Chris Margison, Counsel | Competition, Marketing & Foreign Investment

Chris Margison

Counsel
With experience gained from senior positions both in private practice and at the Competition Bureau, Chris is able to advise clients on all aspects of Canadian competition law in today’s fast-changing environment.
Jurisdiction Ontario, 2000
Language(s) English
Office(s) Toronto
Contact
Business +1 416 943 8975
Mobile +1 416 943 8975
Email cmargison@fasken.com
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Overview

Chris Margison has over 20 years of private and public sector legal experience, including as Special Advisor to both the Commissioner of Competition and the Senior Deputy Commissioner, Cartels Directorate at the Competition Bureau.

With his background, Chris brings a number of attributes, such as the ability to provide critical advice, guidance and recommendations in a timely fashion on all aspects of Canadian competition law. He has advised the Commissioner, Senior Deputy Commissioners and high-profile Canadian and international companies on mergers, strategic alliances, cartels, bid-rigging, abuse of dominance, distribution and pricing practices, and misleading advertising matters. He has been involved in several litigated matters before the Competition Tribunal, including as an integral part of the Competition Bureau’s case team in Commissioner of Competition v. Visa Canada Corporation. Chris has developed extensive experience in a wide variety of industries, including the agricultural, consumer products, entertainment, financial services, information technology, manufacturing, mining, pharmaceutical, plastics and telecommunications sectors.

Honours and Awards

  • Commissioner’s Merit Award Finalist, Competition Bureau, 2014
  • Commissioner’s Merit Award Winner, Competition Bureau, 2012
  • Deputy Commissioner’s Merit Award Winner, Competition Bureau, 2012 and 2014
  • Leading Lawyer in Advertising and Marketing, Lawday, 2009

Award Winning Transactions

  • Acted for Air Canada in connection with its acquisition of Aimia Inc.’s Aeroplan loyalty program , which was ranked by Lexpert as one of the top 10 deals of 2019
  • Acted for Knowlton Development Corporation Inc. in connection with its sale to a group of investors led by Cornell Capital LLC, a private investment firm based in New York and Hong Kong, which was awarded the 2019 Gold Deal of the Year by the 21st annual Canadian Private Equity Summit Awards

Related Solutions

Practices

Achievements

  • Recognized in Competition / Antitrust Law in Toronto, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2022 to 2025
  • Recognized nationwide in Canada in Competition/Antritrust, Chambers Global 2024
  • Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in Competition Law, Lexpert 2024
Best Lawyers Publication name with laurels The Best Lawyers in Canada Recognized in Competition / Antitrust Law in Toronto Best Lawyers is an attorney ranking service. For more than 30 years, it has identified lawyers best qualified to represent clients in various jurisdictions and specialties Read more
Chambers & Partners Publication name with laurels Chambers Global Recognized nationwide in Canada in Competition/Antritrust The Chambers Global Guide ranks the top lawyers and law firms in over 190 countries across the world. Read more
Lexpert Publication name with laurels Lexpert Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in Competition Law The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory is the most comprehensive guide of legal talent in Canada Read more

Client Work

  • Blue Wolf Capital Partners completed the acquisition of LOGISTEC Corporation, [Deal - LOGISTEC Corporation], Acquisition of LOGISTEC Corporation by Blue Wolf Capital Partners.
  • The Sarjeant Company Limited completes acquisition of Northern Ontario assets from Superior Propane, [Deal - The Sarjeant Company Limited], Leading Canadian construction and energy solutions provider acquires Northern Ontario assets from Canada’s largest propane distributor.
  • Noranda Income Fund completes going-private transaction with Glencore Canada Corporation, [Deal - Noranda Income Fund], Noranda Income Fund completes going-private transaction with Glencore Canada Corporation.
  • Student Transportation of America, Inc., backed by Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Ullico Inc., announces significant expansion into Canada with its acquisition of Pacific Western Transportation Ltd., [Deal - Student Transportation of America, Inc.], CDPQ and Ullico-backed Student Transportation of America acquires Pacific Western Transportation Ltd., the largest privately-owned transportation company in Canada.
  • Dorel Industries completes sale of Sports segment, [Deal - Dorel Industries Inc.]
  • Aphria and Tilray complete C$5 billion business combination to create largest global cannabis company, [Deal - Aphria Inc.], All-share acquisition gives rise to the world’s largest global cannabis company based on pro forma revenue
  • Agropur Cooperative concluded an agreement with Lactalis Canada Inc. to sell all shares of its Canadian yogurt business, Ultima Foods Inc., [Deal - Agropur Cooperative], Agropur sells all shares of its Canadian yogurt business Ultima Foods Inc.
  • Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec acquires Plenary Americas, [Deal - Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec]
  • Ainsworth Inc. and GDI Integrated Facility Services Inc. in the acquisition of ESC Automation Inc., [Deal - Ainsworth Inc.]
Deal Advised LOGISTEC Corporation Blue Wolf Capital Partners completed the acquisition of LOGISTEC Corporation Acquisition of LOGISTEC Corporation by Blue Wolf Capital Partners. Read more
Deal Advised The Sarjeant Company Limited The Sarjeant Company Limited completes acquisition of Northern Ontario assets from Superior Propane Leading Canadian construction and energy solutions provider acquires Northern Ontario assets from Canada’s largest propane distributor. Read more
Deal Advised Noranda Income Fund Noranda Income Fund completes going-private transaction with Glencore Canada Corporation Noranda Income Fund completes going-private transaction with Glencore Canada Corporation. Read more
Deal Advised Student Transportation of America, Inc. Student Transportation of America, Inc., backed by Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Ullico Inc., announces significant expansion into Canada with its acquisition of Pacific Western Transportation Ltd. CDPQ and Ullico-backed Student Transportation of America acquires Pacific Western Transportation Ltd., the largest privately-owned transportation company in Canada. Read more
Deal Advised Dorel Industries Inc. Dorel Industries completes sale of Sports segment Read more
Deal Advised Aphria Inc. Aphria and Tilray complete C$5 billion business combination to create largest global cannabis company All-share acquisition gives rise to the world’s largest global cannabis company based on pro forma revenue Read more
Deal Advised Agropur Cooperative Agropur Cooperative concluded an agreement with Lactalis Canada Inc. to sell all shares of its Canadian yogurt business, Ultima Foods Inc. Agropur sells all shares of its Canadian yogurt business Ultima Foods Inc. Read more
Deal Advised Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec acquires Plenary Americas Read more
Deal Advised Ainsworth Inc. Ainsworth Inc. and GDI Integrated Facility Services Inc. in the acquisition of ESC Automation Inc. Read more
All Client Work

