Mark Opashinov*

Our People
Expertise
- Practices
- Industries
- Deal & Cases
- International
- Featured
  COVID-19 Resource Centre
  Read More
Insights
- Publications
- Events
- Webinars
- Podcasts
Our Firm
Offices
- Overview
- Vancouver
- Calgary
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Montréal
- Hong Kong*

For 25 years Mark Opashinov has been helping Canadian and foreign businesses resolve their most challenging business law and complex regulatory matters. His clients include many S&P/TSX 60, Fortune 500, and European and Asian multinational corporations across a wide range of industries, including automotive, biotech, IT, consumer packaged goods, health care, pharma, mining, professional services, publishing, telecommunications and transportation, among others.

Mark is also a prominent competition, antitrust and foreign investment lawyer advising on all aspects of Canadian competition and foreign investment law. With a significant transactional experience, he advises on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and reorganizations. Mark is recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers Canada, Best Lawyers in Canada and Lexpert as a leading lawyer in competition/antitrust law.

Clients appreciate Mark’s efficiency in managing complex legal projects and his use of technology in the practice of law. Mark speaks and writes extensively on corporate and competition law matters. He is the past-president and a director of the University of Toronto Schools Alumni Association and current director of Opera Atelier.

Expertise

Practices

Representative Matters

Ticketmaster in its defense of alleged deceptive marketing practices
Luxottica in connection with its US$54 billion merger with Essilor
SABMiller plc in its Canadian Competition Bureau clearance of its US $107 billion take-over by Anheuser Busch InBev SA/NV
MeadWestvaco Corp. in its US$16 billion merger with Rock-Tenn Company to create a leading global provider of consumer and corrugated packaging
Rogers Communications Inc. in its joint acquisition with BCE Inc. of GLENTEL Inc., a Canadian-based multi-carrier mobile products distributor operating close to 500 retail locations in Canada under banners that include WirelessWave, TBooth Wireless, and Wireless Etc.
Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA in its global book publishing joint venture with Pearson plc
PPG Industries, Inc. in its acquisition of North American architectural coatings business of Akzo Nobel N.V. (coatings)
Motorola Systems, Inc. in its acquisition of Psion plc (ruggedized computing technologies)
Patheon Inc. on the divestiture of its clinical packaging business to Bellwyck Packaging Solutions Inc. (packaging)
Royal & Sun Alliance in its acquisition of L’Union Canadienne, Compagnie d’Assurance from The Co-Operators Group (insurance)
The Coca-Cola Company in its acquisition of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (beverages)
Novartis AG in its acquisition of a majority interest in Alcon Inc. (ophthalmic pharmaceutical and eye-care products)
Royal & Sun Alliance in its acquisition of Glenstone Capital Incorporated, GCAN Insurance Company and Aldis Underwriting Managers Inc. (insurance)
Live Nation, Inc. in its merger with Ticketmaster, Inc. (concert promotion and ticketing)
Agrium Advanced Technologies on the acquisition of the business of Evergro Canada Inc. (manufacturing)

Speaking Engagements

Digital Media at the crossroads: What's in the Future for Canadian Creators?

January 20, 2023

Competition Enforcement in the Digital Age CBA's Annual Competition Law Spring Conference

May 7, 2019

First Mover Advantage: The Legalization of Adult Use Cannabis in Canada

October 30, 2018

Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce

October 22, 2018

The Use of Technology and e-Discovery Principles Beyond Traditional Civil Litigation, The Advocates' Society

October 16, 2017

Corporate Counseling Committee Monthly Antitrust Update Program December 2016 Developments

January 11, 2017 Download File

Megabytes and Market Power: Advising the Multinational Tech Company on Antitrust Issues

January 22, 2015

The Year in Review: What's New in Competition Law

October 23, 2014

Maintaining Your Competitive Advantage: What's New in Competition Law

October 16, 2014

Managing Regulatory Risk in the M&A Process: The Competition Act, the Investment Canada Act and Your Deal

April 2012

Legal Project Management for the Business Lawyer Presentation to Canadian Bar Association with Ann Gomez

December 2011

Legal Project Management for the Business Lawyer Presentation to Canadian Bar Association with Ann Gomez

May 2011

Managing Regulatory Risk in the M&A Process: The Competition Act, the Investment Canada Act and Your Deal

April 2011

Teaching Engagements

Mark speaks frequently on corporate and competition law matters.

