Tom Theodorakis Photo
Tom Theodorakis Photo
Tom Theodorakis Photo

Tom Theodorakis is a highly recommended business lawyer with a diverse practice in mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance. He works extensively with organizations in the forestry and mining industries and is the national leader of the firm’s Forest Products Group.

With extensive experience advising public and private companies in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and corporate finance, Tom acts as lead counsel on numerous major transactions. He also provides ongoing advice on corporate governance, continuous disclosure and regulatory compliance matters.

Known for providing practical solutions that help clients achieve their business goals, Tom was recently recognized by Chambers Canada as a leading lawyer in mergers and acquisitions and natural resources law.

Tom is a member of the firm’s Board of Partners. He also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Committee for the Centre for Business Law at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia.



Representative Matters

Tom has represented clients in the following matters:

  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its $4 billion acquisition of Norbord Inc. by way of a plan of arrangement and New York Stock Exchange listing.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its C$1.0 billion substantial issuer bid.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its new US and Canadian revolving credit facilities in the aggregate amount of US$1.0 billion.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its $150 million committed revolving credit facility.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its acquisition of Manning Diversified Forest Products Ltd. which has sawmill operations located in Manning, Alberta and related timber harvesting rights.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its sale of its Houston sawmill mill lands to West Point Rail & Timber Co. Ltd.
  • Lead counsel for Great Panther Mining Limited in its US$16.1 Million Bought Deal Financing.
  • Lead counsel for Great Panther Mining Limited in the acquisition of Beadell Resources Limited.
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to Roseburg Forest Products in the acquisition of Pembroke MDF, Inc.’s medium density fiberboard (MDF) plant and molding production facility.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its US$200 million cross-border financing in connection with acquisition of the Gilman Group of Companies from the Howard Gilman Foundation and the amendment and restatement of its existing combined US and Canadian revolving credit facilities in the aggregate amount of CDN$500 million
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its acquisition of six lumber manufacturing operations based in Florida and Georgia owned by Gilman Lumber.
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to HCI Equity Partners in its merger of Royal Paper Products with its existing portfolio company AmerCare.
  • Lead counsel for Great Panther Silver Limited in the completion of a cross-border public offering units.
  • Lead counsel for Plentyoffish Media Inc. (“POF”) and its founder Markus Frind in POF’s acquisition by The Match.com Group for US$575 million in cash.
  • Lead counsel for Great Panther Silver Limited in the acquisition of Cangold Limited.
  • Lead counsel for Great Panther Silver Limited in the acquistion of Coricancha Mine.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its US$300 million Senior Unsecured Notes offering.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its acquisition of sawmill and lumber manufacturing operations based in Russellville, Arkansas from Bibler Brothers Lumber.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its acquisition of sawmill and related assets based in High Prairie, Alberta from Gordon Buchanan Enterprises Ltd.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its acquisition of sawmill and lumber manufacturing operations based in Mansfield, Arkansas from Travis Lumber Company.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its acquisition of the Sundance sawmill and remanufacturing facilities and related timber tenure rights.
  • Acted for Primero Mining Corp. (formerly, Mala Noche Resources Corp.) in its proposed merger with Northgate Minerals Corporation.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its sale of Eurocan pulp and paper mill to KM LNG Operating General Partnership.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its sale of its Skeena sawmills division to Roc Holdings Ltd.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its sale of its Eurocan terminal to Rio Tinto Alcan Inc.
  • Acted for Primero Mining Corp. in its acquisition of the San Dimas gold-silver mine and associated assets in Mexico from subsidiaries of Goldcorp Inc. for US$510 million and related subscription receipt offering and secured vendor take-back financing with Goldcorp and the settlement of silver streaming agreements with Silver Wheaton.
  • Acted for Terrane Metals Corp. in its acquisition by Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. for approximately $650 million by way of a plan of arrangement.
  • Acted for Georgia-Pacific LLC in its purchase of Grant Forest Products Inc.’s oriented strand board facilities at Englehart and Earlton, Ontario and Allendale and Clarendon, South Carolina for approximately US$400 million.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its acquisition of certain woodland assets from Weyerhaeuser.
  • Lead counsel for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in the amendment to its $600 million credit agreement and the related securitization of its Canadian and U.S. assets.
  • Acted for Teck Cominco Limited when it completed the acquisition of Global Copper Corp. by way of a plan of arrangement for aggregate proceeds of approximately $415 million.
  • Acted for a private developer in its acquisition of a large portfolio of development land in the Greater Vancouver area and the related acquisition financings.
  • Acted for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its acquisition of International Paper Company’s U.S. lumber business for US$325 million and new $600 million credit agreement.
  • Acted for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its sale of two BC sawmills to a U.S. acquiror.
  • Acted for Mercer International in its acquisition of the Celgar pulp mill in Castlegar, British Columbia for U.S.$225 million and its related cross-border offering of equity securities and U.S. senior notes.
  • Acted for Pacifica Papers in its merger with Norske Skog Canada by way of a plan of arrangement to form Catalyst Paper and the related proxy contest.
  • Acted for TimberWest Timber Trust to form TimberWest Forest Corporation and the creation and listing of the TimberWest stapled units.
  • Acted for BC Tel in its merger with Telus by way of a plan of arrangement to form Telus.

