Frank L. Picciola

Biography

Frank L. Picciola's principal areas of practice are mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate law, with a particular focus on cross-border transactions. He has practised with the firm in Toronto, Montréal and London, England. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. Picciola was co-head of our London office.

Mr. Picciola has advised Canadian and foreign clients in numerous cross-border transactions in a wide range of industries. In London, Mr. Picciola advised European and U.S. clients on acquisitions in Canada and assisted Canadian clients with merger and acquisition assignments in Europe and the United States. His financing involvement includes financings in Canada and in Europe for both issuers and underwriters by way of public offerings and private placements. He has participated in a number of initial public offerings in various industry segments, ranging from forest products and textiles to telecommunications and high technology, acting for Canadian corporate issuers, underwriters and Canadian sovereign issuers.

As part of his corporate practice, Mr. Picciola also participates in the reorganization of businesses, including the formation and financing of limited partnerships and joint ventures.

Year of Call

• Ontario Bar 1996
• Quebec Bar 1991

Law School

• B.C.L./LL.B., McGill University, 1990

Selected Client Work

• Alcan in its spin-off of its aluminium rolled products business to Novelis Inc.
• Colt Defense in its acquisition of a Canadian weapons manufacturer
• Compuware in its acquisition of Changepoint Corporation
• Garda World Security in its acquisition of Vance International  and on the acquisition of the high risk security business of Kroll International
• Gildan Activewear in the acquisition of Kentucky Derby Hosiery
• Northrop Grumman on the Canadian aspects of the sale of its Kester division worldwide
• Schlumberger on the sale of its Canadian SMS messaging division
• Assisted Canadian clients such as Nortel and Quebecor with M&A assignments in Europe and in the United States
• Domtar in its proposed sale of its forest products business to Conifex Inc.
• Garda World Security in its acquisition of the security business of Rentokil Initial
• RONA in its acquisition of Réno-Dépôt
• Royal Bank of Canada in connection with its take-over bid for London Insurance Group Inc. and its proposed merger with Bank of Montreal

Memberships and Activities

• Actively Involved with the Committee on Negotiated Acquisitions, Business law section of the American Bar Association
• Canadian Bar Association
• International Bar Association