Eric Friedman Photo
Eric Friedman Photo
Eric Friedman Photo

Eric Friedman is a highly respected business lawyer who is consistently recognized for his expertise in the areas of banking and financial institutions by numerous Canadian and international legal directories.

Trusted for his advice on a wide range of corporate / commercial matters, Eric provides counsel on secured lending, including in connection with private company mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, and general commercial law matters.

With clients that include Canadian chartered banks, foreign banks, international manufacturing companies, energy services businesses, trucking companies and pharmaceutical businesses, Eric regularly acts as Canadian counsel on cross-border lending transactions.



Representative Matters

Eric Friedman has acted on the following transactions:

  • Acted for the Bank of Canada, Canada’s central bank, in connection with the amendment and/or establishment and implementation of the Bank’s Emergency Lending Assistance facility and the Standing Term Liquidity Facility, which facilities provide for liquidity to financial institutions in Canada in specified circumstances
  • Acted for CCL Industries Inc., a world leader in specialty label and packaging solutions for global corporations, small businesses and consumers, on the private placement offering of US$600 million aggregate principal amount 3.05% notes, completed in June, 2020
  • Acted for Richards Packaging Inc., a leading packaging distributor in Canada, in connection with the financing related to its acquisition of Clarion Medical Technologies Inc., completed in May, 2020
  • Acted for Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd., a Canadian gold mining company, in connection with a newly established credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders, with Nation Bank as agent, completed in September, 2019
  • Acted for ShawCor Ltd. in connection with its US$500 million credit facilities provided by a syndicate of lenders with the Toronto-Dominion Bank as agent, which facilities are guaranteed by subsidiaries in over 15 countries, completed in March, 2019, and subsequently amended
  • Acted for Bellwyck Packaging Solutions Inc. in connections with its credit facilities provided by a syndicate of lenders, with Bank of Montreal as agent, completed in December, 2018, and subsequently amended
  • Acted for Canadian Payments Association (d.b.a. Payments Canada), the organization responsible for Canada’s essential payments systems, in connection with a syndicated credit facility in the principal amount of $250 million as part of the modernization of Canada’s payments ecosystem completed in April, 2017
  • Acted for CCL Industries Inc., a world leader in specialty label and packaging solutions for global corporations, small businesses and consumers, in connection with a US$450 million term credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders led by Bank of Montreal, completed in February, 2017
  • Acted for Septodont Holding, Novocol Pharmaceutical of Canada, Inc. and other related entities in multiple jurisdictions in connection with credit facilities in the aggregate principal amount of €65 million provided by a syndicate of banks led by Bank of Montreal, completed in February, 2017
  • Acted for CCL Industries Inc., a world leader in specialty label and packaging solutions for global corporations, small businesses and consumers, on the private placement offering of US$500 million aggregate principal amount 3.25% notes, completed in September 2016
  • Acted for SEMAFO Inc. in a US$120 million amended and restated credit facility with respect to the construction of a mining project in Burkina Faso
  • Acted for Toronto Port Authority in connection with various credit facilities provided by Bank of Montreal, completed in June 2016
  • Acted for CCL Industries Inc., a world leader in specialty label and packaging solutions for global corporations, small businesses and consumers, in connection with its US$1.2 billion credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders led by Bank of Montreal, completed in December, 2015
  • Acted for Richards Packaging Inc., a leading packaging distributor in Canada, in connection with the financing related to its acquisition of Healthmark Services Ltd., completed in October, 2015
  • Acted for Teck Resources Limited in the completion of a US $1.2 billion revolving credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders in June, 2015
  • Acted for SEMAFO Inc. in connection with a US$90 million term loan provided by Macquarie Bank Limited the proceeds of which were used by SEMAFO Inc. to acquire all of the shares of Orbis Gold Limited pursuant to a public offer in Australia, completed in March, 2015
  • Acted for Teck Resources Limited in connection with its revolving credit facility provided by a syndicate of banks, originally in the principal amount of US$2 billion and subsequently increased to US$3 billion
  • Acted as Canadian counsel for a syndicate of lenders in respect of two separate asset-based credit facilities in favour of separate operating entities in the specialty chemicals and materials business ultimately under the same control, one in the amount of US$400 million, completed in March, 2013, and the other in the amount of US$270 million, completed in April, 2013
  • Acted for ShawCor Ltd. in connection with its US$350 million private placement of unsecured senior notes in the United States, completed in March, 2013
  • Acted for ShawCor Ltd. in connection with its US$250 million credit facilities provided by a syndicate of lenders with the Toronto-Dominion Bank and HSBC Bank Canada as agents, which facilities are guaranteed by subsidiaries in over 15 countries, completed in March, 2013
  • Acted for ShawCor Ltd. in connection with its C$135 million acquisition of the remaining 60% of Fineglade Limited not previously owned by it, completed in October, 2012
  • Acted for Intact Financial Corporation with respect to banking matters relating to its C$530 million acquisition of JEVCO Insurance Company, completed in September, 2012
  • Acted for Teck Resources Limited in connection with its US$2 billion public debt offering in the United States, completed in July, 2011
  • Acted for a Canadian chartered bank in connection with term loans totaling C$47.5 million to an Ontario-based publicly-traded company with a subsidiary regulated under the federal Trust and Loan Companies Act
  • Acted for Richards Packaging Income Fund in its acquisition of The E.J. McKernan Co. for US$30 million in cash and securities convertible into units of the fund
  • Acted for CCL Industries Inc. in its issuance of an aggregate of US$130 million of senior guaranteed notes to institutional investors in the United States by way of private placement.
  • Acted for Teck Resources Limited in the completion of a private placement offering in the U.S. and Canada of US$4.225 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes, completed in May, 2009

