Sean's dedication to clients' files and highly personable, detail-oriented approach make him one of the most sought-after lawyers in the investment sector.
Sean Sadler is a partner in the Securities Regulation & Investment Products Group of McCarthy Tétrault in Toronto.
He has been primarily engaged in a securities trading and adviser regulation practice, with particular emphasis on advising Canadian and non-resident dealers and advisers on the offering of their services in Canada, including structuring and regulation of collective investment vehicles and the public and private offering of investment products and securities, retail mutual funds, institutional pooled funds, hedge funds, closed-end funds, separately managed accounts, wrap accounts, wealth management services, family offices and registered education savings plans.
Sean also regularly advises on securities law/CIRO compliance and enforcement matters, and on white collar defense, internal investigations, voluntary and whistle-blowing disclosures with respect to matters involving securities activities. He also regularly advises registrants on private placements, commodity futures and OTC derivatives trading, acquisitions, divestitures and reorganizations of registrants and the merger of investment fund complexes and the establishment of investment fund businesses. Sean has, together with local counsel, assisted clients in establishing or restructuring investment funds in jurisdictions outside Canada including, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Mauritius.
Earlier in his career, he was seconded as legal counsel to the Registration Section of the Capital Markets Branch of the Ontario Securities Commission and to the Fixed Income Group of CIBC Wood Gundy Securities Inc.
Teaching and writing
For many years, Sean was a special lecturer in various securities law topics at the University of Windsor, the University of Western Ontario, Dalhousie University and Queen’s University. For over 25 years, he has been a co-editor of LexisNexis’ Annotated Ontario Securities Legislation. He is a co-author of a chapter in Practicing Law Institute's Treatises: Broker-Dealer Regulation and Investment Adviser Regulation. He is also a co-author of CCH’s Canadian Securities Regulatory Requirements Applicable to Non-Resident Broker-Dealers, Advisers and Investment Fund Managers, a handbook of Canadian securities regulatory requirements for non-resident securities firms published in 2012.
Sean received his BA from the University of Toronto, his JD from the University of Windsor and his LLM in banking and financial services law from the Osgoode Hall Law School.
International Comparative Legal Guide to: Alternative Investment Funds 2020
Sean D. Sadler, Cristian Blidariu and Nigel P.J. Johnston, write about Canadian matters in The International Comparative Legal Guide to Alternative Investment Funds. This chapter covers key issues, including regulatory frameworks, fund structures and marketing in Canada.
International Comparative Legal Guide to: Public Investment Funds 2021
Sean D. Sadler, Cristian Blidariu and Nigel P.J. Johnston, write about Canadian matters in The International Comparative Legal Guide to Public Investment Funds. This chapter covers key issues, including regulatory frameworks, fund structures and marketing in Canada.
Awards & Rankings
Acritas Star
"Stand-out lawyer"
Chambers Canada
Leading Lawyer: Investment Funds
Best Lawyers in Canada
"Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Mutual Funds Law (Toronto)
Best Lawyers in Canada
Leading Lawyer: Mutual Funds Law
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Leading Lawyer: Investment Funds & Asset Management - Investment Funds
Lexology Content Marketing Awards
Recognised as the Legal Influencer for Financial Services - Canada.
Who’s Who Legal: Canada
National Leader - Private Funds
Best Lawyers in Canada
Leading Lawyer: Securities Law
Best Lawyers in Canada
Leading Lawyer: Private Funds Law