News

Rankings & Recognitions

Recognized by Chambers Canada (2024) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust Competition / Antitrust
Recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Consistently Recommended Lawyer in the area of Competition Law
Recognized by Chambers Global (2023) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust
Recognized by Chambers Canada (2023) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust Law
Recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Competition Law
Recognized by Chambers Global (2022) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust
Recognized by Chambers Canada (2022) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust Law
Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2022) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust Law
Recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Competition Law
Recognized by Chambers Global (2021) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust
Recognized by the Best Lawyers in Canada (2021) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust Law
Recognized by Chambers Canada (2021) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust Law
Recognized in the 2020 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of Competition Law
Recognized by Chambers Global (2020) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust
Recognized by Chambers Canada (2020) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust Law
Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2020) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust Law
Recognized by the 2019 Lexpert Guide to the US/Canada Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada as a leading Canadian lawyer in cross-border practices
Recognized in the 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of Competition Law
Recognized by Chambers Global (2019) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust
Recognized by Chambers Canada (2019) as a leader in Competition/Antitrust
Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2019) as a leading lawyer in the area of Competition / Antitrust Law
Recognized in the 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area of Competition Law
Ranked by Lexpert Guide (2018) as a leading US/Canada Cross-Border Lawyer in Canada
Recognized in Chambers Canada 2018 as a leading practitioner in the area of Competition and Antitrust law
Recognized in Chambers Global 2018 as a leading practitioner in the area of Competition and Antitrust law
Recognized in Chambers Canada 2017 as a leading practitioner in the area of Competition and Antitrust law
Recognized in Chambers Global 2017 as a leading practitioner in the area of Competition and Antitrust law

Community Involvement

Opera Atelier, Director
University of Toronto Schools Alumni Association, President and Director
Toronto Arts Council, Director and Secretary (2005-2011)

Directorships & Affiliations

Canadian Bar Association (Competition Law Section and Economics Committee Past-Chair)
American Bar Association (Antitrust Law and International Law)
Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats (Mergers & Acquisitions and Antitrust Commissions)

Education & Admissions

1998

Called to the Ontario bar

2010

LLM Osgoode Hall Law School

1996

LLB Queen's University

1993

MA Queen's University

1992

BA University of Toronto, Victoria College

1988

University of Toronto Schools

Publications

“The government is dragging criminal law into the Competition Act – it shouldn’t,” The Globe and Mail (February 13, 2023)
“Opinion: Vigorous enforcement, not studies, are what Canada’s competition laws need,” Article by Joshua Krane, Mark Opashinov & William Wu, National Post (April 13, 2021)
“Merger Musings: December 2016 Takeaways,” The Antitrust Counselor – ABA Section of Antitrust Law (March 2017)
“The Fundamentals of Canadian Competition Law, Third Edition,” Jointly published with the Canadian Bar Association’s Competition Law Section, Author of Chapter 18: Foreign Investment Reviews (August 2015)
Global Antitrust and Compliance Handbook, Canada chapter, Oxford University Press (May 2014)

Insights (23 Posts)View More

AI Regulatory Roundup – International Developments in AI Law and Policy

An overview of recent Canadian and international developments related to the regulation of artificial intelligence technologies.

May 2, 2023

Getting the Deal Through – Merger Control 2023

The 2023 Canadian Chapter of Lexology Getting the Deal Through - Merger Control provides the most current and comprehensive information available on mergers and acquisitions under antitrust and competition law in Canada.

Nov 7, 2022

Round One of Competition Act Amendments Passed; National Security Review Regime Amended

New amendments to the Competition Act were passed today as part of the budget implementation bill.

Jun 27, 2022

Significant Changes Coming to Canada’s Competition Act

The Canadian federal government has introduced a series of significant changes to Canada's Competition Act.

May 3, 2022

Getting the Deal Through – Merger Control 2022

Regulatory scrutiny of mergers and acquisitions looks set to continue to intensify around the globe, with all signs pointing towards an even more complex and dynamic regulatory landscape for businesses to navigate in 2021 and beyond.

Nov 2, 2021

Emerging Competition & Data Privacy Issues for Real Estate Organizations

Changes to Canada’s privacy laws, developments with low-commission brokerages and changes to short-term rental regulations will impact real estate associations.