Speaking Engagements

Current Developments in Mergers and Acquisitions Lang Michener Continuing Professional Development Seminar

April 29, 2009

News


Rankings & Recognition

  • Recognized in the 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Forestry Law
  • Recognized by Chambers Canada (2024) as a leading lawyer in the area of Agribusiness: Forestry
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2024) as a leading lawyer in the area of Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Natural Resources Law
  • Recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the areas of Corporate Mid-Market and Forestry Law
  • Recognized by Chambers Canada (2023) as a leading lawyer in the area of Agribusiness: Forestry
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2023) as a leading lawyer in the areas of Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Natural Resources Law
  • Recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Forestry Law
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2022) as a leading lawyer in the areas of Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Natural Resources Law
  • Recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the areas of Corporate Mid-Market and Forestry Law
  • Recognized by the Best Lawyers in Canada (2021) as a leading lawyer in the areas of Mergers & Acquisitions Law and Natural Resources Law
  • Recognized in the 2020 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of     Forestry law
  • Recognized by Chambers Canada (2020) as a leading lawyer in the area of Agribusiness: Forestry
  • Recognized in the 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area Forestry Law
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2011 – 2020 as a leader in Natural Resources Law

Directorships & Affiliations

  • Dean’s Advisory Committee for the Centre for Business Law at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, UBC
  • Vancouver Bar Association
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Canadian Bar Association

Education & Admissions

1994
Called to the Washington bar
1997
Called to the British Columbia bar
1996
LLM (Taxation)University of British Columbia
1994
JDOregon University
1991
BAUniversity of British Columbia

Publications

  • Winter 2010 Year in Review: Lessons for Acquirors Securities/M&A Brief Winter 2010 and Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures 2010, Digital Guide published by Executive View

Insights (2 Posts)View More

Featured Insight

Taking Stock of Governance — Understanding Emerging ESG, Regulatory, and Market Trends

Taking Stock of Governance — Understanding Emerging ESG, Regulatory, and Market Trends

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May 26, 2021
Featured Insight

Taking Stock of Governance — Understanding Emerging ESG, Regulatory, and Market Trends (adapted to the Province of Québec)

Taking Stock of Governance — Understanding Emerging ESG, Regulatory, and Market Trends (adapted to the Province of Québec)

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May 26, 2021

Deals & Cases (12 Posts)

Featured Insight

West Fraser to Sell Two Pulp Mills in Western Canada to Atlas Holdings

On September 22, 2023, West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (TSX and NYSE: WFG) (“West Fraser”) announced its agreement to sell it’s Quesnel River Pulp mill in Quesnel, British Columbia and its Slave Lake Pulp mill in Slave Lake, Alberta to Atlas Holdings (“Atlas”) for US$120 Million.

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Sep 22, 2023
Featured Insight

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. to Sell Hinton Pulp Mill to Mondi

On July 10, 2023, West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (TSX and NYSE: WFG) (“West Fraser”) announced an agreement to sell its unbleached softwood kraft pulp mill in Hinton, Alberta to Mondi Group plc (“Mondi”), a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper.

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Jul 10, 2023
Featured Insight

McMillan LLP Advises West Fraser on C$1.0 Billion Substantial Issuer Bid

On August 20, 2021, West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (“West Fraser”) announced the completion of its substantial issuer bid (“SIB”) pursuant to which West Fraser purchased from shareholders for cancellation a total of 10,309,278 common shares at a price of C$97.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of C$1.0 billion.

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Jul 27, 2021
Featured Insight

McMillan LLP Acts for West Fraser in $4 billion Acquisition of Norbord

McMillan LLP Acts for West Fraser in $4 billion Acquisition of Norbord

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Nov 26, 2020
Featured Insight

Great Panther completes acquisition of Beadell

Great Panther completes acquisition of Beadell

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Mar 5, 2019
Featured Insight

West Fraser Completes the Acquisition of Gilman Building Products

McMillan LLP acted as West Fraser's lead counsel with a team led by Tom Theodorakis and comprised of Mike Taylor, Jill Pereira, Peter Botz, Leo Raffin, Morgan McDonald, Joanna Dawson, Becky Rock, Lindsay Dykstra, Navnit Duhra and Mark Neighbour.

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Sep 18, 2017
Featured Insight

Great Panther Silver completes US$29.9 million cross-border equity financing

Great Panther Silver completes US$29.9 million cross-border equity financing

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Jul 1, 2016
Featured Insight

West Fraser acquires Manning Diversified Forest Products

West Fraser acquires Manning Diversified Forest Products

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Oct 30, 2015
Featured Insight

Plentyoffish acquired for US$575 million by Match.com

Plentyoffish acquired for US$575 million by Match.com

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Jul 15, 2015
Featured Insight

Great Panther completes acquisition of Cangold

Great Panther completes acquisition of Cangold

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May 27, 2015
Featured Insight

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. Completes US$300 Million Senior 10 Year Notes Offering

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. Completes US$300 Million Senior 10 Year Notes Offering

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Oct 15, 2014
Featured Insight

Primero Mining Corp. Announces a $1.2 Billion Merger Agreement With Northgate Minerals Corp.

Primero Mining Corp. Announces a $1.2 Billion Merger Agreement With Northgate Minerals Corp.

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Jul 14, 2011