John is a corporate finance and M&A lawyer practising in our firm's Securities Group. John has acted as lead counsel for a number of public clients and investment dealers involved in complex and innovative securities matters. His practice is focused in the mining, income trusts, technology and diversified industries sectors. John has acted as lead counsel on several recent M&A transactions.
John has significant experience advising emerging and mid-market companies navigating their way through the public markets for the first time. His strong understanding of the commercial objectives of a transaction, together with his practical approach, are frequently relied upon by companies that require more than just legal advice when facing such critical decisions as structuring a going-public transaction, choosing and structuring a business relationship with an underwriter, constructing a management team and board of directors and developing an overall approach to matters of executive compensation and corporate governance.
Most recently, he has developed an expertise in the emerging area of cross-border initial public offerings by US emerging and mid-market issuers seeking listings on Canadian stock exchanges. John has been recognized as an expert in this area in the Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada and in the Corporate Mid Market section of the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. He is also ranked as a leading lawyer in natural resources law by Best Lawyers in Canada.
At the age of 36, John became the youngest member appointed to the firm's Executive Committee and is a past Chair of the Securities Group.
Some of John's recent representative transactions include:
· Lead counsel for Teranet Income Fund in connection with the $1.6 billion hostile takeover bid by Borealis Infrastructure Management Inc.
· Lead counsel for the underwriters in connection with the $214 million financing by PBS Coals Limited; subsequent merger of PBS Coals with Penfold Capital Acquisition Corporation and subsequent $1 billion takeover by Severstal Resources.
· Lead counsel for Amtelecom Income Fund in connection with its successful defence of a hostile takeover bid by Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund and subsequent successful $145 million takeover bid by Bragg Communications Inc.
· Lead counsel for High River Gold Mines Ltd. in connection with its strategic review process and subsequent US$45 Million strategic investment and change of control transaction by an affiliate of Severstal Resources.
· Lead counsel for Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd. in connection with approximately $1 billion of financings including the strategic investment by Wuhon Iron & Steel Group (China) and the acquisition of Quinto Mining Corporation.
Achievements
· The Best Lawyers in Canada 2012 (Natural Resources Law)
· Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2011 (Mining)
· The Best Lawyers in Canada 2011 (Natural Resources Law)
· The Best Lawyers in Canada 2010 (Natural Resources Law)
· The 2008 Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada (Lawyer to Watch)
· The 2007 Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40
· The 2005 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Corporate Mid Market Lawyer)
Associations
· Canadian Bar Association
· Ontario Bar Association
In The News
03/28/2012, John Vettese Appointed to Board of Alderon Iron Ore Corp.
09/20/2011, 23 Cassels Brock Lawyers Included in Best Lawyers® in Canada 2012
05/19/2011, 22 Cassels Brock Lawyers Named in Lexpert's 2011 Directory
03/08/2011, Cassels Brock Mining Group Says 'Bring on Those Deals'
08/25/2010, 24 Cassels Brock Lawyers Included in Best Lawyers® in Canada 2011
05/25/2010, 20 Cassels Brock Lawyers Named in Lexpert's 2010 Directory
Transactions
Cassels Brock Represents Crocodile Gold Corp. in Completion of Bid as Luxor Capital Group, LP Becomes a 70% Shareholder, 02/22/2012
Cassels Brock Represents Allana Potash Corp. in its $20 Million Public Offering, 02/02/2012
Cassels Brock Acts for Sulliden Gold Corporation Ltd. in its $50 Million Public Offering, 11/29/2011
Cassels Brock Represents the Underwriters in Huntingdon Real Estate Investment Trust's $46 Million Public Offering of Secured Debt Units, 11/25/2011
Cassels Brock Acts for the Agents as Armistice Resources Corp. Completes Its $14M Equity Offering, 11/01/2011
Cassels Brock Represents Midland Minerals Corp. in Its $7 Million Private Placement, 09/30/2011
Cassels Brock Represents Avion Gold in $57 Million Financing, 09/01/2011
Cassels Brock Acts For EcoSynthetix Inc. As It Closes Its $100 Million Initial Public Offering, 08/16/2011
Cassels Brock Acts For the Agents As Huldra Silver Inc. Closes Special Warrant Offering, 07/14/2011
Alexis Minerals Completes A $20 Million Bought Deal Financing and Over-Allotment Option, 05/25/2011
Cassels Brock Acted For The Underwriters As Discovery Air Announces Closing Of $30 Million Bought Deal Public Offering Of Convertible Debentures, 05/16/2011
Cassels Brock Represents Kria Resources Ltd. In The Completion Of Its Business Combination Agreement With Trevali Mining Corporation, 04/08/2011
Crocodile Gold Corp. Announces Closing of C$85 Million Bought Deal Financing, 04/06/2011
Belo Sun Announces Closing of $51.8 Million Equity Offering Including Exercise in Full of Over-Allotment, 04/01/2011
Black Iron Inc. Closes Initial Public Offering and Commences Trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, 03/29/2011
Castillian Completes $10 Million Bought Deal Private Placement of Common Shares and Flow-Through Common Shares, 03/24/2011
Amica Mature Lifestyles Completes $23.6 Million Financing, 03/24/2011
Salares and Talison Close $40 Million Growth Financing, 09/13/2010
TAG Oil Closes $20 Million Equity Financing, 06/18/2010
Avion Gold Corporation Completes $29 Million Public Offering, 06/17/2010
Sulliden Gold Corporation Completes $15 Million Financing, 06/07/2010