Sandra Knowler Photo
Sandra Knowler Photo
Sandra Knowler Photo

Sandra Knowler is an experienced business law practitioner with a thriving practice focused on mergers and acquisitions. She works with clients from a range of industries, including the manufacturing, private equity, automotive, food beverage and agribusiness sectors.

With extensive experience in corporate and commercial law, Sandra assists private businesses on acquisitions, venture capital / private equity, divestitures, business structuring and organization, restructurings and reorganizations, and business succession. She also provides guidance on the preparation and negotiation of contracts, agreements and corporate documents.

Sandra is recognized as a notable practitioner in M&A in the IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Guide.



Representative Matters

Sandra Knowler has been involved in the following representative transactions:

  • Acted as Canadian counsel to HCI Equity Partners and AmerCareRoyal in the acquisition of McNairn Packaging, a leading provider of specialty paper packaging products for national food chains and distributors in North America
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to Trimble Inc. in the acquisition of Can-Net, Cansel’s RTK network correction service
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to Trimble Inc. in the acquisition of 3LOG Systems, a leading supplier of timber management software solutions
  • Acted for Great Canadian Gaming in the sale of its Washington casinos
  • Acted for SmartPager Systems Inc. in its sale to a US financial investor
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to Roseburg Forest Products in the acquisition of Pembroke MDF, Inc.’s medium density fiberboard (MDF) plant and molding production facility
  • 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 for Bit Stew Systems in its US$153 million sale to GE Digital
  • Acted for RC Acquisitions in its acquisition of the Selkirk and Stanford Seniors Villages
  • Acted for Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation in its approximately $13.3 million acquisition of ASW Steel, Inc. (including $3.5 million in cash and assumption of approximately $9.6 million of outstanding indebtedness)
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to HCI Equity Partners in its merger of Royal Paper Products with its existing portfolio company AmerCare
  • Acted for GFL (Green for Life) Environmental in a significant acquisition of BC-based Enviro-Smart Organics and Instant Lawn Turf Farm
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to The WhiteWave Foods Company in its US$550 million acquisition of Sequel Naturals Ltd.
  • Acted for Plentyoffish Media Inc. respecting its US$575 million sale to The Match.com Group.
  • Acted for Bunge Canada with respect to the formation of a limited partnership with SALIC Canada Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Agriculture and Livestock Investment Company, to pursue a joint venture with Western Stevedoring Company Limited, with the intention of examining the feasibility of building an export grain terminal at Lynnterm West Gate at Port Metro Vancouver.
  • Acted for Ontario Gaming East Limited Partnership, in the $51.3 million acquisition of Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands and Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs from Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, including certain gaming assets and working capital, as well as acquiring a proposed gaming property. The transaction marks the first privatization of gaming assets/operations by OLG.
  • Acted for a subsidiary of Lonza Group Ltd. in its acquisition of Diacon Technologies Ltd., a privately held anti-sapstain business based in British Columbia.
  • Acted for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its acquisition of sawmill and related assets based in High Prairie, Alberta from Gordon Buchanan Enterprises Ltd.
  • Acted for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its acquisition of sawmill and lumber manufacturing operations based in Mansfield, Arkansas from Travis Lumber Company.
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to Koppers Inc. in its acquisition of Osmose Holdings, Inc.’s wood preservation and railroad services businesses.
  • Acted as Canadian counsel to Koppers Inc. in its acquisition of the Ashcroft, BC treating division of Tolko Industries Inc.
  • Acted for a BC-based health and fitness device maker in its $4.5 million Series A venture financing, and its $3 million Series A follow-on financing.
  • Acted for CTF Technologies, Inc. (a leading global provider of fuel cards and specialized payment products to businesses) in its US$180 million sale to FleetCor Technologies, Inc.
  • Advised a BC-based online service company regarding its investment in a newly created private equity fund.
  • Acted for China Silian Instruments Group Co., Ltd. in its acquisition of Honeywell’s sapphire wafer business.
  • Acted for Ainsworth Inc. in its acquisition of Hallmark Air Conditioning Ltd., a provider of heating, ventilation and air conditioning services in the Greater Vancouver Area and on Vancouver Island.
  • Acted for CML HealthCare Inc. in its acquisition of Associated Diagnostic Radiologists (which owns three medical imaging clinics in the Greater Vancouver Area) and Laurel Radiology Inc. (with two medical imaging clinics located in Vancouver), and its acquisition of the business and assets of five medical imaging clinics in the Greater Vancouver Area from General Medical Imaging Services Inc.
  • Acted for Marubeni America Corporation in its acquisition of Train Trailer Rentals, Ltd., a Mississauga, Ontario based trailer rental, leasing and service company.
  • Acted for West Fraser Timber Co. in its C$1.23 billion acquisition of Weldwood of Canada Ltd. from International Paper Co.
  • Acted for Great Canadian Gaming Corporation in its acquisition of Casino Nova Scotia Halifax and Casino Nova Scotia Sydney from a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment, Inc.
  • Acted for the special committee of the board of directors of Gemcom Software International Inc. in its July 2008 acquisition by a vehicle indirectly owned by affiliates of JMI Equity Fund VI, L.P., Carlyle Venture Partners III, L.P. and Pala Investments Holdings Limited for approximately C$190 million.
  • Acted for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its acquisition of Quesnel River Pulp Co.
  • Acted for Fortis Inc. in its C$1.47 billion acquisition of Aquila, Inc.’s Alberta and British Columbia utility assets.
  • Acted for Fortis Inc. in its acquisition of Princeton Light and Power Company, Limited.
  • Acted for Ballard Power Systems in its $553 million acquisition of XCELLSIS and Ecostar Electric Drive Systems LLC from DaimlerChrysler and Ford Motor Company.
  • Acted for Leavitt Machinery and Rentals Ltd. in its acquisition of Finning International’s Western Canadian materials handling unit.
  • Acted for West Fraser Timber Co., respecting the C$220 million sale of its Revy Home Centres subsidiary.
  • Acted for Crown Packaging Ltd. in its C$165 million divestiture of its Canadian divisions and one US subsidiary to four separate purchasers.
  • Acted for West Fraser Mills in its acquisition of the Chasm Division of Ainsworth Lumber.

