Cozen O’Connor, one of North America’s fastest-growing law firms, further accelerated its Canadian expansion by adding prominent, Canadian-based corporate attorneys — Andrew Elbaz and Alexander Katznelson as members and Zachary Janes and Michael Shafarenko as associates in its Corporate Practice Group in Toronto. All four come to the firm from a leading Toronto-based law firm, where they worked with Canadian and international companies and investment banks to execute a wide range of cross-border corporate finance and M&A transactions. Elbaz is joining the firm as a shareholder and will assume the role of co-chair, Securities & Capital Markets for Canada.
“As part of our decision to become a full-service firm in Canada, we’ve expanded our corporate capabilities in Toronto and Vancouver substantially, and rest assured that will continue in 2023,” said Michael Heller, Cozen O’Connor’s Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Andrew and Alex’s team is a welcome and important addition. They will play a key role in helping us secure and serve a growing list of domestic and international clients with business operations in Canada and the United States. They’re a terrific fit for the Toronto office and I’m thrilled to welcome them aboard.”
“Few Canadian firms can offer clients the type of cross-border platform we’re developing,” said Brigeeta Richdale, managing partner of the firm’s Vancouver Office. Shane Hardy, co-managing partner of the firm’s Toronto office notes that, “Adding Andrew and Alex further enhances our practice offerings, providing corporate clients across the continent with an extensive “one-stop shop” experience in matters involving public and private equity and debt offerings, Canadian and U.S. stock exchange listings, M&A and corporate governance.”
Elbaz and Katznelson represent companies and leading investment banks on IPOs, public offerings, private placements, stock exchange listings, M&A transactions, proxy, and corporate governance matters. Their practice covers a multitude of industries ranging from technology, clean energy, health care, crypto & blockchain, mining, and oil & gas.
“Cross-border capital market transactions have become a fact of life in today’s global economy,” said Larry Laubach, co-chair of the firm’s Corporate Practice Group. “For a growing number of Canadian companies, engaging a law firm with legal boots on the ground of both sides of the border is viewed as extremely beneficial, especially for those with substantial business in the United States and/or those looking to expand.”
“I’m thrilled to be part of a fast-growing firm with clients in every major industry and market in Canada,” Elbaz said. “Being able to leverage Cozen O’Connor’s depth of legal resources, both in Canada and the United States, is a tremendous opportunity — both for my team and our clients.”
“Canadian companies are increasingly looking to access U.S. capital and list in the United States,” said Katznelson. “By joining Cozen O’Connor, we have access to lawyers throughout the United States, including major cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. That will help our clients continue to access public markets and achieve their business goals.”
Elbaz earned his LL.B at Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree at Université de Montréal. Katznelson earned his LL.B at the University of Buckingham and his B.A. in public administration and justice studies at York University.
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