Feb 2, 2021

Competition Law Recap: Key Takeaways from 2020 (January 27, 2021)

2020 has been an interesting and challenging year as economies grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Details

January 27, 2021 - 1:00 pm to 2:15 pm ET

Oil and Gas Sector Consolidation Invites Competition Bureau Reviews

With the recent surge in M&A activity in the oil and gas sector, the Competition Bureau may call on industry participants to investigate some of these deals.

Nov 17, 2020

Getting the Deal Through – Merger Control 2021

Getting the Deal Through - Merger Control 2021

Nov 9, 2020

Canadian Competition Act and Investment Canada Act

Feb 3, 2020

Competition Law Recap: Key Takeaways from 2019

Join Competition lawyers Janine MacNeil and Mark Opashinov for everything you need to know about the year's developments in mergers, refusals to deal, price maintenance, abuse of dominant market position, cartel enforcement, misleading and deceptive advertising.

Dec 17, 2019

Getting the Deal Through – Merger Control 2020

2020 Canadian Chapter of Lexology GTDT - Merger Control provides the most current and comprehensive information available on mergers and acquisitions under antitrust and competition law in Canada.

Sep 1, 2019

Competition Law Recap: Key Takeaways from 2018

Dec 6, 2018

Getting the Deal Through (Canada Chapter) – Merger Control 2019

The 2019 Canadian Chapter of Getting the Deal Through - Merger Control provides current and comprehensive information on mergers and acquisitions in Canada.

Nov 29, 2018

First Mover Advantage: The Legalization of Adult Use Cannabis in Canada

Whether you are new to the cannabis industry, interested in starting a cannabis business, or have been seizing opportunities for a while — join us for an interactive day on the strategic and legal implications of the legalization of cannabis in Canada.

Details

October 30, 2018 - 7:30 am to 3:35 pm

Proposed Changes to the Competition Bureau’s Immunity Program Will Undermine Effective Cartel Enforcement in Canada – Comments of TRC-Sadovod LLP on the Consultation Draft dated October 26, 2017

Several proposed revisions to Immunity Program under the Competition Act will have unintended but serious consequence of decreasing applications for immunity

Jan 1, 2018

Getting the Deal Through (Canada Chapter) – Merger Control 2018

The pathway to successfully navigating the merger and antitrust challenges for Canadian and international transactions has changed considerably within the past decade

Jan 1, 2018

Government of Canada Provides Valuable Guidance on National Security Review of Foreign Investment in Canada

Jan 3, 2017

Getting the Deal Through – Merger Control 2018 (Canada Chapter)

Jan 1, 2017

Competition Bureau Issues Consent Agreement Template

Sep 29, 2016

Video Games as Canadian Culture: Navigating the Investment Canada Act in Interactive Entertainment Acquisitions

May 31, 2016

Getting the Deal Through – Merger Control 2016, Canada Chapter

Getting the Deal Through - Merger Control 2016, Canada Chapter

Jan 1, 2016

Competition Bureau’s Draft Intellectual Property Enforcement Guidelines Provide Welcome Clarity on Bureau Treatment of Intellectual Property

Competition Bureau's Draft Intellectual Property Enforcement Guidelines Provide Welcome Clarity on Bureau Treatment of Intellectual Property

Jul 2, 2015

Mark Opashinov*

Expertise

Practices

Representative Matters

Speaking Engagements

Digital Media at the crossroads: What's in the Future for Canadian Creators?

Competition Enforcement in the Digital Age CBA's Annual Competition Law Spring Conference

First Mover Advantage: The Legalization of Adult Use Cannabis in Canada

Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce

The Use of Technology and e-Discovery Principles Beyond Traditional Civil Litigation, The Advocates' Society

Megabytes and Market Power: Advising the Multinational Tech Company on Antitrust Issues

The Year in Review: What's New in Competition Law

Maintaining Your Competitive Advantage: What's New in Competition Law

Managing Regulatory Risk in the M&A Process: The Competition Act, the Investment Canada Act and Your Deal

Legal Project Management for the Business Lawyer Presentation to Canadian Bar Association with Ann Gomez

Legal Project Management for the Business Lawyer Presentation to Canadian Bar Association with Ann Gomez

Managing Regulatory Risk in the M&A Process: The Competition Act, the Investment Canada Act and Your Deal

Teaching Engagements

News

Rankings & Recognitions

Community Involvement

Directorships & Affiliations

Education & Admissions

Publications

Insights (23 Posts)View More

Deals & Cases (8 Posts)