Speaking Engagements

Anatomy of a Deal Panel Presentation, Association of Women in Finance

2009

Amendments to Investment Canada Act Work Group seminars

2009

M&A Issues Panel Presentation, Women Presidents' Organization

2009

Indemnification of Directors and Officers: A Comparison of the repealed Company Act (BC), the Business Corporations Act (BC) and the Canada Business Corporations Act Solicitors Work Group seminars

January 2007

Due Diligence François Tougas and Sandra Knowler, Associate Training seminars

2004

Merger Review for Dummies François Tougas, Sandra Knowler and Sharon Wong, Solicitors Work Group seminars

2003

News


Media Mentions


Rankings & Recognition

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2025) as a leading lawyer in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2024) as a leading lawyer in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2023) as a leading lawyer in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Corporate Mid-Market
  • Recognized by IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Guide 2022 as a Notable Practitioner in the area of M&A
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2022) as a leading lawyer in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Corporate Mid-Market
  • Recognized by IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Guide 2020 as a Notable Practitioner in M&A
  • Recognized by IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Guide 2019 as a Notable Practitioner in M&A

Directorships & Affiliations

  • Vancouver Bar Association
  • Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia Branch
  • Women’s Executive Network
  • Association of Women in Finance
  • Science World Equity Giving Committee

Education & Admissions

2001
Called to the British Columbia bar
2000
LLB University of British Columbia
1997
BBASimon Fraser University

Publications

Insights (5 Posts)View More

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

Labels, Endorsements, and Scientific Proof: A New Approach to Self-Care Products in Canada

Labels, Endorsements, and Scientific Proof: A New Approach to Self-Care Products in Canada

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Sep 28, 2016
Featured Insight

North America’s GMO-Labeling Policy Patchwork and the Consumer’s “Right to Know”

North America's GMO-Labeling Policy Patchwork and the Consumer's "Right to Know"

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Jun 30, 2016
Featured Insight

What’s in a Name? Organic Food Labelling in British Columbia

What's in a Name? Organic Food Labelling in British Columbia

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Jun 5, 2016
Featured Insight

From Lab to Farm to Table: Regulation of Genetically Modified Food in Canada

From Lab to Farm to Table: Regulation of Genetically Modified Food in Canada

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Jun 5, 2016

Deals & Cases (9 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 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

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

G3 Global Grain Group buys majority stake in G3 Canada Limited (formerly The Canadian Wheat Board)

G3 Global Grain Group buys majority stake in G3 Canada Limited (formerly The Canadian Wheat Board)

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Jul 30, 2015

Plentyoffish acquired for US$575 million by Match.com

Plentyoffish acquired for US$575 million by Match.com

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Jul 15, 2015
Featured Insight

Great Panther completes acquisition of Cangold

Great Panther completes acquisition of Cangold

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May 27, 2015