Shane Hardy, Michael Osborne, Steven Weisz, and Kevin Zimka were named to the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for 2023. The lawyers named on the Lexpert survey have been recommended by their law firm leaders and are acknowledged as leaders in their respective fields, prominent in their practice areas and professional organizations, and otherwise enjoy significant recognition from their colleagues.
Hardy, chair of the firm’s Canadian Intellectual Property Practice, is a strategic business adviser who has assisted in the acquisition, licensing, and marketing of some of the world’s most famous trademarks and IP assets. He is one of a select few Canadian practitioners recognized for his experience in commercial transactions regarding intellectual property assets. He is frequently called upon by brand owners worldwide to assist with their international acquisition and licensing plans. He has assisted clients with dozens of cross-border acquisitions where target entities have an intellectual property focus.
Osborne, chair of the firm’s Canadian Competition Practice, helps businesses navigate competition (antitrust), foreign investment, and other regulatory regimes and resolve commercial disputes. His 25 years of experience and broad practice enable him to identify an achievable outcome that best aligns with his clients’ goals and to work towards achieving that outcome. He advises and defends clients worldwide in inquiries and proceedings commenced by the Competition Bureau, including criminal matters, abuse of dominance, and marketing and advertising matters. He defends clients in private proceedings under the Competition Act, including price-fixing class actions.
Weisz concentrates his practice on commercial litigation and insolvency law. Bringing over three decades of experience as a leader in his field, he skillfully guides his clients through all aspects of complex domestic and multinational insolvencies. He prides himself on taking a pragmatic, cost-efficient approach to even the most complex multidimensional and multidisciplinary issues. He regularly represents purchasers of distressed debt and assets, debtors, directors, court-appointed officers, and major stakeholders of insolvent businesses — often on an urgent basis.
Zimka focuses his practice on domestic and international corporate tax issues, including M&A, corporate reorganizations, equity and debt financings, and income tax issues involving partnerships, trusts, and other investment vehicles. He brings a strong background in inbound and outbound transaction structuring and experience handling a range of mining industry tax matters — particularly flow-through shares.
About Lexpert
Lexpert is Canada’s leading source of news and information about the best lawyers, law firms, and the business of law. Since 1994, Lexpert has conducted annual peer surveys to identify the best lawyers and law firms in Canada. Being ranked by Lexpert is an acknowledgment of an individual’s status as a leader in their respective field.
About Cozen O'Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 825 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.