Michael Cockburn
Michael Cockburn
Biography
Michael Cockburn practises corporate and commercial law with an emphasis on project financing, infrastructure, and secured lending transactions. Michael works with clients in a variety of sectors, including transit infrastructure, renewable energy and mining, both across Canada and internationally.
Michael has represented procurement authorities, private sector proponents, lenders, contractors and suppliers in connection with many major procurements across Canada, particularly transit and social infrastructure projects. He has experience with PPP and AFP project models and uses his diverse representative experience to help clients understand and respond to issues that arise throughout the procurement and construction of a project.
He also has extensive experience representing lenders and borrowers in several contexts, including major project financings for precious metal, critical mineral, and renewable energy projects, finance-backed acquisitions, and restructurings. He has advised several mining juniors on their early stage and senior financings, as well as negotiating equipment and cost overrun facilities. Michael has represented both private lenders and syndicates of Canadian and international institutional lenders in the extension of secured loans over mining and energy projects in jurisdictions across Canada and Latin America.
Professional experience
Representative experience
Representative experience
Banking and Finance
- Fruta Del Norte – advised Lundin Gold Inc. in the project financing of the Fruta del Norte gold mine project in Ecuador
- Wisokolamson Energy Project – advised Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg in the provision of a credit facility for the construction and operation of an 18 MW wind farm project near Riverside-Albert, New Brunswick
- Advising Marathon Gold Corp. in connection with the project financing of the Valentine Gold Project in Newfoundland & Labrador
- Advising private and public Canadian companies in connection with the consolidation and restructuring of credit facilities
- Karowe Diamond Mine – advised Lucara Diamond Corp. in connection with obtaining a $220 million project financing for the development of an underground expansion of its Karowe Diamond Mine located in Botswana
M&A
- Advised OMERS Infrastructure Management Inc. with the auction and sale of its Ontario hospital and long-term care facility portfolio
Infrastructure
- Ottawa Stage 2 LRT Project – advised the City of Ottawa with the Trillium Line Extension Project and the Confederation Line Extension Project totalling $4.66 billion in investment
- Energy Services Acquisition Program – advised Public Works and Government Services Canada and the Department of Justice in connection with the $1.03 billion Energy Services Acquisition Program/Energy Service Modernization project
- Scarborough Subway Extension – advised STRABAG Inc. as the successful proponent to design-build and finance the $757 million Advanced Tunnel for the Scarborough Subway Extension project
- East Harbour Transit Hub – advised Metrolinx in connection with the procurement of the East Harbour Transit Hub by way of an alliance model procurement
Rankings and recognitions
Rankings and recognitions
- Chambers Canada, Nationwide: Projects: PPP & Infrastructure, Chambers and Partners, 2026
Education
Education
- J.D., University of Toronto, 2017
- M.I.P.P., Wilfrid Laurier University, 2013
- B.A. (Hons.), Western University, 2012
Admissions
Admissions
- Ontario 2018
Memberships and activities
Memberships and activities
- Ontario Bar Association
Insights and news
Insights
Client Work
