Michael Burns Photo
Michael Burns Photo
Michael Burns Photo

Michael Burns provides advice on all facets of capital markets and securities law with an emphasis on alternative investment funds, alternative and conventional mutual funds and structured products. He has extensive experience in the structuring, offering and sale of domestic and foreign-domiciled investment funds. Michael is recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (2020) as a repeatedly recommended lawyer in the area of investment funds and asset management, and by Who’s Who Legal: Canada (2020) as a leader in private funds.

Representing issuers as well as underwriters / agents, Michael assists clients with mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, hostile and friendly takeover bids, proxy contests, private placements, rights offerings and initial public offerings. His industry knowledge spans the mining, technology, advertising, television and entertainment, and transportation sectors.

Michael provides ongoing guidance to public issuers on continuous disclosure obligations, shareholder communications, executive compensation, corporate governance, preparations for annual and special meetings, as well as general corporate matters.



Representative Matters

  • Represents and advises investment fund managers and asset managers on the structuring and public offering of NI 81-102 alternative mutual funds, conventional mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) in Canada.
  • Represents and advises investment fund managers and asset managers on the structuring and offering of alternative investment funds and other pooled investment products on a private placement basis and investment advisory services in Canada.
  • Represents and advises Canadian investment fund managers on the structuring and offering of offshore hedge funds and master/feeder structures.
  • Structuring and offering of private equity funds.
  • Extensive experience in the registration and ongoing compliance obligations of investment fund managers, portfolio managers and dealers under applicable securities legislation.
  • Advises foreign-domiciled investment fund managers on the offering and registration requirements associated with the marketing and distribution of the securities of foreign domiciled investment funds in Canada.
  • Represents and advises issuers and dealers in connection with offering of securities in Canada via public offering (prospectus) and private placement.
  • Represents issuers and underwriters in connection with private placement bond offerings in connection with public-private partnership (P3) projects.
  • Acts on behalf of both acquirors and targets on mergers, acquisitions and take-over bids (friendly and hostile).
  • Represents shareholders in connection with proxy contests.
  • Advises issuers with respect to continuous disclosure obligations and corporate governance matters in Canada.
  • Generally advises on corporate, commercial and securities law matters.

News


Media Mentions

OSC takes first steps to ease up on fund managers“, Law Times, August 1, 2019


Rankings & Recognition

  • Recognized in the 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Investment Funds & Asset Management
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2023 as a leader in Private Funds
  • Recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Investment Funds & Asset Management
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Global 2022 as a leader in Private Funds: Formations
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2022 as a leader in Private Funds
  • Recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Investment Funds & Asset Management
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Global 2021 as a leader in Private Funds: Formations
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2021 as a leader in Private Funds
  • Recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Investment Funds & Asset Management
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2020 as a leader in Private Funds
  • Recognized in the 2020 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Investment Funds & Asset Management
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2019 as a leader in Private Funds
  • McMillan LLP recognized as Best Canadian Law Firm at the 2019 and 2019 Canadian Hedge Fund Awards
  • Recognized in the 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of Investment Funds & Asset Management
  • Recognized in the 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the areas of Investment Funds & Asset Management
  • Recognized in the 2015-2018 Editions of Who’s Who Legal: Canada (Private Funds)
  • Ranked as “Leading Practitioner – Repeatedly Recommended” – Investment Funds and Asset Management – The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2016
  • Recognized as a Investment Funds Expert Listing (Canada) – Expert Guides –The World’s Leading Lawyers Chosen by Their Peers 2016

Community Involvement

  • Minor hockey coach
  • Minor baseball coach

Directorships & Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Alternative Investment Management Association, Canada – Chairman
  • Investment Fund Institute of Canada
  • Ontario Bar Association – Securities Law Subcommittee

Education & Admissions

1992
Called to the Ontario bar
1990
LLB Dalhousie University
1987
B.Comm. (cum laude) Dalhousie University

Publications

Insights (28 Posts)View More

Featured Insight

Please Pay the Ferryman: OSC Seeks to Levy Additional Fees on Registered and Unregistered Crypto Asset Trading Platforms (CTPs)

The OSC proposed amendments to OSC Rule 13-502 Fees and OSC Rule 13-503 (Commodity Futures Act) Fee and its impact on crypto asset trading platforms.

