Michael Akkawi is a leading advisor with a deep understanding of business priorities and market practices in private equity, across transactions and fund matters.
Michael is the head of the firm’s Private Equity practice, regularly advising private equity funds, pension funds and strategic investors in all aspects of their transactions and other investment activities, including leveraged buyouts, majority and minority equity investments, co-investments and restructurings.
In addition, Michael advises sponsors on structuring and negotiating their private market funds and their internal governance and economic arrangements. He has recently acted for sponsors on funds spanning a range of private market areas, including buy-out, venture capital, infrastructure, secondary and search funds, including most recently SeaFort Capital, Maverix Private Equity, Amplitude Venture, Overbay Capital and Imperial Capital funds. His work also includes a number of secondary transactions to buy or sell LP interests in a fund or a portfolio of funds.
2017-2023 | Chambers Canada—Leading lawyer in private equity: buyouts |
2018-2022 | Chambers Global—Leading lawyer in private equity: buyouts |
2022 | IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms—Highly regarded in M&A and private equity |
2014-2023 | Best Lawyers in Canada—Leading lawyer in private funds law and corporate law |
2022-2023 | Lexpert/American Lawyer’s Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada—Leading lawyer in private equity |
2013-2022 | The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory—Leading lawyer in private equity, mergers and acquisitions |
2014-2022 | Who’s Who Legal—Global and National leading lawyer in private funds and M&A |
2018 | Best Lawyers in Canada—Private Funds Law Lawyer of the Year in Toronto |
2018 | Lexpert’s Guide to US/Canada Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada—Most frequently recommended in business issues |
2009 | Lexpert’s Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40—One of Canada’s leading lawyers under 40 |
Michael is heavily involved in supporting not-for-profit organizations, including acting as corporate counsel to the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity, a not-for-profit, provincial government-sponsored organization and serving as its director for over 10 years, starting with its founding. He has also advised the Heart & Stroke Foundation, COSTI Immigrant Services and International Lawyers and Economists Against Poverty on various corporate and commercial matters. Michael has acted for other charities and social enterprises throughout his career, with a focus on organizations that support the welfare of children.
He was also an adjunct professor of Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, and has taught the Business Associations course twice.