Our Team

Lexpert/Thomson Canada’s Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2008-2011—Most frequently recommended practitioner in banking and financial institutions, and banking and financial institutions/regulatory law

Chambers & Partners’ Chambers Global: World’s Leading Lawyers for Business, The Client’s Guide, 2008-2012—Leading lawyer in banking and finance: financial services 

Law Business Research’s Who’s Who Legal, The International Who’s Who of Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers, 2008-2012—Leading lawyer in insurance and reinsurance lawyers

Lexpert/American Lawyer's Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2008-2012—Leading practitioner in banking and financial institutions

Lexpert's Cross-Border Guide to the Leading U.S./Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada, 2008-2011—Leading cross-border practitioner in banking and financial institutions

Legal Media Group/Euromoney's IFLR1000 The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms, 2008-2011—Leading lawyer in financial services regulatory

Woodward White’s Best Lawyers in Canada, 2008-2012—Leading lawyer in banking law

Woodward White’s Best Lawyers 2011—Toronto Banking lawyer of the year

Corporate INTL magazine's 2011 Banking Regulation Lawyer of the Year in Canada

Practical Law Company’s Which Lawyer? 2007-2012—Highly recommended Canadian lawyer in banking and finance, banking regulatory and insurance

Blair has recently provided regulatory and general advice and assistance on

• the incorporation of banks, trust companies and insurance companies, and the establishment of branches of foreign insurance companies in Canada under the new requirements established in 2001
• the sale of the credit and financial services business of a major Canadian retail company
• the initial public offering of the Canadian business of a leading Canadian property and casualty insurance company
• the demutualization of Canada’s two largest mutual life insurance companies
• the Canadian aspects of the demutualization of a large U.S. mutual life insurance company
• the development and implementation of innovative tier 1 capital structures for banks and insurance companies which have raised approximately C$3 billion
• the conversion of banking subsidiaries to branches in Canada by a number of foreign banks
• payment and card related matters

Blair is a member of the Regulatory Advisory Group to the Task Force for the Payments System Review in 2011, providing advice on regulatory and legal issues related to the payments industry in Canada.

Blair recently provided advice to the Canadian life insurance industry on the insurance holding company capital regime, and, over the last several years, has provided advice to the Canadian life insurance industry on various government bills, which contained amendments to the financial institutions statutes.

In his capacity as Co-Chair of the Financial Services Legislative Reform Committee of the Canadian Bar Association, Blair appeared as a witness before the House of Commons Finance Committee on Bill C-67 (which implemented branch banking in Canada for foreign banks in 1999).

While on secondment to the Canadian Bankers’ Association, he testified before parliamentary committees, drafted amendments to the legislation and advised the Canadian Bankers’ Association on the 1991 revisions to the legislation affecting federal financial institutions.