Read More
Nov 16, 2023
Featured Insight

Feeling Conflicted? CSA and CIRO Provide Vital Guidance for Registrants

The CSA and CIRO have announced the results of their compliance sweep of registered dealers, portfolio managers and investment fund managers conducted in 2022.

Read More
Aug 16, 2023
Featured Insight

More Bang for Your Buck: OSC’s updated fee structure to take effect April 3, 2023

Amendments to OSC Rule 13-502 Fees, OSC Rule 13-503 (Commodity Futures Act) Fees and their related companion policies coming into force April 3, 2023.

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Mar 8, 2023
Featured Insight

Ask Not for Whom the Bell Tolls….The Clock is Ticking for Unregistered Crypto Trading Platforms Operating in Canada as CSA Announce Enhanced Pre-Registration Undertakings

CSA Staff Notice 21-332: Increased compliance standards for crypto exchanges and guidance on the application of Canadian securities laws to crypto assets.

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Mar 8, 2023
Featured Insight

Raising Money with the Offering Memorandum Prospectus Exemption: CSA Adopts Additional Requirements with a Focus on Real Estate Issuers and Collective Investment Vehicles

The CSA recently announced the adoption of amendments to the offering memorandum exemption in National Instrument 45-106 and the Companion Policy to NI 45-106.

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Jan 9, 2023
Featured Insight

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad – Proposed Access-Based Model for Delivery of Financial Statements and Management Reports of Fund Performance by Investment Fund Reporting Issuers Strikes One Sour Note

The Canadian Securities Administrators recently proposed amendments to National Instrument 81-106 – Investment Fund Continuous Disclosure for public comment.

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Oct 12, 2022
Featured Insight

Marketing Cryptocurrency Platforms in Canada

McMillan comments on joint securities administrator and IIROC guidance on cryptocurrency platform marketing.

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Oct 29, 2021
Featured Insight

Client Focused Reforms (CFRs): Everything you need to know about the new conflicts of interest requirements (but were afraid to ask)

The June 30, 2021 deadline for registered firms and their representatives to comply with the first phase of the CFRs relating to conflicts of interest is fast approaching. The new conflicts of interest requirements will require registrants to review and, where necessary, implement changes to their existing conflicts of interest policies and procedures.

Details
May 6, 2021 - 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET
Featured Insight

Client Focused Reforms – Upcoming Deadline for Registrants to Comply with the Conflict of Interest Amendments

The June 30, 2021 deadline for registered firms and their representatives to comply with the new CFRs relating to conflicts of interest is fast approaching.

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Mar 31, 2021
Featured Insight

CSA Propose Changes to Registration Information, Outside Activities and Reporting Requirements as part of Reduction of Regulatory Burden Initiative

February 4, 2021 - the Canadian Securities Administrators have proposed amendments to the registration information provided by registered individuals and firms.

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Feb 17, 2021
Featured Insight

Disclose This – The Offering Memorandum Exemption Gets a Revamp – CSA Propose Additional Requirements with a focus on Real Estate Issuers and Collective Investment Vehicles

Proposed amendments to the OM Exemption may have major impacts on issuers engaged in real estate activities or considered collective investment vehicles

Read More
Oct 14, 2020
Featured Insight

The Novel Exemptive Relief Chronicles

Ontario Securities Commission exemptive relief decision clarifies ability of investment fund managers to permit rehypothecation of portfolio assets.

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Sep 20, 2019
Featured Insight

Cryptocurrency Securities Law Update – Platform Framework and Service Providers

Cryptocurrency is not necessarily a “security” under Canadian securities law.

