Forest Products

The forest products industry is one of Canada’s most venerable, generating more than 10% of the country’s manufacturing gross domestic product and employing nearly a quarter-million Canadians. Heavily regulated and facing increasingly complex challenges and regulatory environments, the forest products industry and the pulp and paper sector are challenged at home and abroad. Global competitors, higher costs, Indigenous claims and strict environmental regulations are all converging to make the landscape increasingly difficult to navigate. Forestry businesses, resolute about creating greater value turn to McMillan LLP for advice on how to remain in compliance with forest policy and law, while remaining economically and environmentally sustainable.

McMillan’s Forest Products Industry Group has represented the complete range of clients for more than 70 years. Our clients include integrated forest products companies, value-added secondary manufacturers, harvesting and silviculture contractors, timber landowners, investors and underwriters. The work we undertake for our clients encompasses operational, transactional and regulatory matters that are vital to their competitive success. Our deep experience with forest law allows us to help our clients focus on growth and innovation while feeling secure in the knowledge that their legal, regulatory and transactional needs are in capable hands.

Our Forest Products team is widely recognized as one of the best in the country and is seamlessly supported by experts from other McMillan practice areas, such as the Employment and Labour Relations, Tax, Litigation, Energy, Competition and Trade, Mergers and Acquisitions, Capital Markets, Financial Services, Real Estate and Indigenous Law groups.

Our forestry lawyers know what it takes to help forest product, and pulp and paper companies remain profitable while adapting to ongoing challenges posed by environmental and regulatory regimes. Using our astute knowledge of forest policy and law, we advise forest products and pulp and paper companies on all aspects of their ongoing operations, including contractual arrangements and day-to-day regulatory compliance issues. We also serve as legal counsel for financing initiatives, including acquisitions, divestitures, public and private debt and equity financings, and securities offerings.