News


Rankings & Recognition

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2025) as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking and Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2024 Lexpert Special Edition on Finance and M&A as one of Canada’s Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers
  • Recognized in the 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2024) as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking and Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2023 Lexpert Special Edition on Finance and M&A as one of Canada’s Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers
  • Recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Consistently Recommended Lawyer in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2023) as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking and Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Recognized by IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Guide 2022 as a Notable Practitioner in the area of Banking
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2022) as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking and Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Recognized by the Best Lawyers in Canada (2021) as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking and Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2020 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Listed in the Legal500 Canada 2020 as a “Recommended Lawyer” – Banking and Finance
  • Recognized by IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Guide 2020 as a Notable Practitioner in Banking
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2020) as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking & Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Recognized by IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Guide 2019 as a Notable Practitioner in Banking
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2019) as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking & Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2018) as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking and Finance Law

Directorships & Affiliations

  • Ontario Bar Association, Personal Property Security Law Sub-Committee
  • Canadian Bar Association

Education & Admissions

1990
Called to the Ontario bar
1988
LLB University of Ottawa
1988
MBA University of Ottawa
1984
BA Princeton University

Insights (4 Posts)View More

Featured Insight

Payments Canada hits Refresh on Pre-Authorized Debit Framework with Updates to Rule H1

Payments Canada implements changes to Rule H1 for Pre-Authorized Debit transactions, effective October 3, 2022.

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Oct 26, 2022
Featured Insight

Major Canadian Banks Join Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) — Unpacking the Initiative and Net-Zero Commitments

On the eve of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, six of Canada’s largest banks announced they had signed on to the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.

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Oct 21, 2021
Featured Insight

ICMA Green Bond Principles Undergo Minor Facelift

Legal news bulletin discussing recent changes to ICMA Green Bond Principles.

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Jun 17, 2021
Featured Insight

Climate, Credit & Canada – Growth of Green Bonds, Sustainability-Linked Credit and Net-Zero Banking

Climate, Credit & Canada - Growth of Green Bonds, Sustainability-Linked Credit and Net-Zero Banking

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Jun 7, 2021

Deals & Cases (18 Posts)

Featured Insight

McMillan LLP Advises Government of Canada on its Second Green Bond Issuance

On March 5, 2024, the Government of Canada completed its second offering of green bonds, following the inaugural $5 billion offering in 2022.

