Mark W. Chu

Mark’s practice encompasses all areas of Canadian taxation, including mergers and acquisitions, financings, initial public offerings, corporate reorganizations and dispute resolution. He also has experience in corporate governance, secured project financing, public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions as in house counsel. Mark was a partner at Farris from May 2009 to March 2012, and rejoined in September 2018.

From March 2012 to August 2018 Mark was general counsel of Seaspan Corporation, the world’s largest containership lessor and publicly traded on NYSE, and was its corporate secretary from July 2013. He also served in a number of other capacities at Seaspan while general counsel, which included vice president of corporate development, chief financial officer (interim), chief development officer, chief administrative officer, and most recently executive vice president and chief operating officer from March 2018 to August 2018.

While at Seaspan Mark was part of a team that concluded US $3.8 billion of newbuilding containership projects and US $4.8 billion of contracted revenue from related long term lease contracts, and the March 2018 US $1.6 billion acquisition of Greater China Intermodal Investments LLC. He was also involved in raising over US $4.0 billion of secured financing from a diverse set of European, Asian and North American counterparties, US $1.3 billion in public offerings of debt and equity on the NYSE, and US $1.3 billion in private placements of debt and equity, including the 2018 US $1.0 billion investment by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.

From October 2004 to May 2009, he was a tax partner at a Big Four accounting firm. Mr. Chu is both a chartered professional accountant, chartered accountant, admitted as a member in 1993, and a barrister and solicitor, called to the British Columbia bar in 1997. Mr. Chu obtained his business and law degrees from the University of British Columbia, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Columbia Business School in 2015.

Year of Call

1997

Legal Recognition

•The Best Lawyers in Canada (2025)

In the News

Sponsorship

Farris Attends FACL BC’s 14th Annual Gala

November 21, 2025

Recognition

61 Farris Lawyers Recognized in the 2026 Best Lawyers in Canada Directory

September 4, 2025

Sponsorship

Farris Sponsors FACL Gala

November 19, 2024