A longstanding advisor to leading companies across industries, David Chaikof is a deeply experienced M&A and securities practitioner, providing sophisticated guidance on clients’ strategies and objectives on all aspects of their deal activity.
David is the managing partner of Torys’ New York office and a leading advisor for public companies and private equity firms on mergers and acquisitions, shareholder activism and corporate and securities law. He has led numerous domestic and cross-border acquisitions and takeover bids and regularly advises companies, boards of directors and special committees in connection with M&A, securities law and corporate governance across various industries.
David has extensive cross-border capital markets deal experience, acting as a trusted advisor to companies and investment banks in more than 250 Canadian, U.S. and international equity and debt offerings worth over US$35 billion in capital raised.
David is the lead external advisor to Fairfax Financial and BlackBerry, providing strategic advice on their corporate financings and M&A mandates. He led BlackBerry in its strategic review process along with the related US$1.25 billion financing. David also assisted Fairfax in its US$4.9 billion acquisition of Allied World Assurance Company and in its strategic investments in numerous companies, such as Toys “R” Us, Bauer and Easton Sports, the Keg, Prime Restaurants, Chorus Aviation, Mega Brands, Eacom Timber, The Brick Group, Sporting Life, Torstar and Resolute.
2019-2023 | IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms—Notable practitioner in M&A and capital markets: debt |
2008-2025 | Best Lawyers in Canada—Leading lawyer in corporate law and mergers and acquisitions law |
2008-2023 | The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory—Leading lawyer in corporate finance & securities, corporate mid-market, corporate and commercial law, private equity and mergers & acquisitions |
2007-2016 | Lexpert/American Lawyer’s Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada—Leading lawyer in corporate mid-market |
2014 | Lexpert’s Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Corporate Lawyers in Canada— Leading lawyer in corporate finance & securities |
David regularly speaks at conferences and law schools and has published articles on private equity and M&A trends, stockholder activism, poison pills, cross-border offerings, the multijurisdictional disclosure system, corporate governance and shareholder arrangements.
David was previously seconded for a two-year period in a policy-making role to the Ontario Securities Commission's International Markets and Corporate Finance Branches for the implementation of SEC/CSA’s Multijurisdictional Disclosure System. From 2000 to 2006, he was director of Leitch Technology.
David is actively involved in the non-profit sector and is a graduate of the Wexner Heritage Foundation Leadership Program. For five years, David was chair of Camp Ramah, a summer co-ed camp in Ontario.