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Mar 5, 2024
Featured Insight

McMillan Advises the Government of Canada on its Ukraine Sovereignty Bond Issuance

On December 2, 2022, the Government of Canada completed its $500 million Ukraine Sovereignty Bond issuance.

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Dec 2, 2022
Featured Insight

McMillan Advises Government of Canada on its First-Ever Green Bond Issuance

On March 29, 2022, the Government of Canada completed its inaugural $5 billion green bond issuance. This is the first ever offering of a green bond by the Federal Government and the largest Canadian green bond issuance to date.

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Mar 29, 2022
Featured Insight

iAnthus Closes US$11 Million Bridge Financing

On February 2, 2021, iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. (“iAnthus") (CSE:IAN) closed a US$11 million bridge financing funded by certain lenders affiliated with the counterparties to the previously announced restructuring support agreement dated July 10, 2020.

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Feb 2, 2021
Featured Insight

CCL Industries Inc. completes US$600 million note offering

CCL Industries Inc. completes US$600 million note offering

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Jun 1, 2020
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

Wataynikaneyap CAD$1.9 Billion Transmission Project

On July 22, 2019, Wataynikaneyap Power LP (“Wataynikaneyap Power”) the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada signed agreements that formalized support for the Northern Ontario Grid Connection Project. The signing of definitive documents enables all partners to work within the intricate business model agreed to by both levels of government, First Nations and other partners.

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Jul 22, 2019
Featured Insight

Vertu FX Limited Partnership and BDC Capital Inc. complete acquisition of Firmex Holdings Inc.

Novacap was represented in-house by Josiane Turcotte, Senior Legal Counsel, by Charles Chevrette, Enda Wong, Christian Abouchaker and David Zhou (M&A), Michael Ranger (Tax), Eric Friedman (Banking) and Bruce McWilliam (Technology) of McMillan LLP.

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Feb 1, 2019
Featured Insight

Tahoe Resources and Lake Shore Gold close business combination

Tahoe Resources and Lake Shore Gold close business combination

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Apr 6, 2016
Featured Insight

SEMAFO Inc. completes US$120M amended and restated credit facility with Macquarie

SEMAFO Inc. completes US$120M amended and restated credit facility with Macquarie

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Mar 3, 2016
Featured Insight

St Andrew Goldfields completes plan of arrangement with Kirkland Lake Gold

St Andrew Goldfields completes plan of arrangement with Kirkland Lake Gold

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Jan 26, 2016
Featured Insight

Enviroshake Inc. acquired by Headwaters Inc.

Enviroshake Inc. acquired by Headwaters Inc.

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Dec 4, 2015

Semafo completes C$57.9 million bought deal private placement and US$90 million credit facility with Macquarie Bank

Semafo completes C$57.9 million bought deal private placement and US$90 million credit facility with Macquarie Bank

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Mar 17, 2015
Featured Insight

CCL Industries Completes Acquisition of Two Businesses from Avery Dennison

On July 1, 2013, CCL Industries Inc. ("CCL"), a specialty label and packing solution company

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Jul 1, 2013
Featured Insight

Vitran Corporation Completes US $97 million sale of its Supply Chain Operation

On March 4, 2013 Vitran Corporation Inc., a publicly traded North American transportation company, completed the sale of its Supply Chain Operation (SCO) business to LEGACY Supply Chain based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for U.S. $97 million in cash.

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Mar 1, 2013
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

Intact Financial Corporation Acquires JEVCO Insurance Company

On September 5, 2012, Intact Financial Corporation (IFC) announced that it had completed the acquisition of JEVCO Insurance Company

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Sep 5, 2012
Featured Insight

Teck Resources Completes US$2 Billion Debt Offering

Teck Resources Completes US$2 Billion Debt Offering

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Jul 5, 2011