Compliance Essentials in Corporate Finance: Protect Clients from Regulatory and Transactional Risk

The CBA is a professional organization that provides educational and networking opportunities for lawyers. Representing more than 36,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Canada, the CBA is committed to enhancing the professional and commercial interests of a diverse membership and to protecting the independence of the judiciary and the Bar.

Melinda Park is the Regional Managing Partner at BLG's Calgary office, bringing over 30 years of expertise in corporate and securities law, with a strong focus on mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance. With 20 years at BLG, Melinda has been instrumental in advising corporate clients on complex transactions and governance matters, regularly guiding boards and committees of public and private companies. Melinda's leadership extends beyond her practice. She served on BLG’s Partnership Board for six years, including a historic tenure as the first woman Chair, shaping firmwide strategy and talent development. A committed community leader, Melinda serves on the Board of Directors for the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and has previously contributed to the Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, where she held roles as Vice Chair and Chair. In recognition of her contributions, Melinda received the Calgary Influential Women in Business Award for Professional Services in 2021 and was appointed to the King's Counsel in 2024.

Leila Rafi practices securities laws and has a highly transactional practice. She advises on corporate finance, regulatory and corporate governance matters frequently. In 2022, Leila was named one of “Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada for Business Law”. Among many other distinctions, she is also recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2022-2026) as a leading lawyer in the area of corporate law. Leila has an expertise in investment fund and asset management with considerable experience advising privately offered funds and investment dealers (both foreign and Canadian). Also, she assists managers with respect to their regulatory obligations and ongoing compliance. Leila sits on the Advisory Board for the Expansive Women Project and is a mentor for the University of Toronto Women’s Association. She also sits on the Board of VersaFi (formerly Women in Capital Markets) and the Board of GEM – Girls E-Mentorship. On GEM she is the head of the Corporate Governance Committee as well. Currently, Leila is adjunct professor for an introductory securities regulations course at Western University law school. Formerly, she taught an introductory securities law course at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Alexander Lincoln School of law and at Queen’s University law school. Previously, for about five years, Leila was as an adjunct professor for the advanced business law course offered by the University of Windsor law school and the January term securities law course at the University of Western Ontario law school. From 2019 to 2021, Leila served a three-year term on the Securities Advisory Committee, which provides advice to the Ontario Securities Commission on legislative and policy initiatives and capital market trends.

Andrew is a partner at Torkin Manes, where he brings more than 25 years’ experience on a broad scope of corporate and commercial matters, and represents domestic and international clients in many sectors, including investment banking, cannabis, tech, consulting, advertising, social media and insurance. Andrew has earned a reputation for always delivering exceptional client service and keeping clients’ best interest his top priority. Clients have commended his steadfast commitment to providing the most appropriate legal advice under any given circumstance in the most timely and cost-effective manner. As head of the Firm’s Corporate Finance Group and a trusted advisor to both early stage and established businesses, Andrew supports clients in structuring and executing public and private corporate finance, corporate reorganizations, M&A and securities transactions. Clients turn to him for strategic guidance and counsel on various commercial agreements and business arrangements, including shareholders’ agreements and disputes, partnership agreements and industry-specific contracts. Having worked on cannabis-related legal matters since before the industry was legalized in Canada, Andrew has become a go-to resource to clients within the cannabis industry. In his role as co-Chair of the Firm’s Cannabis Law Group, he helps clients obtain retail and federal licenses, and regularly provides structuring, regulatory, securities and cross-border advice to a multitude of industry participants. His corporate finance knowledge is invaluable to Canadian, US and European clients who are structuring their businesses and creating offering materials to raise capital from investors. Andrew’s understanding of the complex and rapidly changing regulatory framework across Canada and the United States, coupled with his extensive network, is a value-add for clients and contacts looking for meaningful introductions in the cannabis industry. An industry thought leader, Andrew regularly speaks and writes on a wide array of topics pertaining to legal developments within the cannabis industry. As a complement to his practice, he frequently contributes to media publications and presents at industry conferences across the continent and also serves as an editor of the Torkin Manes Cannabis Law Group blog. Andrew is also dedicated to the communities in which he lives and works, and has served and continues to serve on several boards of directors and committees for various charitable organizations.