Joanna Dawson photo
Joanna Dawson photo
Joanna Dawson photo

Joanna Dawson is a respected corporate commercial lawyer in the business law group where she works with clients in a range of industries, including private equity, food, beverage and agribusiness, maritime and transportation.

Joanna’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions in the private sector, business structuring and organization, and corporate restructuring and reorganization. She also provides general day-to-day guidance and legal advice to clients in the preparation and negotiation of commercial agreements and contracts.

In addition, she is known for her expertise in maritime law, where she advises ferry operators, shippers, ship owners and shipbuilders, locally and internationally, on shipbuilding agreements, purchase and sale of marine assets, and vessel registration matters.

Active in the business and legal communities, Joanna is President of WISTA Canada (Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association), and a member of Canadian Transportation Research Forum and Canadian Transport Lawyers Association.



Representative Matters

Joanna represents clients in a variety of interests and matters, including:

  • Acted as Canadian counsel to a US bank in the financing of the acquisition of a large marine transportation service provider operating in the U.S. and Canada.
  • Represented a Canadian company in its acquisition of a water systems and services company.
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to HCI Equity Partners and AmerCare in the acquisition of a Canadian supplier of private label and branded disposable products to Canadian foodservice, retail, institutional and industrial markets and distributors.
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to West Fraser in connection with its US$430 million acquisition of six sawmills and a finger-jointing facility from the Howard Gilman Foundation and the cross-border financing in respect of its US$200 million term acquisition facility.
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to a leading company in the global maritime market.
  • Counsel to a local marine services companies.
  • Provided corporate, commercial, and transactional advice for businesses engaged in ship construction and systems integration, ownership, finance and management, port and terminal facilities.
  • Represented numerous corporate clients with internal corporate reorganizations.

News


Media Mentions

  • “Amendments to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and Marine Liability Act”, HazMat, March 13, 2019

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2025) as a leading lawyer in the area of Corporate Law

Directorships & Affiliations

  • Law Society of British Columbia, Member
  • Canadian Bar Association, Member
  • President of  WISTA Canada (Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association)

Education & Admissions

2023
Called to the Yukon Bar
2012
Called to the British Columbia bar
2011
JDUniversity of British Columbia

Publications

Insights (13 Posts)View More

Featured Insight

New Corporate Transparency Requirements for Federal Corporations

Effective January 22, 2024, federal corporations are required to file with Corporations Canada certain information on individuals with significant control.

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Nov 23, 2023
Featured Insight

Indigenous Law Update: What the B.C. Natural Resource Sector Should Know About “Non-Treaty” Agreements

This bulletin discusses non-treaty agreements with indigenous groups in British Columbia.

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Aug 22, 2023
Featured Insight

Proposed Amendments to the Business Corporations Act to create a Public Registry of Beneficial Owners of Private Companies in British Columbia

Recent amendments to the BC Business Corporations Act to propose public registry of beneficial owners of BC private companies.

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May 9, 2023
Featured Insight

New Transparency Requirements on the Horizon for Federal Corporations: Bill C-42’s Proposed Amendments to the Canada Business Corporations Act

Bill C-42, introduced in Parliament on March 22, 2023, proposes to further increase corporate transparency and accountability.

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May 1, 2023
Featured Insight

A New Look for Corporate Social Responsibility: British Columbia Introduces the Benefit Company

An introduction to the new "benefit company" structure being introduced to the British Columbia Business Corporations Act.

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Jun 5, 2020
Featured Insight

May 1 Update: COVID 19: Temporary Relief of Corporate Requirements for Shareholder and Director Meetings

The provinces and federal government provide temporary measures to ease corporate compliance with legislative requirements and facilitate decision-making.

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May 1, 2020
Featured Insight

The Transport Finance Law Review – Edition 6

The Transport Finance Law Review is intended to provide the industry with a guide to transport finance today globally. 

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Apr 29, 2020
Featured Insight

Update – British Columbia Business Corporations Act Transparency Register Requirements Extended to October 1, 2020

Update To The New Transparency Requirements: Private Companies in British Columbia Now Required To Collect And Disclose Shareholder Information

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Apr 20, 2020
Featured Insight

New Transparency Requirements: Private Companies in British Columbia Now Required to Collect and Disclose Shareholder Information

Amendments to British Columbia Business Corporations Act require all privately held companies to maintain transparency registers of all significant individuals.

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Jan 31, 2020
Featured Insight

Applying the Nairobi International Convention in Canada: The Wrecked, Abandoned and Hazardous Vessels Act (Canada)

The International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007 will come into force in Canada under the Wrecked, Abandoned and Hazardous Vessels Act on Jul 30 2019

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Jun 7, 2019
Featured Insight

The Transport Finance Law Review – Edition 5

Canadian transportation policy is continuously evolving

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May 10, 2019
Featured Insight

Amendments to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and Marine Liability Act

On December 13, 2018, Bill C-86, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 27, 2018 and other measures, otherwise known as the Budget Implementation Act was given royal assent.

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Feb 13, 2019
Featured Insight

The Transport Finance Law Review – Edition 4

The Canada chapter in Getting the Deal Through - Banking Regulation 2018 provides an overview of the regulations governing the banking industry in Canada

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Jun 4, 2018

Deals & Cases (6 Posts)

Featured Insight

West Fraser Completes Sale of Quesnel River and Slave Lake Pulp Mills

On April 20, 2024, West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (TSX and NYSE: WFG) completed its previously announced agreement to sell its Quesnel River Pulp mill in British Columbia and its Slave Lake Pulp mill in Alberta to Atlas Holdings.

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Apr 20, 2024
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 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

AmerCareRoyal, LLC Acquiers McNairn Packaging

On November 25, 2019, AmerCareRoyal, LLC (“ACR”) announced its acquisition of McNairn Packaging, a leading provider and manufacturer of speciality paper packaging products to the foodservices industry in the North American market.

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Nov 25, 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