Jason (Jake) is a partner at Cassels Brock who practises in the Business Law Group, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, public and private financings and corporate re-organizations. He acts as corporate counsel to clients in a broad range of industries, including retail, telecommunications, information technology, financial technology, professional sports and cleantech. In addition, Jake is a member of the firm's Payments Industry Group, Private Equity Group, Technology Law Group andRenewable Energy & Clean Technology Group. He has completed the Canadian Securities Course, and before entering law school he worked in the equity and derivatives division of a national investment firm. Jake was appointed as interim Associate General Counsel of Canadian Tire for the first half of 2009.
Representative work in the area of mergers and acquisitions and private equity includes:
· Acted for Rockwood Holdings Inc. in the $300 million sale of AlphaGary's Plastic Compounding Business to Mexichem S.A.B. de C.V.
· Corporate counsel for Teranet Income Fund in connection with the $1.6 billion hostile takeover bid by Borealis Infrastructure Management Inc.
· Lead corporate lawyer for one of Canada's premier private equity investors as a part of a group led by Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan to acquire Exal Group, the largest manufacturer of aluminum containers in the world (annual revenues of approximately US$400 million)
· Lead counsel for Transmission Developers, a global renewable power developer, with respect to an investment by The Blackstone Group - estimated project cost is US$3.8 billion
· Represented a number of buyers and sellers of businesses in the technology industry, including providers of wireless technology and network security services
· Represented a number of US private equity groups with respect to Canadian acquisitions and investments
· Represented Eugene Melnyk on his acquisition of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and the Corel Centre
· Represented Teranet Income Fund, a leading provider of business-to-government and business-to-business e-service solutions, with respect to various acquisitions and internal reorganizations
· Acted for The Heico Companies LLC on the purchase of the assets of the Ivaco Steel companies for approximately $375 million
· Represented Turtle Island Recycling, a leading recycling and waste management company in the Greater Toronto Area, with respect to a number of strategic acquisitions
· Represented a Canadian retailer with respect to its strategic acquisitions in the auto parts industry
· The sale of Polo Ralph Lauren brands in Canada
Representative work in the area of corporate/commercial law includes:
· Represented Acxsys Corp., the parent company of Interac Inc., with respect to strategic initiatives
· Represented a service provider in respect of implementing the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Solar PV Program involving the sale and installation of rooftop solar PV generation facilities at non-profit housing sites across the Province
· Counsel to VersaPay Corporation, one of Canada's leading payment processors and #1 on Profit Magazine's Hot 50 list in 2009
· Canadian counsel to Albany Bahamas, a luxury resort community being developed in The Bahamas by Tavistock Group, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els
· Seconded to Rogers Communications Inc. and Rogers Wireless Inc., and advised on interconnection and telecommunications services, wireless content and general commercial matters
· Represented a number of IT companies in areas including Web 2.0, Web 3.0, online shopping, enterprise security and data analytics and management
· Acted as corporate counsel to the Ottawa Senators and Scotiabank Place
· Negotiated the naming rights for a major sports facility in Southern Ontario on behalf of a TSX-listed Canadian corporation
Representative work in the area of corporate finance includes:
· Represented Jacob Securities on a private placement for Synodon Inc., an Edmonton-based technology company which has developed and demonstrated an advanced airborne remote gas sensing system called realSens™
· Represented Teranet Income Fund on its initial public offering
· Acted for Turtle Island Recycling with respect to a private equity investment by Whitecastle Private Equity Partners Fund LP
· Represented a number of private equity groups and portfolio companies with respect to financing transactions, including representation of one of the principals in the Paradigm Group, a manufacturer and marketer of high-end loudspeakers and audio-video components, on a recapitalization financing involving a number of parties including ShoreView Industries Inc. and NewStar Financial Inc.
