Background
Matt Williams is a partner in the Securities and Capital Markets Group of the Toronto office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. Matt was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2005 after receiving his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2004. Matt received his Bachelor of Commerce degree with Distinction in Finance and Labour-Management Relations in 2001 from McGill University.
Prior to joining BLG, Matt was Legal Counsel in the General Counsel's Office at the Ontario Securities Commission.
In 2010, Matt was seconded to BMO Financial Group as Legal Counsel in the Investment Funds and Global Asset Management department.
Areas of Practice
· Matt practices securities and corporate law, exclusively in the areas of investment management, registrant registration & compliance and hedge/pooled funds.
Professional Experience
· Matt is involved in all aspects of the formation, organization and maintenance of hedge funds and other pooled fund products, along with their management companies. Matt also advises both offshore and domestic hedge funds on the sale of securities in Canada and the regulatory aspects of private placements.
· Matt advises Canadian and foreign advisers, dealers and investment fund managers with respect to registration and ongoing securities compliance matters. He has extensive experience in obtaining registrations for advisers, dealers and managers in all provinces and territories of Canada, from start-up hedge funds to multi-billion dollar global asset managers.
· Matt advises both foreign and domestic entities on matters relating to carrying on business in Canada and registration under securities legislation. He also regularly provides advice on the regulatory aspects of mergers and acquisitions.
Professional and Community Activities
· Contributing author of the "Registration in Canada" chapter in Starting a Hedge Fund - a Canadian Perspective
· Chapter Editor of the "Exemptions from Registration" chapter of Securities Law & Practice
· Presenter at industry conferences organized by The Canadian Institute and Strategy Institute
· Author or contributor to various client alerts on the topics of registration and compliance.
· Founding Member, The R. Fraser Elliott Society at the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation
· Member, Law Society of Upper Canada
· Member, Canadian Bar Association
· Member, Ontario Bar Association
· Member, Toronto Lawyers Association