Eva Bellissimo, National Practice Group Leader of McCarthy Tétrault’s Business Law Group and Co-leader of the firm’s Global Metals & Mining Group, has a broad transactional practice including international M&A, corporate finance and strategic investments. Named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada (2021), Eva is deeply connected to the mining industry and is a strategic and entrepreneurial transactional lawyer with a strong reputation for getting the deal done. With more than 20 years of experience leading hundreds of transactions, Eva has extensive expertise in cross-border M&A and addressing the unique issues presented by multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Leadership, Strategy, Knowledge of International Mining Markets

Eva offers pragmatic advice and develops deal strategy for acquirors, target companies and special committees, assisting clients in developing and executing a variety of transactions including arrangements, reverse take-overs, going-private transactions, take-over bids and other business combinations. In her corporate finance practice, she advises issuers and investment banks on public equity offerings, convertible debt transactions and IPOs. Eva is also the lead advisor to a number of international clients seeking to undertake strategic investments in TSX-listed issuers. In addition, Eva has navigated issuers through proxy contests and advised with respect to activist shareholder actions. 
 

Eva is recognized in Chambers and repeatedly recognized by, Lexpert, and Legal 500 among others.

Eva’s recent experience includes:

Public M&A

• Canadian counsel to Newcrest Mining on its A$29 billion all stock acquisition by Newmont
• Rio Tinto on its US$3.3 billion all cash insider acquisition of TSX/NYSE-listed Turquoise Hill Resources which operates the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine in Mongolia • M&A Deal of the Year at the Canadian Law Awards
• ASX and TSX-listed, Newcrest Mining on its C$3.5 billion acquisition of TSX/NYSE-listed Pretium Resources Inc. which operated the Brucejack gold mine in British Columbia
• ASX-listed Evolution Mining on its acquisition of TSX-listed Battle North Gold Corp.
• TSX and LSE-listed, Endeavour Mining on its C$2.44 billion all-stock acquisition of Teranga Gold Corporation which operated the Sabodala-Massawa and Wahgnion gold mines in West Africa
• TSX and LSE-listed, Endeavour Mining on its C$1 billion all-stock acquisition of TSX-listed SEMAFO which operated the Boungou and Mana gold mines in Burkina Faso 
• Moneta Gold on its at-the-market merger with Nighthawk Gold Corp.
• Calibre Mining on its acquisition of two operating mines from B2Gold and concurrent $100 million financing and TSX graduation. 
• Osisko Gold Royalties on a C$537 million going private transaction of TSX-listed Dalradian Resources and continuing shareholder arrangements
• Kirkland Lake Gold on its $1.2 billion business combination with Newmarket Gold

Private M&A and Joint Ventures

• Vale on its base metals business consolidation and corresponding process for sale of minority stake in its base metals business for approximately US$2.5 billion to Manara Minerals 
• Newcrest Mining on its US$460 million acquisition of gold prepay and silver stream facilities and off take on Lundin Gold’s Fruta del Norte mine in Ecuador from Orion and Blackstone
• Canadian counsel to Cuprous Capital on its US$1.88 billion sale and the Khoemacau Copper Mine to MMG Ltd.
• Vale on its earn-in agreement for various copper properties in the United States
• Vale on its earn-in agreement with Ero Copper for the sale of a 60% interest in Vale’s Furnas Copper Project in Brazil
• Vale on its strategic alliance with Mundoro Capital with respect to copper deposits in western United States
• Skeena Resources on its 100% acquisition of Eskay Creek gold and silver project from Barrick
• Stelco on its US$100 million option to acquire 25% interest in Minntac, the largest iron ore mine in the United States, and entry into long term extension pellet supply agreement with U.S Steel

Corporate Finance and Strategic Investments

• Anglo American on its strategic investment in TSX-V listed Canada Nickel and concurrent technology testing agreement and off-take term sheet
• Anglo Asian Mining on its strategic investment in TSXV-listed Libero Copper and Gold
• Sumitomo Metals Mining on its strategic investment in TSXV-listed Kenorland Minerals 
• Altius Renewable Royalties Corp. on its $100 million initial public offering and concurrent TSX listing via TSX Sandbox 
• Syndicate of underwriters led by RBC Capital Markets and Haywood Securities in connection with an IPO of Arizona Sonoran Copper Company 
• Endeavour Mining on its US$2 billion shelf prospectus and subsequent US$200 million investment by La Mancha 
• Vox Royalty on its subscription receipt offering and reverse take-over listing transaction
• Syndicate of agents led by Haywood Securities in connection with an initial public offering of Uranium Royalty Corp.
• Syndicate of agents co-led by Scotia Capital, Canaccord, and National Bank in connection with an initial public offering of Titan Mining Corporation
• Syndicate of agents co-led by Scotia Capital and Haywood Securities in connection with a public offering of $65 million of common shares of Altius Minerals Corporation the proceeds of which were used to fund a portion of a $500 million royalty acquisition
• Franco-Nevada on its $370 million public offering of units

In addition to her law practice, Eva lectures on Financing Mining Projects at the Osgoode Certificate in Mining Law course. Eva is also the chair of the Corporate Governance Committee of i-80 Gold Corp, a dual TSX and NYSE listed issuer and is a member of the board of directors of Li-ft Power Ltd. a Canadian lithium exploration company.

Eva is a graduate of University of Western Ontario, B.A. (ACS) (with Distinction), 1998, and University of Western Ontario Law School, LL.B., 2001. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2002.