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Forum Overview

The Steering Committee welcomes 48 leading lawyers in the Canadian infrastructure sector to discuss current developments and trends, with a focus on both legal and broader market perspectives. Participants include senior counsel from private law firms, in-house legal teams, the public sector, and procuring authorities.

 

Using candid, seminar-style discussion, the group shares experience from their varied jurisdictions and engages in meaningful dialogue on the most pressing issues facing the industry.

2024 Steering Committee

This elite group, comprised of experts in the field, personally nominates all invitees and develops the Agenda, which forms the basis of our discussions.

Committee Chair

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Mark Platteel
Partner Gowling WLG Toronto, ON

Partner

Toronto, ON

Committee Members

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William Buchner
Partner Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP Toronto, ON

Partner

Toronto, ON

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Samantha Cunliffe
Partner McCarthy Tétrault LLP Vancouver, BC

Partner

Vancouver, BC

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Julie D. Gagnon
Lawyer and Owner Gagnon Infra Québec City, QC

Lawyer and Owner

Québec City, QC

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Julie Han
Partner, Project Finance & P3 McMillan LLP Toronto, ON

Partner, Project Finance & P3

Toronto, ON

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Maria McKenzie
Partner Farris LLP Vancouver, BC

Partner

Vancouver, BC

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Sophie Morin
Executive Vice-President and Chief Legal Officer Pomerleau Montréal, QC

Executive Vice-President and Chief Legal Officer

Montréal, QC

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Manik Raina
Vice President, Legal Services EllisDon Mississauga, ON

Vice President, Legal Services

Mississauga, ON

Manik Raina Director, Legal Services EllisDon Group of Companies  

Manik joined EllisDon in May 2018 after spending two years as in-house legal counsel at Samsung Renewable Energy Inc., where he advised on the development, construction and operations/maintenance of renewable energy projects in North America. He started his career at Owens Wright LLP in 2013 as a commercial real estate lawyer advising on a variety of commercial real estate transactions and structuring.

Over the last few years, Manik has assisted in the pursuit and closing of P3 and other infrastructure projects across North America. This includes reviewing procurement and financing documentation, preparing and negotiating inter-consortium agreements, administering large and complex contracts and resolving disputes.  

In his current role as Director of Legal Services at EllisDon, Manik leads the legal team’s advisory services with respect to P3, infrastructure and real estate development projects and is responsible for the preparation, review and negotiation of commercial contracts for the financing, development, construction and operations of such EllisDon initiatives.

Manik Raina Director, Legal Services EllisDon Group of Companies  

Manik joined EllisDon in May 2018 after spending two years as in-house legal counsel at Samsung Renewable Energy Inc., where he advised on the development, construction and operations/maintenance of renewable energy projects in North America. He started his career at Owens Wright LLP in 2013 as a commercial real estate lawyer advising on a variety of commercial real estate transactions and structuring.

Over the last few years, Manik has assisted in the pursuit and closing of P3 and other infrastructure projects across North America. This includes reviewing procurement and financing documentation, preparing and negotiating inter-consortium agreements, administering large and complex contracts and resolving disputes.  

In his current role as Director of Legal Services at EllisDon, Manik leads the legal team’s advisory services with respect to P3, infrastructure and real estate development projects and is responsible for the preparation, review and negotiation of commercial contracts for the financing, development, construction and operations of such EllisDon initiatives.

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Marianne Smith
Partner Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Toronto, ON

Partner

Toronto, ON

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Agnes von dem Hagen
Senior Vice President, Transaction Legal Infrastructure Ontario Toronto, ON

Senior Vice President, Transaction Legal

Toronto, ON

Agnes von dem Hagen is Senior Vice President of Legal Services at Infrastructure Ontario (IO). In this role, Agnes oversees the legal team working with business units to deliver infrastructure, commercial and development projects for the Province and to provide property management services for government-owned and leased properties.   For IO’s infrastructure, commercial and development projects, she and her team advise on the structuring and risk allocation of the project, procurement processes, and negotiations and closing during the transactional period, and on contractual issues during the construction, operation and maintenance of the asset. The team plays a key role in the overall governance of the projects as well as in familiarizing co-sponsors with the contract model for all asset types, including transit, highways, hospitals and other civil and social infrastructure projects.   With respect to IO’s real estate business line, the legal team provides advice on and helps to negotiate and manage agreements for land development, acquisition and divestiture, building maintenance and operational services, and lease administration.   Prior to joining Infrastructure Ontario in 2012, Agnes practiced corporate and commercial law for several years at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in the Business, Infrastructure/P3 and Construction Groups. She obtained her J.D. from the University of British Columbia.

