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.
" I would call him the most creative and commercially minded lawyer that I’ve worked with. He has a unique ability to strategize to the right outcome and to come up with creative solutions. Insofar as he is regarded as a key member of our strategy team, he goes way beyond just being a lawyer. "
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, the UK, Latin America and West Africa.
Shea’s recent experience includes:
Public M&A
- Canadian counsel to Rio Tinto on its US$6.7 billion all cash acquisition of NYSE/ASX-listed global lithium producer Arcadium Lithium
- Canadian counsel to Australian-headquartered global gold producer 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 operated the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine in Mongolia
- M&A Deal of the Year at the Canadian Law Awards
- Canadian counsel to Ritchie Bros. on its US$7.3 billion cash and stock acquisition of NYSE-listed IAA, an online automobile auctioneer
- Wyloo Metals on its C$615 million all cash insider acquisition of, and takeover battle with BHP over, TSXV-listed Noront Resources which owned 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 operated the Brucejack gold mine in British Columbia
- Endeavour Mining on its C$2.44 billion all stock acquisition of TSX-listed Teranga Gold which operated 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 operated 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
- Zijin Mining on its US$1 billion acquisition of the Akyem gold mine in Ghana from Newmont Corporation
- Rio Tinto on its US$700 million acquisition of a 50% joint venture interest in the Matalco aluminium recycling business from Giampaolo Group
- 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 operated 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 Resource 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 operated 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
" We believe that Shea is one of the lawyers that make McCarthy Tétrault one of the top legal firms in Canada and globally… "
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's Leading 500 Cross-border Lawyers: A Guide to Doing Business in Canada
Leading Lawyer : Mining
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