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Johanna Fipke, Partner | Mining

Johanna Fipke *

Partner Fasken
Mining plays an integral role in propelling society to not only function, but to flourish.
Jurisdiction British Columbia, 2005 | Northwest Territories, 2009 | Nunavut, 2012
Language(s) English
Office(s) Vancouver
Contact
*Law Corporation
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Overview

Johanna Fipke is a Partner in Vancouver and a core member of the Firm’s Global Mining Group. She regularly advises major and junior mining companies, as well as private equity firms and lenders that do business in the mining space. Johanna often takes on lead advisory roles in multi-million and billion-dollar international transactions and Lexpert® has ranked her as a Most Frequently Recommended practitioner in mining, being the highest level of recognition.

Johanna’s diplomatic and flexible approach in negotiating and closing complex transactions make her a stand-out in the mining industry. Clients appreciate Johanna’s commitment to giving sensible, commercial solutions to the challenges that arise at all stages of the mining cycle and throughout commercial transactions.

Some recent clients Johanna has advised include Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty, Teck Resources, Sumitomo Corporation, De Beers, First Quantum, Elemental Royalties, Trident Royalties, BMC Minerals, Barrick, Sibanye-Stillwater and Northern Star, as well as many others.

In addition to her Canadian Lexpert® ranking, Johanna has been recognized for her expertise by Who’s Who Legal (Mining), the Best Lawyers in Canada (Mergers and Acquisitions, Mining, Natural Resources), the Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Most Frequently Recommended), the Legal 500 Canada (Next Generation Partner) and the 2018 edition of Women in Mining’s Top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining.

Expertise in Mining Law

Johanna has significant experience on a wide variety of industry transactions and mining law matters, including:

  • mergers, acquisitions and commercial transactions involving domestic and international mining companies and properties
  • drafting and negotiating mining and industry agreements, including royalties, streaming agreements, purchase agreements, options, joint ventures, shareholder agreements, offtakes, security agreements, as well as a variety of other agreements
  • leading due diligence teams on the review of mining companies and mineral properties, including strategic oversight and management of due diligence processes in an efficient and cost-effective manner
  • project finance (debt and alternative sources such as streams and royalties)
  • title opinions and jurisdiction specific advice regarding security packages required for financings
  • project development, permitting and land tenure advice and expertise

Solution-oriented Approach

Clients admire Johanna’s ability to see the big picture, analyze the critical facets of a transaction, and resolve the issues before proceeding. Johanna filters complex information for clients and offers solutions that protect their business assets. Her many long term relationships in the mining industry contribute to her closing successful deals for clients.

Achievements

Client Work

  • Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty (B) Corp. purchases 3.1% net smelter returns royalty on the Premier Gold Project for USD $30,000,000, [Deal - Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty (B) Corp.], Royalty financing deal for BC mine
  • Trident Royalties Plc acquires 0.9% net smelter return royalty over New World Resource Limited’s Antler copper project in Arizona for AUS $11,000,000, [Deal - Trident Royalties PLC]
  • Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. purchases secured note for US$150 million, [Deal - Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp.], Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty purchases secured note to be exchanged at maturity for a net smelter returns royalty.
  • Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. purchases net smelter returns royalty for up to US$31.25 million, [Deal - Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp.], Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. purchases net smelter returns royalty
  • Teck sells assets related to the Quintette Mine Site, [Deal - Teck Resources Limited], Teck, Canada’s largest diversified mining company, completes sale of steelmaking coal mine.
  • National Bank of Canada and Macquarie Bank Limited co-lead international lending syndicate in the provision of aggregate C$425 million credit facilities for BW Gold Ltd., [Deal - A syndicate of lenders led by National Bank of Canada and Macquarie Bank Limited], Financing to partially fund the construction, development, commissioning and other costs associated with the operation of a mine at the Blackwater Gold Project in British Columbia, Canada
  • Sprott Private Resource and Streaming (B) Corp. completes acquisition of Premier Gold and Red Mountain Project Streams, [Deal - Sprott Private Resource Lending], Sprott Private Resources and Streaming (B) Corp. completes acquisition of US$110 million stream on the Premier Gold and Red Mountain Projects, located on Nisga’a Nation Treaty Lands in the prolific Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia.
  • Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. purchases net smelter returns royalty for US$7 million, [Deal - Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp.], Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. purchases net smelter returns royalty
  • GCM Mining Corp. and Aris Gold Corporation complete arrangement to create Aris Mining Corporation, [Deal - Aris Gold Corporation], GCM Mining Corp. and Aris Gold Corporation Complete Arrangement to Create Aris Mining Corporation

Career & Education

Education

  • LLB (with distinction) University of Alberta
  • B Comm (with distinction) University of Alberta
  • BA (with Distinction) University of Alberta

Community involvement

  • Women in Mining BC, Founding Director (former) 
  • Ride for Diabetes Supporter and Participant, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Nova Royalty Corp., former member of Board of Directors
  • Law Societies of British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF)
  • Women in Mining BC
  • Next Leaders Council Board of Governors
  • Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC)
  • AME BC 100th Anniversary Committee
  • Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)
  • Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)
  • Association of Women in Finance

Knowledge

Events

News

Publications

  • Canadian Mining Law, 7/31/2014
  • Women in Mining Are Improving the Bottom Line, 7/31/2012
  • Getting the Deal Through - Mining 2011 - Canada, 7/31/2011
Book Canadian Mining Law From the Second Edition of the American Law of Mining
Article Women in Mining Are Improving the Bottom Line Canadian Mining Journal

Speaking Engagements

  • Women in Law - Finding the Inspiration to Deal with the Challenges, 5/31/2018
  • Canadian Land Tenure System, 3/15/2012
Women in Law - Finding the Inspiration to Deal with the Challenges Women in Leadership location location Vancouver, BC Fasken
Canadian Land Tenure System American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) Mining and Land Resources Institute location location Reno, NV, USA Peppermill Resort Spa & Casino

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