Agnes von dem Hagen is Senior Vice President of Legal Services at Infrastructure Ontario (IO). In this role, Agnes oversees the legal team working with business units to deliver infrastructure, commercial and development projects for the Province and to provide property management services for government-owned and leased properties.   For IO’s infrastructure, commercial and development projects, she and her team advise on the structuring and risk allocation of the project, procurement processes, and negotiations and closing during the transactional period, and on contractual issues during the construction, operation and maintenance of the asset. The team plays a key role in the overall governance of the projects as well as in familiarizing co-sponsors with the contract model for all asset types, including transit, highways, hospitals and other civil and social infrastructure projects.   With respect to IO’s real estate business line, the legal team provides advice on and helps to negotiate and manage agreements for land development, acquisition and divestiture, building maintenance and operational services, and lease administration.   Prior to joining Infrastructure Ontario in 2012, Agnes practiced corporate and commercial law for several years at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in the Business, Infrastructure/P3 and Construction Groups. She obtained her J.D. from the University of British Columbia.

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Gregory Walters
General Counsel ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc. Toronto, ON

General Counsel

Toronto, ON

Greg is the General Counsel of ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras, S.A. (the concession/P3 and operations arm of ACS Group). Greg is actively involved in all legal, commercial and financing matters relating to ACSIC’s activities in Canada. Since joining ACSIC in 2017, Greg has worked on many bid submissions, has helped close the Gordie Howe International Bridge, Finch West LRT and Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, and is heavily involved in the asset management of Canadian projects.   Prior to joining ACSIC, Greg was a senior associate at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and before that McCarthy Tétrault LLP, both in Toronto, with a practice focused on secured lending, including private equity financing, asset-based lending, project financing and debtor-in-possession financing. Greg obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration (1999) from the University of New Brunswick and a Bachelor of Laws (2004) from Dalhousie University.

Greg is the General Counsel of ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras, S.A. (the concession/P3 and operations arm of ACS Group). Greg is actively involved in all legal, commercial and financing matters relating to ACSIC’s activities in Canada. Since joining ACSIC in 2017, Greg has worked on many bid submissions, has helped close the Gordie Howe International Bridge, Finch West LRT and Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, and is heavily involved in the asset management of Canadian projects.   Prior to joining ACSIC, Greg was a senior associate at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and before that McCarthy Tétrault LLP, both in Toronto, with a practice focused on secured lending, including private equity financing, asset-based lending, project financing and debtor-in-possession financing. Greg obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration (1999) from the University of New Brunswick and a Bachelor of Laws (2004) from Dalhousie University.

Forum Director

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Brenna Knought
Senior Forum Director Cambridge Forums Inc. Toronto, ON

Senior Forum Director

Toronto, ON

Brenna joins Cambridge Forums with 20 years of experience in events, fundraising, and development. She has spent most of her career in the music industry, working for the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, overseeing the planning of high-profile events like the JUNO awards. Most recently, she launched a successful national advocacy campaign for the live music sector resulting in significant relief funding from the federal government. Her early career involved raising funds and executing events for non-profit organizations and foundations, including the University of Toronto and the Ireland Fund of Canada. Brenna looks forward to her role as Forum Director to blend her experience and passion for bringing people together and fostering meaningful connections. She is a mother of two, a fitness enthusiast, and is best known for her sense of humour.

Brenna joins Cambridge Forums with 20 years of experience in events, fundraising, and development. She has spent most of her career in the music industry, working for the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, overseeing the planning of high-profile events like the JUNO awards. Most recently, she launched a successful national advocacy campaign for the live music sector resulting in significant relief funding from the federal government. Her early career involved raising funds and executing events for non-profit organizations and foundations, including the University of Toronto and the Ireland Fund of Canada. Brenna looks forward to her role as Forum Director to blend her experience and passion for bringing people together and fostering meaningful connections. She is a mother of two, a fitness enthusiast, and is best known for her sense of humour.

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Brenna Knought

Senior Forum Director