Shea Small, Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions and a member of the firm’s Board of Partners, has an international practice based in Toronto, Canada and London, UK, focusing on mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments, contested and special situations, private equity and capital markets.
Shea is Chambers-ranked, and repeatedly recognized by Lexpert, Best Lawyers, Legal 500 and IFLR 1000, for his significant experience in M&A, natural resources and international mandates. He also has an Acritas Star for his joint venture and global expertise.
Deeply Connected in the Metals and Mining Industry
Shea has significant industry expertise and deep industry connections in the global metals and mining sector, particularly in complex multi-jurisdictional transactions. With over 20 years of experience and as Co-Leader of McCarthy Tétrault’s Global Metals & Mining Group, Shea helps clients structure and implement transactions across the globe, with a particular focus on Australia, Latin America, the UK and West Africa.
Shea is also a member of McCarthy Tétrault’s Leadership Team in his role as Co-Leader, International Strategy.
Shea’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
- Wyloo Metals on its C$615 million all cash insider acquisition of, and takeover battle with BHP over, TSXV-listed Noront Resources which owns several major nickel and chromite discoveries in Ontario’s Ring of Fire
- Newcrest Mining on its C$3.5 billion cash and stock acquisition of TSX/NYSE-listed Pretium Resources which operates the Brucejack gold mine in British Columbia
- Endeavour Mining on its C$2.44 billion all stock acquisition of TSX-listed Teranga Gold which operates the Sabodala-Massawa and Wahgnion gold mines in West Africa
- Viavi Solutions on its $459 million cash offer for, and takeover battle with the controlling founder of, TSX/NASDAQ-listed EXFO, a 5G equipment technology company
- Endeavour Mining on its C$1 billion all stock acquisition of TSX/NASDAQ Stockholm-listed SEMAFO which operates the Boungou and Mana gold mines in Burkina Faso
- Canadian counsel to LSE-listed Acacia Mining on its US$428 million all stock acquisition by Barrick Gold
- Oil Search on its US$2.2 billion stock and contingent value right offer for, and takeover battle with Exxon Mobil over, InterOil, a NYSE-listed oil and gas company with project interests in Papua New Guinea
Private M&A and Joint Ventures
- Appian Capital on its US$100 million acquisition of a 60% joint venture interest in the Pine Point zinc project in the Northwest Territories from Osisko Metals
- Appian Capital on its US$1.2 billion agreed sale of the Atlantic nickel and Serrote da Laje copper mines in Brazil and subsequent termination by Sibanye-Stillwater
- Newcrest Mining on its US$460 million acquisition of gold prepay and silver stream facilities and offtake on Lundin Gold's Fruta del Norte gold mine in Ecuador from Orion and Blackstone
- Evolution Mining on its US$475 million cash and contingent value right acquisition from Newmont of the Red Lake gold mine in Ontario
- Stifel Financial on its acquisition of the Canadian capital markets business of GMP Capital
- Newcrest Mining on its US$800 million acquisition of a 70% joint venture interest in the Red Chris copper and gold mine in British Columbia from Imperial Metals
- Appian Capital on its acquisition of the Serrote da Laje copper project in Brazil from Aura Minerals
- Proterra Investment Partners on its majority acquisition of Tacora Resources which owns the Scully iron ore mine in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Rio Tinto on multiple sale processes for the Iron Ore Company of Canada
- OMERS on its acquisition of equity interests in Brit, a UK-based insurance company, and Eurolife, a Greek insurance company, from Fairfax
- Constellium on the establishment of an aluminum auto parts joint venture in Ontario
Strategic Investments
- La Mancha on its strategic investment to acquire 19.9% of the shares and a convertible note of TSX/AIM-listed Horizonte Minerals which operates the Araguaia nickel project in Brazil
- La Mancha on the sale of its 35% equity investment in TSX/NYSE-listed Golden Star Resources and support for Chifeng Jilong Gold’s US$470 million cash acquisition of Golden Star Resources
- Appian Capital on the sale of its 13% equity investment in TSX-listed Roxgold and support for Fortuna Silver Mines’ C$1.1 billion stock and cash acquisition of Roxgold
- Wyloo Metals on its strategic investment to acquire 23% of the shares and a convertible loan of TSXV-listed Noront Resources from Resources Capital Funds
- Newcrest Mining on its US$250 million strategic investment to acquire 27% of the shares of TSX-listed Lundin Gold which operates the Fruta del Norte gold mine in Ecuador
- La Mancha on its US$125.7 million strategic investment to acquire 30% of the shares of TSX and NYSE-listed Golden Star Resources which operates the Wassa and Prestea gold mines in Ghana
Contested and Special Situations
- Appian Capital on the sale to Silver Lake Resources of its debt and royalty interests as part of the CCAA insolvency process for TSX-listed Harte Gold
- Rio Tinto on its acquisition of the remaining 40% joint venture interest in the Diavik diamond mine in the Northwest Territories as part of the CCAA insolvency process for TSX/NYSE-listed Dominion Diamond Mines
- Detour Gold on its proxy battle with Paulson & Co.
- Rio Tinto on its creep to control of, and shareholder rights plan arbitration with, TSX/NYSE-listed Turquoise Hill Resources (formerly Ivanhoe Mines)
Capital Markets
- Ford, GE and Wells Fargo on their MTN, CP and maple debt programs in Canada
- RBC Capital Markets on RBC’s covered bond program in Canada
- dealer syndicates on debt offerings by First National Financial and Penske
- Rio Tinto on its standby commitments for multiple rights offerings by Turquoise Hill Resources
Awards & Rankings
Chambers Global
Leading Lawyer: Mining (International & Cross-Border) - Canada
Chambers Canada
Leading Lawyer: Energy & Natural Resources: Mining, Corporate/Commercial - Ontario
The Legal 500 - Canada
Leading Lawyer: Energy And Natural Resources – Mining
The Legal 500 - Canada
Leading Lawyer: International Expertise
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Leading Lawyer: Corporate Finance & Securities; Mergers & Acquisitions; Mining; Private Equity
Lexpert Special Edition: Mining
Leading Lawyer
Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A
Leading Lawyer
Acritas Stars
"Stand-out lawyer"
Best Lawyers in Canada
Leading Lawyer: Mining Law, Natural Resources Law
IFLR 1000 Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms
Highly Regarded: M&A, Mining
Who's Who Legal
Recognized in the area of Mining
MergerLinks
Top M&A Lawyers in Canada