Jim Kerby's commercial and corporate law practice emphasizes business sales and acquisitions, procurement, corporate finance (including debt and equity financing), and corporate governance. Jim has worked extensively with business organizations of all types and sizes, including general and limited partnerships, corporations, and joint ventures. He played a lead role in successfully restructuring and refinancing one of Saskatchewan's largest private corporations and has acted as lead counsel on a number of other significant transactions, including construction of a major wood products manufacturing facility, and acquisitions and divestitures involving heavy oil up-graders, food processing facilities, and oil & gas services companies in both Canada and the US. His business clients operate in the forestry, technology, agricultural biotechnology and agribusiness sectors. Jim also built and led MLT Calgary's office from its inception in 2002 to an office of 20 lawyers in 2010.
Jim has over 20 years of experience working with First Nation clients on economic development, governance, financial administration, trusts and trust administration, policy development, Treaty land entitlement claims, tax-effective structuring, by-law development, and other business law issues.
Representative Work
· Lead counsel on the landmark Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement involving cash compensation of over $455 million and land acquisition rights of up to 1.6 million acres for 27 participating First Nations (1992).
· Lead counsel on the construction of a $300 million engineered wood products manufacturing facility in northern Alberta (2007).
· Lead counsel on the sale of a $100 million Canadian oil services company including its US subsidiary (2007/2008).
· Lead counsel on the design and implementation of a new forestry law construct to administer the Prince Albert Forest Management Area (2010).
Leadership
· Saskatoon Airport Authority - Director (since 2011)
· Becker Underwood Canada - Director (since 2001)
· Kryos Systems Associates/Kryos Velocity - Board of Advisors (since 2009)
· Raildecks (2009) Inc. - Board of Advisors (since 2009)
· The Waskesiu Seasonal Residents Association Inc. - Former President and Chair, Director (since 2001)
· The Waskesiu Foundation Inc. - Vice-Chair, Director (since 2005)
· Agri Value-Added Investor Network - Director (2005-2009)
Papers & Presentations
· "Directors, Officers and Shareholders" - Saskatchewan Bar Admission Course (1993-2002).
· "Buying and Selling a Business" - Saskatoon Continuing Legal Education.
Awards & Distinctions
· Lexis-Nexis / Martindale-Hubbell - "BV Peer Review Rated"
· Deputy Minister's Award of Excellence (2002)