Bank Act - Legislation and Commentary

Carla Potter, B,Comm., J.D., CPA, CA, is a Partner in the Financial Services Group at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. Her practice focuses on corporate financing matters and representing both lenders and borrowers as well as lessors and lessees involved in domestic and cross-border lending and equipment finance transactions, project finance transactions and corporate reorganizations. She is a co-author of Asset-Based Lending in Canada, published by LexisNexis, Law in International Finance, and a contributing author to Project Finance in Canada.

Dr. Alison R. Manzer, B.Sc., LL.B., LL.M., M.B.A., M.Sc., D.B.A., is a partner in the Banking & Specialty Finance and Business Law Groups at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. She has an extensive commercial law practice, with a large cross-border and international practice base, including financial institution regulation, securitization, structured finance, project finance, commercial lending, corporate finance and private placement, banking, insolvency and restructuring, asset finance and related areas. Dr. Manzer has held several financial services industry directorships and many positions with legal organizations, including the American Bar Association, where she chairs committees, and the Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys (Past President). She is a regent of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers and a  Fellow of the American Bar Association. Alison is an adjunct professor in the LL.M. program of Osgoode Hall Law School and has authored several books on financial services and commercial law topics. She is ranked in most legal peer rankings in Canada, the United States and globally in Banking and in Asset Finance.

Suhuyini Abudulai, B.A. (Hon.), LL.B., is a partner in the Banking and Specialty Finance Group at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. Her practice focuses on transactional and regulatory matters in financial services, with particular expertise in Canadian consumer protection laws. She regularly advises clients on the regulation of financial services in Canada, including documentation, licensing and disclosure requirements. On the transactional side, Suhuyini advises clients on commercial lending transactions, acting for lenders and borrowers in a variety of domestic and multijurisdictional transactions. Suhuyini has authored several publications, including the Annotated Ontario Consumer Protection Act. Among other professional experience, Suhuyini holds positions with the American Bar Association. She is a recipient of the Precedent Setter Award, a recipient of the Lexpert Rising Star Award, named a Change Agent by Canadian Business and is ranked in Chambers Canada, IFLR1000 Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. Suhuyini received her B.A. from Dalhousie University and her LL.B. from the University of Windsor.

Maurice Coombs, B.Sc., LL.B., LL.M., is a former partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and was a Senior Member of the firm’s Research Group until his retirement at the end of December 2004. Until January of 1998, he served as Chair of the firm’s Research Group, a post he held for more than 15 years. His research practice at Osler was focused on corporate and commercial law, trust law, partnerships, institutional investment law, conflicts of laws and related matters. In his practice, he worked extensively for various public- and private-sector pension funds, as well as major investment houses, structuring products for institutional investment purposes. He also undertook consulting roles with federal and provincial authorities on various legislative initiatives.

Maurice has also lectured at, and written papers for, legal and professional programs held by a variety of organizations. In his earlier years, Maurice worked for approximately five years as a research assistant at the Ontario Law Reform Commission. In 1972, he left the Commission and joined Bertha Wilson at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt in her research practice.

Since his retirement from Osler, Maurice has undertaken a series of freelance and contract research projects and has authored, co-authored or contributed to various LexisNexis Canada publications, including the Agency, Business Corporations, Bills of Exchange, Bankruptcy and Insolvency, Equitable Remedies, Partnerships, and Real Property titles in Halsbury’s Laws of Canada. He is a co-author, with Kevin McGuinness, of Canadian Business Corporations, 4th Edition (LexisNexis Canada, 2024).

Lauren Grossman, B.Sc., J.D., is a partner in the Banking & Specialty Finance Group at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. Lauren’s practice focuses on corporate and commercial law, representing both lenders and borrowers involved in domestic and cross-border financing transactions and corporate finance matters. Lauren’s experience includes both secured and unsecured lending transactions, asset-based financings, acquisition financings, securitizations, and project financings. She is ranked as a Rising Star in Banking by IFLR1000.