People

Matthew B. Norris

Partner
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Matt is a Partner in the Business Law Group. Matt’s practice focuses on assisting businesses on broad range of corporate, commercial and business matters, including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, financing transactions, partnership and shareholder arrangements, corporate reorganizations and complex commercial agreements.

In addition to his transactional practice, Matt provides strategic advice to his clients on a wide range of matters impacting their business, often with a significant cross-border component. His clients include both Canadian and US private equity funds, family offices, investment banks, owner-operator businesses, emerging companies and multi-national businesses across a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, marketing and advertising, food & beverage, communications, insurance, emerging technologies and real estate.

Matt is a recipient of the 2018 Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40  Award. This honour is given to lawyers under the age 40 who have an outstanding track record of success in their field, are recognized leaders in the community, and are contributors to their firm’s success. They are nominated by their peers as being at the top of their game in leadership, professional achievements, business acumen, adaptability, teamwork and interpersonal skills. 

Education & Memberships

education

Called to the Ontario Bar, 2007
Osgood Hall Law School, LL.B., 2006
Huron University College at the University of Western Ontario, B.A. (Hons), 2006

Awards and Recognition

Recipient, 2018 Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40
Recognized as a Lawyer to Watch in Mergers & Acquisitions in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Speaking Engagements & Publications

Critical Considerations for Cross-Border Service Provider Contracts

Panelist, OBA Institute, November 2021

Entrepreneurs Organization (Toronto)

Regular speaker to EO forums on a variety of business law topics.

Keiretsu Central Canada Forum

Regular speaker on Get Investment Ready.

Ryerson University, Business Law & Business Clinic

Guest lecturer on Business Entities.

Conducting Effective Corporate Due Diligence

Speaker, Osgoode CLE, 2011

representative work

Legal counsel to North American Produce Buyers in connection with its sale to Ironbridge Equity Partners

Legal counsel to Barcodes Group in connection with its acquisition of Day 2 Mobility

Legal counsel to Recipe Unlimited Corporation in connection with its sale of Pubs Brands

Legal counsel to Panoramic Funds in connection with its Series A investment in The Rounds

Canadian Counsel to Switzerland-based financial institution in connection with its acquisition of Canadian software company

Counsel to Benefits by Design Inc. in connection with its sale to People Corporation

Counsel to Maple Lodge Farms in connection with its acquisition of catching business

Counsel to Recipe Unlimited Corporation in connection with acquisition of Crave-It Restaurant Group’s Interest in The Burger’s Priest and Fresh

Counsel to Recipe Unlimited Corporation in connection with the sale of Milestones to Foodtastic

Counsel to Recipe Unlimited Corporation in connection with acquisition of Original Fresh Restaurants and Remaining Minority Interest in Fresh

Counsel to Canadian subsidiary of multinational travel agency in connection with its sale to US-based buyer

Counsel to group of investors in connection with their partnership and financing arrangements on multiple real estate investments

Counsel to software start-up firm in connection with its sale to a public company consolidator

Canadian Counsel to US private equity firm in connection with its acquisition of a Canadian division of supplements business

Counsel to US purchaser in its roll-up acquisition strategy in the fire and life safety industry

Counsel to international agency and marketing firm in connection with its buy-out of minority partners and associated debt financing

Counsel to international parts manufacturer in connection with its tuck-in acquisitions

Counsel to McGregor Industries Inc. in connection with its transactions with PVH Corp.

Counsel to ACL Benefits in connection with its sale to People Corporation

Counsel to engineering firm in connection with restructuring and management buy-out

Counsel to national real estate developer in connection with court-supervised redemption of mortgage and refinancing

Counsel to the founder of The Burger's Priest in connection with the sale of his interest in The Burger's Priest to Cara Operations Limited

Counsel to a large automotive parts manufacturer in connection with the buy-out of its private equity investor and other minority shareholders and associated debt financing

Counsel to US purchaser of leading Ontario-based engineering and inspection firm

Canadian counsel to US-based dental industry software start-up, including Canadian investment

Counsel to real estate turnover software start-up, including its preliminary financing

Counsel to the selling shareholders of a large automotive retailer to an industry consolidator .

Counsel to group of accountants in connection with their separation from an international accounting firm

Counsel to a start-up stand-up paddle board manufacturer

Counsel to value-added reseller on strategic acquisition of national competitor

Counsel to real estate developer on formation of Private Real Estate REIT

Project counsel to large-scale Toronto-based land assembly and development project

Counsel to purchaser of Ontario-based brick and stone manufacturing and distribution business

Counsel to purchaser of large seafood and dairy merchant wholesaler and retailer

Counsel to US-based mobile retailer in connection with its acquisition of Ontario-based authorized mobile retailer with 35-plus locations

ounsel to Neo Material Technologies Inc. in the completion of its $1.3 billion sale to Molycorp, Inc. by plan of arrangement

Counsel to Lorex in its sale to Flir Systems

Counsel to purchaser of national heating and plumbing company

Counsel to Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group on certain matters, including the acquisition of Ottawa 67's, dealings with the Canadian Football League and the Ontario Hockey League and other matters relating to sports franchise

Counsel to garment licensor and wholesaler in connection with the buy-out of its private equity investor and related financing

Counsel to Highground Capital Corp. in its $23 million business combination with Algonquin Power Income Fund

Counsel to Counsel Corporation in the sale of its LTC portfolio to Macquarie and Leisureworld Senior Care