIT rules for ‘good’ and ‘bad’ income had to be managed.
Selected Speaking Engagements
“US/Canada Updates," IMGL 2022 Autumn Conference, September 15, 2022
"Emerging Fields of Law," U of T Legal Hackers Virtual Panel Event, September 27, 2021.
“Integrity Issues in eSports,” Casino eSports Conference, September 4, 2019.
“eSports: Why It Matters to Canadian Casinos,” 2019 Canadian Gaming Summit, June 18-20, 2019.
“Overview of the Lottery Schemes Played in Canada,” 2018 Osgoode Certificate in Gaming Law Course, November 5, 2018.
“Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Gaming," Canadian Gaming Summit, June 18-20, 2018.
“Financing Gaming Business,” Canadian Gaming Summit, June 18-20, 2018.
“eSports – Opportunities and Risks," Responsible Gambling Council 2018 Discovery Conference, April 12, 2018.
"The Future of eSports in Canada," 2017 Canadian Gaming Summit, Vancouver B.C., June 19-21, 2017.
"Conduct and Management/What is it? What Should/Could it be?," 2017 Canadian Gaming Summit, Vancouver B.C., June 19-21, 2017.
"Social Gaming," prepared for Responsible Gaming Council, New York, March 11, 2015.
"Legal Drafting: Contract Drafting Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them," October 3, 2012.
"Investment Canada Act and Merger Provisions of the Competition Act (Canada): a Refresher," CPD accredited course, February 29, 2012.
“Buying and Selling in the World of Franchising,” Franchising-Diving Deep Conference, Lexpert, October 2011
“Legal Drafting,” Law Society of Upper Canada, (CPD accredited course), May 2011
"The Next Stage of Gaming is Already Here: Overcoming the Challenges of Mobile Technology," 5th Annual Legal and Business Guide to Gaming in Canada, Canadian Institute, March 2010
"How Responsible Should the Law Be? Analyzing the Latest Progress in the Management of Problem Gambling," 4th Annual Legal and Business Guide to Gaming in Canada, Canadian Institute, February 2009
"Latest Progress in the Management of Liability Risk from Problem Gamblers," 3rd Annual Legal and Business Guide to Gaming in Canada, Canadian Institute, February 2008
"Self-Exclusion Agreements," Market Insight, August 2007
"And They're Off: Racinos in Canada," Gaming in Canada Conference, February 2007
"Racino Development and Expansion: What Opportunities Does the Future Hold?" 2nd Annual Legal and Business Guide to Gaming in Canada, February 2007
"Mergers and Acquisitions," Osgoode Hall Law School Lecture, 2007
"Cross Border M&A," CLE Legal Seminar, April 2006
"Intellectual Property & Information Technology – Representations and Warranties," CLE Legal Seminar, November 2003
"Information Technology & the Law," OAA Conference, September 2003
"Tools for Canadian Mergers and Acquisitions," CLE Legal Seminar, June 2003
"Technology Due Diligence Reps & Warranties," CLE Legal Seminar, December 2002
Selected Publications
Author, "Game Changers: The Future of Gambling, Sports Betting, and Esports in Post-Pandemic Canada," Lexpert, September 19, 2022.
Author, "Towards the Future: Where Will Sports Betting Go From Here?" Canadian Gaming Business, June 16, 2022.
Co-Author, "Gaming Moves Forward: Ontario Launches New iGaming Framework and Sports Betting Expands," The Spotlight, April 4, 2022.
Author, "M&A Trends in Canada for 2021," October 2021.
Author, "Esports Integrity Policies," Gaming Law Review, May 13, 2021.
"COVID-19 & Esports – Part 3 – Implications For the Future," Aird & Berlis Publication, May 27, 2020.
"COVID-19 & Esports – Part 2 – The Socio-Cultural Context," Aird & Berlis Publication, May 26, 2020.
"COVID-19 & Esports – Part 1 – The Economic and Industry Impact," Aird & Berlis Publication, May 25, 2020.
Author, "M&A Trends in Canada for 2020," January 2020.
Author, "M&A Trends in Canada for 2019," May 2019.
Author, "M&A Trends in Canada for 2018," May 2018.
Author, "eSport Gambling – A Global Explosion, a Domestic Opportunity," Canadian Gaming Lawyer Magazine, Summer 2017.
Author, "M&A Trends in Canada for 2017," May 2017.
Author, "M&A Trends in Canada for 2016," February 2016.
Author, “Canadian M&A Updates In Brief for 2015,” July 2015.
Co-Author (Canada), “Getting the Deal Through – Domains and Domain Names 2014,” Spring 2014.
Author, “Canadian M&A Updates In Brief for 2014,” March 2014.
Contributor, "Industry Roundtable: A Place for Social Gaming," Canadian Gaming Business, Winter 2013 - 2014.
Author, "Social Network Gaming: A Canadian Perspective," Canadian Gaming Lawyer Magazine, June 2013.
Co-author, "Contract Drafting Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them," October 3, 2013.
Author, "Top M&A Trends in Canada for 2012," March 2013.
Author, "Top M&A Trends in Canada for 2012," October 2012.
Author, "Mobile Gambling – A Canadian Future?" Paper for 5th Annual Legal and Business Guide to Gaming in Canada Conference, March 2010.
Co-author, "New Document Disclosure Regime Under the Competition Act (Canada)," Aird & Berlis LLP CompAct Newsletter, December 2009.
Insights
Education
- LLB, University of Toronto, 1989
- BA (Hons.), University of Western Ontario, 1986