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Aug 6, 2019
Featured Insight

No Longer “Beasts of Burden” OSC Reduces Regulatory Load for Registrants on Two Fronts

The Ontario Securities Commission (“OSC”) recently announced two important changes to certain regulatory requirements

Read More
Jul 22, 2019
Featured Insight

OSC Waives Fees for Late OBA Disclosures as Part of Burden Reduction Project

On May 15, 2019, the Ontario Securities Commission (“OSC”) announced that registrants will no longer have to pay late fees associated with the disclosure of outside business activities (“OBAs”) past the required deadline.

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May 21, 2019
Featured Insight

A Million Reasons – NextBlock OSC Settlement Agreement Highlights Risks of Using Marketing Presentations to Solicit Investments

A recent Ontario Securities Commission (“OSC”) settlement agreement with NextBlock Global Limited (“NextBlock”) and Alex Tapscott (“Tapscott”) highlights the risk associated with issuers providing investor presentation slide decks or other marketing documents to prospective investors.

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May 21, 2019
Featured Insight

The Novel Exemptive Relief Chronicles Public Mutual Funds Permitted to Invest Limited Amounts in Private Pooled Funds

These bulletins will review unique and interesting exemptive relief orders issued at times by the CSA to Canada's investment funds and asset management industry

Read More
Feb 12, 2019
Featured Insight

Liquid Alternatives Now a Reality Alternative Mutual Funds Regime Scheduled to Come Into Force January 3, 2019

The Canadian Securities Administrators have published the much anticipated final version of amendments introducing a "liquid alternatives" regulatory regime

Read More
Oct 5, 2018
Featured Insight

Making “The Golden Years” Truly Golden – OSC Seniors Strategy Establishes Guideposts for Registrants to Tailor Services to Older Clientele

Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") published OSC Staff Notice 11-779 Seniors Strategy and brings attention to the unique challenges relating to the financial lives of Ontario seniors (65+)

Read More
May 7, 2018
Featured Insight

No Longer a “Land of Confusion” – OSC Rule 72-503 and Upcoming Amendments Regarding Distributions Outside Canadian Borders Help Lift the Fog

Prospectus exemptions introduced by Rule 72-503 as well as exemptions for the resale of securities outside of Canada scheduled to come into force on June 12, 2018

Read More
Apr 18, 2018
Featured Insight

McMillan Client Alert – The CSA Release A New and Improved Suppression of Terrorism Report

The Canadian Securities Administrators have published CSA Staff Notice 31-352 Monthly Suppression of Terrorism and Canadian Sanctions Reporting Obligations.

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Mar 16, 2018
Featured Insight

McMillan Client Alert – For Registered Dealers, Advisors and Firms Relying on International Dealer or International Advisor Exemption

McMillan Client Alert - For Registered Dealers, Advisors and Firms Relying on International Dealer or International Advisor Exemption

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Dec 14, 2017
Featured Insight

A New Tax on Investment Funds: Distributions to General Partners (GPs) of “Investment Limited Partnerships” Possibly Subject to GST/HST

A New Tax on Investment Funds: Distributions to General Partners (GPs) of "Investment Limited Partnerships" Possibly Subject to GST/HST

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Oct 2, 2017
Featured Insight

Taking CASL by Storm: Compliance Tips for Investment Fund Managers

Taking CASL by Storm: Compliance Tips for Investment Fund Managers

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Jun 15, 2017
Featured Insight

Regulators Rethink “Best Interest” Standard for Registrants

Regulators Rethink "Best Interest" Standard for Registrants

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May 30, 2017

Deals & Cases (3 Posts)

Featured Insight

Gander and Grand Falls Windsor LTC

On June 14, 2019 the Fengate-led consortium Newfoundland and Labrador Healthcare Partners (NL Healthcare Partners) announced its financial close for the Gander and Grand Falls Windsor Care Homes infrastructure project.

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Jun 14, 2019
Featured Insight

AXA SA and Intact Financial Corporation complete the purchase and sale of AXA Canada Inc.

AXA SA and Intact Financial Corporation complete the purchase and sale of AXA Canada Inc.

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Sep 23, 2011
Featured Insight

SJHC Project Reaches Financial Close

SJHC Project Reaches Financial Close

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Mar 11, 2011