Speaker details

Biography

David Chaikof is a leading lawyer for public companies and private equity firms in mergers and acquisitions and corporate and securities laws who has led domestic and cross-border acquisitions and takeover bids. David regularly advises companies, boards of directors and special committees in connection with M&A, securities laws and corporate governance across various industries. David is the lead external advisor to Fairfax Financial and BlackBerry on their corporate financings and M&A mandates. He led BlackBerry in its strategic review process along with the related US$1.25 billion financing. David also led Fairfax in its US$4.9 billion acquisition of Allied World Assurance Company and its strategic investments in numerous companies such as Toys “R” Us, Bauer and Easton Sports, the Keg, Prime Restaurants, Chorus Aviation, Mega Brands, Eacom Timber, The Brick Group, Sporting Life, Torstar and Resolute. He advised the Caisse de dépôt on its US$1.1 billion cross border acquisition of Student Transportation and Cognos on its US$5.0 billion sale to IBM. David also has extensive cross border capital markets deal experience as counsel to companies and investment banks stemming from his participation in more than 250 Canadian, U.S. and international equity and debt offerings resulting in more than US$30 billion in capital raised.