· Represented Teranet Inc. on a bond offering in the amount of $280 million
Jake regularly organizes and presents seminars to clients and the legal profession in areas such as private equity, information technology and due diligence. He is a member of the Organizing Committee for the Association for Corporate Growth - Capital Connection, an annual event focused on the North American private equity market. In addition, Jake is a member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and participates in the Chamber's Electronic Commerce Committee. Jake is the author of a number of articles including "Recent Legal Changes Affecting Canadian M&A" and "Emerging Issues in Due Diligence," which were published in Financier Worldwide. Jake is an active members of the Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity & Venture Capital and International Business Law Committees of the American Bar Association. He has also been the chair of the Osgoode Hall Law School's annual CPD Program on 'Conducting Effective Corporate Due Diligence' since 2002.
In addition to his legal practice, Jake is a member of the Right Honourable Jake and the High Court of Soul, a firm band that regularly participates in charitable events. He is also a member of the Organizing Committee of AIDSBeat, an annual rock'n'roll concert in support of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research. Jake also sits on the Advisory Committee of the Toronto Lords Basketball Association, an inner-city basketball club that runs programs for teenage girls. He also provides pro bono advice to Special Olympics Canada.
Associations
· American Bar Association
· Association for Corporate Growth
· Canada's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association
· Canadian Bar Association
· Canadian Chamber of Commerce - Electronic Commerce Committee
· Ontario Bar Association
· Sports Lawyers Association
Representative Work
Stans Energy Corp. Closes $28 Million Private Placement
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Acquires World's Largest Specialty Manufacturer of Aluminum Containers
Publications and Resources
The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act: A New Regime of Consumer Product Oversight Throughout the Supply Chain
Jake Bullen Takes Part in Financier Worldwide Discussion on Private Equity
Recent Legal Changes Affecting Canadian M&A
In The News
02/16/2012, Cassels Brock Advises Canadian Tire on the Launch of Their Updated Loyalty Program
11/08/2011, Jake Bullen and Anne-Marie Naccarato Contribute to Global Reference Guide 2011: Mergers & Acquisitions
09/22/2010, Jake Bullen Comments to National Post on Private Equity in Canada
09/17/2010, Jake Bullen Contributes to Financier Worldwide's Global Reference Guide 2010: Mergers & Acquisitions
10/03/2007, Cassels Brock Mentioned in Financial Post Article on AIDSbeat Fundraiser
09/28/2005, Cassels Brock Mentioned in Financial Post Article on AIDSbeat Fundraiser
Presentations
04/09/2012, Effective Due Diligence
03/07/2012, Jake Bullen Presents on Minute Book Review Methods at ILCO Advanced Corporate Law Program
11/08/2011, Jake Bullen Chairs 12th Annual Course Conducting Effective Corporate Due Diligence
01/28/2011, Reducing Risk Through Effective Due Diligence
10/12/2010, Mastering IP & IT Transactions - 2010
05/11/2010, Cassels Brock Lawyers to Speak on Contract Law and Procurement Issues
01/28/2010, The Legal and Business Guide to Private Equity Transactions
11/16/2009, Conducting Effective Corporate Due Diligence - 10th Annual Course
11/12/2009, Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) 2009 Capital Connection
10/26/2009, Mastering IP & IT Transactions
01/15/2009, Acquisition Structuring
11/01/2007, Why Perform Due Diligence?
10/25/2007, Structuring Equity Financing
01/18/2007, The Use of Virtual Data Rooms and the Security of Information
11/02/2006, Why Perform Due Diligence?; Effective Minute Book Review
01/24/2006, No Reps, No Warranties? No Problem: Buying Assets from Receivers
10/17/2005, "Why Perform Due Diligence?"; "Effective Minute Book Review"
10/27/2004, Conducting Effective Corporate Due Diligence
04/29/2004, Transactions, Due Diligence Module
11/13/2003, Conducting Effective Corporate Due Diligence
11/21/2002, Conducting Effective Corporate Due Diligence
Newsletters
The Two-Year FIT and MicroFIT Review Report
M&A in Canada: A 2011 Mid-Year Review
Government Moves in Advancing Clean Energy Projects Forward