Object moved

Object moved to here.

Expertise

Christine Leigh

Practice Assistant

Toronto
cleigh@blg.com
416.367.6749
416.367.6528

Erik practises corporate and securities law with an emphasis on mining and natural resources. He acts for Canadian and international mining companies on:

  • acquisitions and dispositions of mines, mining projects and mining companies
  • project development
  • mine operations in Canada and throughout the world

Erik advises on the structuring and negotiation of option and joint venture agreements, shareholder agreements, royalty arrangements, streaming transactions and off-take agreements. He has extensive experience with all legal aspects of the development, construction and operation of mining projects including advising on Aboriginal issues and claims, environmental and regulatory compliance matters, permitting issues and mine closure, decommissioning and reclamation issues. Erik also advises mining clients on energy-related issues such as power procurement, interconnection and transmission services.

Experience

  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. in its US$30 million Vatukoula stream and royalty transaction on the producing Vatukoula Mine in Fiji.
  • Kinross Gold Corporation in the negotiation of a US$9.5 million farm-in agreement with S2 Resources Ltd. to earn a 70% interest in four exploration licence and licence applications in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt in northern Finland.
  • The lender in Americas Gold and Silver Corporation's issuance of C$12.5 million secured convertible debenture.
  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. in its US$7 million acquisition of a package of 21 royalties in Nevada and Montana from an affiliate of Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP.
  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. on the US$42.5 million financing package for Americas Silver Corporation that includes a US$25 million gold stream and royalty on the Relief Canyon Project in Nevada, USA, as well as a US$10 million convertible debenture, and an US$7.5 million equity subscription.
  • Imperial Metals Corporation in its sale of a 70% interest in the Red Chris mine in British Columbia to Newcrest Mining Limited for US$806.5 million and a follow-on joint venture between the parties for the ongoing operation of the Red Chris mine.
  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. on the US$32.75 million acquisition of a net smelter returns royalty on precious metals produced from the Fruta del Norte gold project in Ecuador, currently under construction by Lundin Gold Corporation.
  • Glencore International AG in the sale of a C$31.2 million convertible debentures by Champion Iron Limited to Glencore International AG.
  • Kinross Gold Corporation in the option to acquire a 100% interest in Yorbeau's Rouyn Property from Yorbeau Resources Inc.
  • Sulliden Mining Capital Inc. in the option of the Troilus Mine from First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. in their US$152 million multi-asset stream transaction with Yamana Gold Inc.
  • Blackstone Tactical Opportunities in their US$540 million construction financing package with Orion Mine Finance Group to Pretium Resources Inc.
  • Lundin Mining Corp. on the purchase of the Eagle Mines nickel-copper project in Michigan for US$325 million.
  • Silver Wheaton Corp. in its purchase of life of mine silver and gold production from HudBay Minerals Inc.'s 777 Mine in Canada and Constancia Project in Peru for total cash consideration of US$750 million.
  • Yamana Gold Inc. in the US$310 million option of its Agua Rica project in Argentina to Minera Alumbrera Limited.
  • Paladin Energy Ltd. in the negotiation of a six year off-take agreement with a major utility to deliver a total of 13.73Mlb U3O8 and a US$200 million prepayment agreement.
  • New Gold Inc. in the US$53 million sale of its Amapari Mine in Brazil to Beadell Resources Limited.
  • IC Potash Corp. in the completion of its $40 million strategic investment and offtake agreement with Yara International ASA.
  • Silver Wheaton Corp. in its purchase of 25% of the life of mine silver production from Barrick Gold Corporation's Pascua-Lama project in Argentina and Chile, and 100% of the silver production from Barrick's Lagunas Norte and Pierina mines in Peru and Barrick's Veladero mine in Argentina until the end of 2013.
  • Yamana Gold Inc. in the US$200 million sale of its Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente mines in Brazil and its San Andres mine in Honduras.
  • Silver Wheaton Corp. in its purchase of 100% of the life of mine silver and gold production from Augusta Resource Corporation's Rosemont Copper Project located in Pima County, Arizona for total consideration of US$230 million.
  • Kinross Gold Corporation in the negotiation of a US$116 million option agreement to earn up to a 70% interest in Linear Gold Corp.'s Ixhuatan Project in Chiapas State, Mexico.
  • The Government of Ontario on the transfer of assets from the former Ontario Hydro to its successor companies.
  • Municipalities in the restructuring and disposition of electricity utilities.
  • Industrial and commercial electricity consumers on power purchase agreements.
  • Enwave District Energy Limited on the construction and implementation of its Deep Lake Water Cooling Project.
  • The City of Toronto as the sole shareholder of Toronto Hydro Corporation in connection with an initial public offering of debt securities by Toronto Hydro Corporation.
  • The City of Toronto in connection with the monetization of a $490 million promissory note issued by Toronto Hydro Corporation and the secondary offering of Toronto Hydro Corporation debentures.
  • DeBeers Canada on matters pertaining to the supply of electricity transmission services (including interconnection services and upgrades to existing transmission facilities) from Hydro One Inc. and Five Nations Energy Inc. for its Victor Mine in Northern Ontario.
  • The City of Hamilton as the sole shareholder of Hamilton Utilities Corporation and the merger of Hamilton Hydro Inc. with St. Catharines Hydro Utility Services Inc.
  • Ventus Energy Inc. on the sale of wind-generated electricity from facilities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Ontario Bar Association
  • Member, Ontario Energy Association
  • Member, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2022 edition of Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition (and since 2017) of Chambers Canada – Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Energy & Natural Resources: Mining and Resources: Mining: Development and Operations).
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition (and 2015 to 2019) of the Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Mining).
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition (and since 2013) of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Mining Law, Natural Resources Law).
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition (and since 2012) of Chambers Global - The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Mining (International & Cross-Border)).
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition (and since 2010) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Mining).
  • Recognized in the 2020 edition (and since 2017) of IFLR1000 – The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms (Capital Markets, M&A and Project Development).
  • Recognized in the 2020 edition of Lexpert Special Edition on Mining.

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 1999
  • LLB, University of British Columbia, 1997
  • BA, Western University, 1993