Lexpert Magazine

20 www.lexpert.ca InHouse Profile the right external legal teams was critical. Goodmans LLP, with a team led by Chris Sunstrum, acted as legal counsel for Rogers. Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, with a team led by Vincent Mercier and Brett Seifred, acted as legal counsel for Shaw. However, this was far from a straightfor- ward M&A transaction. e involvement of multiple firms across various aspects of the transaction illustrates just how legally and structurally complex the deal became. As Wyse puts it, "It had the corporate lawyers, it had the securities lawyers, it had … the M&A lawyers, but then it also had the regu- latory folks … and the litigators." Rogers and Shaw had to structure a parallel divestiture of Freedom Mobile to Quebecor's Videotron to address regula- tory concerns, requiring additional legal expertise. Bennett Jones LLP served as competition counsel for Videotron, while Osler advised Quebecor on the divestiture. e banking side of the deal was also exten- sive, with McCarthy Tétrault LLP acting for Bank of America. Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP represented Rogers at the Competition Bureau and the Federal Court of Appeal. Wyse emphasizes the challenge of aligning so many teams toward a single objective. "From where I sat, it was just about how do we coordinate all those folks? How do we make sure everybody's rowing in the same direction?" She quickly credits the external legal teams for helping to guide the transaction through its many twists and turns. "It didn't feel like I was giving instructions; it felt like we were all part of the same team," she says. In her view, the providers who truly excelled were those who "really took the time to understand our business and why we make the decisions we do." Leadership and coordination Overseeing a deal of this scale required not just legal expertise but also strong leader- ship. Wyse, who leads a legal team of 60 professionals across Canada, had to ensure seamless collaboration between internal and external stakeholders. She says her role was to "quarterback all of that." She also emphasizes the importance of keeping teams motivated and focused, even in the face of mounting challenges. "ere were some real challenges and really high- stress moments, but we just stayed focused." For Wyse, the Rogers-Shaw deal was not just another transaction – it was a defining moment in her career. Having previously served as vice president of corporate develop- ment at Rogers, she had been involved with the deal from its earliest stages. "I had worked on the diligence and the agreement prior to the time it was signed in 2021," she says. Wyse's career trajectory reflects her will- ingness to embrace new opportunities and take calculated risks. Initially a tax lawyer at Rogers, she transitioned to leading the company's corporate development depart- ment before becoming chief legal officer. "Take a chance," she advises aspiring lawyers. "If it doesn't work out, you'll make a change… Just take a new opportunity." Beyond her work on transformative transac- tions, Wyse values the broader impact of legal collaboration. As a judge for the Canadian Law Awards, she says she has been "amazed by the … breadth of the submissions and the number of things that lawyers across the country … and legal departments are accom- plishing that aren't always visible." For her, the awards process highlights the vital contribu- tions of legal professionals nationwide. Wyse's leadership philosophy centres on collaboration and recognition. "e people on my team are my colleagues. ey are fantastic individuals," she says. She priori- tizes mentorship and professional develop- ment, ensuring her team feels valued and empowered. "[It's] important to me that folks recognize that I am privileged to sit in this chair, but I sure don't do it alone." CANADIAN LAW FIRMS Canadian law firms advising on Rogers' acquisition of Shaw: • Bennett Jones LLP (competition counsel to Videotron) • Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP • Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (lead counsel; for Shaw Communications) • Goodmans LLP (lead counsel; for Rogers Communications) • Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP (represented Rogers at Competition Bureau and Federal Court of Appeal) • McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for Bank of America NA and Bank of America Securities) • Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (lead counsel for Quebecor) Rogers' acquisition of Shaw won the M&A Deal of e Year at the 2024 Canadian Law Awards. Winners of the 2025 awards will be announced at a gala event on May 7 in Toronto. Judges do not vote in the categories in which they or their organization are final- ists. Visit lawawards.ca for more information.

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