Career & Education

Education

  • LLB, Summa Cum Laude University of Ottawa
  • BBA University College of the Fraser Valley

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Vice-Chair, Economics and Law Committee of the Canadian Bar Association's Competition Law Section
  • Member, Law Society of Upper Canada
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association, including the National Competition Law Section
  • Member, Ontario Bar Association
  • Member, American Bar Association, including the Antitrust Law Section

Knowledge

  • Competition Bureau Outlines Preliminary Enforcement Approach on Competitor Property Controls, 8/29/2024
  • Series – The Evolving Competition Law Landscape in Canada: Part 5 – Private Competition Litigation, 7/22/2024
  • Series – The Evolving Competition Law Landscape in Canada: Part 4 – Deceptive Marketing Practices, 7/8/2024
cityscape at night Blog Post Competition Bureau Outlines Preliminary Enforcement Approach on Competitor Property Controls The Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) recently published interim guidance (the “Guidance”) outlining its preliminary enforcement approach to competitor property controls under the Competition Act (the “Act”). The Guidance was published after Parliament’s recent amendments to the Act in Bill C-59 and Bill C-56 expanded the scope of the civil collaboration and abuse of dominance provisions. Read more
cityscape at night Blog Post Series – The Evolving Competition Law Landscape in Canada: Part 5 – Private Competition Litigation Bill C-59 and its significant expansion of private competition litigation: Where are we now? Recognizing the critical role of the Competition Act (the “Act”) in promoting dynamic and fair markets, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, announced on February 7, 2022 that he would carefully consider ways to modernize and Read more
cityscape at night Blog Post Series – The Evolving Competition Law Landscape in Canada: Part 4 – Deceptive Marketing Practices Deceptive Marketing Practices (Greenwashing, Ordinary Sales Pricing, Drip Pricing) – Where Are We Now? Recognizing the critical role of the Competition Act (the “Act”) in promoting dynamic and fair markets, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, announced on February 7, 2022 that he would carefully consider ways to modernize and Read more

Events

  • Antitrust/Competition, Foreign Investment & Marketing Laws in the Face of COVID-19: Where We Are, Where We Are Going, 4/7/2020
man looking out window in tall building Webinar Antitrust/Competition, Foreign Investment & Marketing Laws in the Face of COVID-19: Where We Are, Where We Are Going In a webinar hosted by Fasken’s Antitrust/Competition & Marketing Group, featuring the most recent former Commissioner of Competition, John Pecman, and other members of the ACM Group, we will discuss and answer questions regarding these impacts (including merger review, competitor collaborations, enforcement priorities, investigative and adjudicative delays, national security, deceptive marketing claims, refusals to deal and price gouging), forecast future developments and offer practical strategies for businesses. About the event

News

  • Fasken’s Bench Strength Shines at Inaugural Canadian Law Awards with M&A Deal of the Year Win, 10/9/2020
  • Parr-global.com quotes Chris Margison in an article about the pandemic’s effect on the economy, 5/13/2020
  • Parr-global.com quotes Chris Margison in an article about Canadian Competition Bureau's statement on the H&R Transport deal efficiency defence, 5/6/2020
Fasken’s Bench Strength Shines at Inaugural Canadian Law Awards with M&A Deal of the Year Win News Release | Rankings & Recognitions Fasken’s Bench Strength Shines at Inaugural Canadian Law Awards with M&A Deal of the Year Win Fasken has been recognized as a Gold winner in the M&A Deal of the Year category at the 2020 inaugural Canadian Law Awards Read more
MediaCoverage-1 Media Coverage Parr-global.com quotes Chris Margison in an article about the pandemic’s effect on the economy “Pandemic's effect on economy likely to increase use of failing firm defense in deal reviews, attorneys say” by Mark Coakley, Parr-global.com Read more
MediaCoverage-1 Media Coverage Parr-global.com quotes Chris Margison in an article about Canadian Competition Bureau's statement on the H&R Transport deal efficiency defence “Canadian Competition Bureau's statement on H&R Transport deal sheds light on efficiency defence, attorneys say” by Mark Coakley, Parr-global.com Read more

Publications

  • No Poach and Wage Fixing Agreements - A Canadian Perspective, 6/1/2021
  • Carswells Legal Alert (2002- July 2010), 7/31/2010
  • Foreign Investment Review in Canada The New Rules, 1/1/2010
Article, Co-Author No Poach and Wage Fixing Agreements - A Canadian Perspective Competition Law International (CLI) | International Bar Association Read more
Carswells Legal Alert (2002- July 2010) Regular contributions to the Competition Law Section of Carswell’s Legal Alert
Article, Co-Author Foreign Investment Review in Canada The New Rules

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