Christopher Garrah photo
Christopher Garrah photo
Christopher Garrah photo

Chris Garrah is an accomplished corporate lawyer practising business law with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, joint ventures and private equity. Chris represents clients in the insurance sector, as well as the food, beverage and agribusiness industry.

In addition to his work in acquisitions, Chris has extensive experience in shareholder and partnership agreements, commercial agreements and corporate governance issues.

As lead counsel to numerous clients, including non-share capital corporations, Chris provides advice on corporate governance, commercial agreements and corporate policies.

Complementing his Canadian practice, Chris brings cross-border experience gained through a secondment to Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York.



Representative Matters

  • Act for foreign insurance company in relation to its establishment of a joint venture in Canada
  • Act for purchasers of insurance brokers
  • Acted for the purchaser on acquisition of an Ontario insurance company
  • Acted on the BBM Canada-Nielsen Media Research Limited joint venture which resulted in BBM Electronic Inc. The joint venture was the result of the merger of the portion of the respective operations of BBM and Nielsen Media Research Limited that measured television audiences using wired electronic meters
  • Acted for vendor group in sale of a national food distributor
  • Acted for an auto parts manufacturer in a commercial restructuring and insolvency matter involving major Canadian automobile manufacturers
  • Acted on behalf of a number of health and safety associations in connection with the restructuring of the workplace and workplace-related accident prevention system in Ontario
  • Acted on behalf of The Royal Conservatory of Music in connection with a joint venture with Carnegie Hall to launch the Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory The Achievement Program (now The Royal Conservator of Music Development Program)
  • Acted on behalf of a software company in connection with the sale of its shares to a U.S. private equity group
  • Acted for the Canadian Cancer Society on its amalgamation with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
  • Acted for DCC Technology Company Ltd. in its acquisition of JAM Industries Ltd.
  • Acted for technology company in the acquisition of the shares of an insurance analytics technology company
  • Acted for vendors in the sale of an international chemical company to a  private equity firm

Speaking Engagements

Directors’ Duties and Liabilities, Governance Practices and Charity Issues - Presentation to Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights (“FAIR”)

November 10, 2023

Panel Discussion on a Joint Venture Deal, OBA - Professional Development, Commercial Agreements Bootcamp

November 21, 2023

Folk Inc – Why, When, and How to Incorporate your Music Business, Presented by The Canadian Federation of Musicians and Folk Music Ontario

November 25, 2021

Practice Gems: Essentials of the Privately Held Company 2019 (Part 1): Setting Up the Company Law Society of Ontario, Toronto

September 2019

Québec – Ontario Business Law Summit Ontario Bar Association, Toronto

May 2015

Termination Clauses – Don't Leave the Table Without Them The Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario, Huntsville, Ontario

May 2014

Administration - Privacy and Document Retention: Establishing Effective Document Retention and Destruction Policies Ontario Bar Association - Institute 2012, Toronto

February 2012

Records Management Lexpert Information Privacy and Data Protection Seminar

November 2011

Best Practices for Document Retention The Canadian Institute's Forum on Privacy Law & Compliance

September 21, 2011

Canada and the Ontario Not-For-Profit Law - How will the Historical Changes Impact Not-For-Profit Corporations The Ontario Bar Association

June 7, 2011

Business Law: Keeping Afloat in a Sea of Change The Ontario Bar Association

February 2008
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News


Directorships & Affiliations

  • Ontario Bar Association
  • Canadian Bar Association

Education & Admissions

1996
Called to the Ontario bar
1994
LLBUniversity of Toronto
1991
B.Comm. Queen's University

Publications

Insights (4 Posts)View More

Featured Insight

Privacy Breaches in M&A Deals and the Importance of Data Security Diligence

Data security issues pose risks to a transaction, but can be mitigated with effective data security diligence, and other contractual strategies.

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Apr 3, 2023
Featured Insight

Ontario Not-For-Profit Corporations Act To Come In Force. What Do We Do Now?

The Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 is set to come into force on October 19, 2021, bringing forward changes for not-for-profit corporations.

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Sep 7, 2021
Featured Insight

Charities and Not-for-profit Corporations – AGM Challenges and Solutions During COVID-19 Outbreak

Guidance to non-share capital corporations and charities on how to address upcoming membership meetings in light of COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

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May 18, 2020
Featured Insight

Tips for Supporting an Employee’s Application for Provincial Nomination from Recent BC PNP Decision

Tips for Supporting an Employee's Application for Provincial Nomination from Recent BC PNP Decision

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Feb 3, 2017

Deals & Cases (6 Posts)

Featured Insight

PURE Reciprocal Insurance Exchange obtains Order from OSFI to Insure in Canada Risks

On February 9, 2023, Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange obtained an approval from the Superintendent of Financial Institutions under the Insurance Companies Act to insure in Canada personal lines property and casualty risks, including those falling under the classes of property, liability, marine and automobile insurance

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Feb 9, 2023
Featured Insight

McMillan Represents AJ Gallagher in US$3.25B Acquisition of Willis Towers Watson Assets

On December 1, 2021, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. completed its USD$3.25 Billion acquisition of substantially all of the treaty reinsurance brokerage operations from Willis Towers Watson plc.

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Dec 1, 2021
Featured Insight

Compass Datacenters, LLC Acquires ROOT Data Center Inc.

On July 23, 2019, Compass announced that it completed its acquisition of ROOT Data Center, a Canadian wholesale data center provider, by way of share purchase. McMillan LLP acted as Canadian counsel to Compass

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Jul 23, 2019
Featured Insight

Canadian Cancer Society Amalgamates with Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

The Canadian Cancer Society completed its amalgamation with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation following their announcement to merge in October 2016. McMillan LLP was retained on the transaction by the Canadian Cancer Society.

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Feb 9, 2019
Featured Insight

ShawCor Completes Acquisition of Fineglade

On October 24, 2012 ShawCor Ltd. completed the acquisition of the remaining 60% of Fineglade Limited

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Oct 24, 2012
Featured Insight

Carnegie Hall & The Royal Conservatory of Music Partner to Launch The Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory Achievement Program

Carnegie Hall & The Royal Conservatory of Music Partner to Launch The Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory Achievement Program

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Mar 25, 2011