The depth of Stikeman Elliott's business and legal expertise, combined with our wide-ranging experience in mining projects in every corner of the world, has allowed us to become one of the leading legal advisors to the mining industry. Specifically, we offer advice on:

• Financings, both public and private, debt and equity;
  
• General securities law, including compliance and governance;
  
• Structuring and negotiating joint ventures and earn-in arrangements;
  
• Mergers and acquisitions, both public and private, hostile and friendly;
  
• Property acquisitions and dispositions; and
  
• Project finance.

Our expertise covers the entire spectrum of mining ventures, from precious and base metals and precious and semiprecious stones, to industrial minerals and coal. Our clients include Canadian and international mining companies, investment banks and lending institutions.

Stikeman Elliott's Global Mining Group regularly assists our clients in raising equity for exploration, resulting in the discovery of new deposits. We're there to help clients, large and small, bring exciting projects to the capital markets for the first time. We also assist in project financing these deposits and help our clients acquire other companies to enhance their portfolios. As one of our recent projects, we counseled Bema Gold Corporation in its US$425 million project financing for the construction of the Kupol Mine (winner of the Project Finance International Award - Mining Deal of the Year for Europe, the Middle East and Africa).

Chambers & Partners, a UK-based international legal publisher, has identified Stikeman Elliott as "a Canadian entity who has earned its spurs in the mining work across Africa." It cites the London office practitioners as having "developed an excellent grasp of the continent's markets" and further notes that rivals concede that the group's "first-class financial experience" gives it a serious edge in the privatisation work it handles so well.

Involvement in the Global Community

Our Global Mining Group is honoured to sponsor the Mining for Water's Challenge, which leverages the resources of the global exploration and mining community to provide more people in developing countries with access to clean, fresh drinking water. The Challenge is inspired by the efforts of young activist, Ryan Hreljac, and his Ryan's Well Foundation, and is being led by Orezone Resources Inc. The Foundation works to provide clean water and bring related health services to water-poor people in developing countries.

Global Rankings & Achievements

Stikeman Elliott's Global Mining Group is recognized as one of the best in Canada. In 2008, Stikeman Elliott acted on 11 of the Top 39 - and 4 of the Top 10 - Mine finance deals in Canada, including the #1 deal of the year (Silver Wheaton Corp.'s $1.56 billion secondary offering), according to the Financial Post. Further, the firm was ranked #1 based on participation and value of deals.

The following are some of our recent collective and individual achievements:

2009

Best Lawyers in Canada 2009

• Jay Kellerman (Toronto) is recognized in the natural resources area, as well as Michael Allen (Vancouver) in the banking, corporate and project finance areas.

Lexpert/American Lawyer's Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada 2009

• Michael Allen is listed as a leading lawyer for project finance, banking and financial institutions and Jay Kellerman is listed as a leading lawyer for mining and corporate finance and securities.

PLC Cross-border Handbooks 2009

• Michael Allen is recognized in as a leading lawyer in the categories of capital markets and finance by Practical Law Company.

2008

Who's Who Legal

• Jay Kellerman (Toronto) named as the #2 Mining sector lawyer in the world. Derek Linfield (London) and Michael Allen (Vancouver) given special mention as leaders in the field.

Best Lawyers in Canada 2008

• Jay Kellerman (Toronto) is recognized in the natural resources area, as well as Michael Allen (Vancouver) in the banking, corporate and project finance areas.

PLC Cross-Border Finance: Secured Lending Handbook 2007/08

• Michael Allen is recognized in this publication by Practical Law Company.

International Financial Law Review's 2008 IFLR 1000 (a guide to the world's leading financial law firms)

• Stikeman Elliott listed as a recommended law firm in the areas of capital markets, banking, M&A, project finance and restructuring and insolvency.

The Legal Media Group Guides to the World's Leading Lawyers - Expert Guides 2008

• Michael Allen is listed as an expert in the capital markets, project finance and banking areas.

• Jay Kellerman is listed as an expert in the energy and natural resources area and further listed in the Best of the Best 2006 for energy and natural resources.

Chambers UK 2008

• "London office of this celebrated Canadian firm has continued to make inroads into the mining area. Currently "exceptionally active in the London market," the firm is considered to have carved out a highly respectable foothold in both project finance and corporate mining work. Commentators declare the firm "strong" in this area, and also point to its expertise in capital markets work." 

• It notes that lawyer "Derek Linfield [London] is among the firm's most senior experts in mining matters," and "[t]he firm continues to serve an impressive array of prominent industry clients and has worked with a strong line-up of producers and financial institutions."

Chambers Global 2008

• Recognized as a tier 1 global law firm in the projects and energy: mining and minerals sectors and noted as "a heavyweight in the mining and metals sector."

• Michael Allen is recognized among the world's leading lawyers for business in the banking and finance area.

Lexpert/American Lawyer's Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada 2008

• Michael Allen is listed as a leading lawyer for project finance, banking and financial institutions and Jay Kellerman is listed as a leading lawyer for mining.

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2008

• Stikeman Elliott's Global Mining Group is recognized as a leading firm in the mining sector and ranked as "most frequently recommended."
• Michael Allen is "most frequently recommended" in the project finance, banking and financial institution areas; and Jay Kellerman is "most frequently recommended" in the mining, corporate finance and securities areas.

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Recent Group Activities

Mining Group lauded
Our Global Mining Group has been named as a premier practice by Who's Who Legal. Jay Kellerman is noted as the world's #2 mining lawyer, with Michael Allen and Derek Linfield receiving special mention. 

Metallica Resources, Peak Gold, New Gold merger
The firm acted for Metallica Resources Inc. in its US$1.6 billion merger with Peak Gold Ltd. and New Gold Inc.

Leaders in Mining
Chambers & Partners recognizes the firm's prominent role in the mining sector, ranking it among the UK's Top 10 and only Canadian firm in the list for its "solid, knowledgeable and dynamic approach" and cites London principal Derek Linfield as a leading lawyer in the sector.

Listing on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM)
An article prepared by members of the Global Mining Group provides details on how companies become listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM: "Listing on AIM". For further information, contact Derek Linfield.

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