Johannes Brake
Johannes Brake
Biography
Johannes Brake is a corporate lawyer based in our Montreal office. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, with a special focus on transactional and regulatory matters relating to financial institutions. He also practises in securities law and corporate governance.
Johannes studied law in Canada, Germany and France and previously worked for an international law firm in Germany. He practises in English, French and German.
Professional experience
Representative experience
Representative experience
Johannes has acted in the following matters:
Financial Services
- American International Group, as Canadian lead counsel in the context of the sale of its individual personal travel insurance and assistance business, including Travel Guard Canada Group, Inc. to Zurich Insurance Group.
- Artis REIT, a diversified real estate investment trust, in connection with its strategic business combination with RFA Capital Holdings, a leading financial services organization that includes RFA Bank of Canada and RFA Mortgage Corporation.
- Laurentian Bank in connection with regulatory advice on its transition to a specialty commercial bank, including the divestment of retail banking portfolios and the sale of all its issued and outstanding common shares.
- Ryan Specialty, an international specialty insurance firm, with its acquisition of Stewart Specialty Risk Underwriting Ltd., a managing general underwriter.
- Synex Business Performance, an insurance broker consolidator, with an investment by Ares Management Credit funds and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec to fund its expansion plans.
- Worldline SA, a payment services leader, in connection with the sale of its North American subsidiaries, including Bambora Inc. and Bambora Corp., to Shift4 Payments.
Aerospace
- DCM Group Inc., a Thrust Capital Partners portfolio company, in its acquisition of DH Aerospace Holding Inc., a manufacturer of aerospace structural components.
- De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. with the acquisition of Fleet Canada Inc., a manufacturer of aerospace structural components, to support the supply chain for the Twin Otter, DHC-515 and Dash-8 programs.
Mining
- Arianne Phosphate Inc. with the development of its Lac-a-Paul project, including a strategic investment by a global mining company by way of a convertible debenture.
- Patriot Battery Metals Inc. with the development of its Shaakichiuwaanaan project, including corporate governance matters.
Education
Education
- J.D., McGill University, 2023
- B.C.L., McGill University, 2023
- Dipl.-Jur., Universitaet Muenster, 2018
Admissions
Admissions
- Quebec 2024
Publications
Publications
- "Budget 2025 and financial institutions: Key measures and opportunities," November 7, 2025
- "Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions imposes risk management requirements for traditional and AI-based models," October 9, 2025
- "New guidelines from the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions on crypto-asset exposures," National Banking Law Review, Vol. 44 No. 4 (August 2025)
- "Proxy season 2025: a balancing act," January 13, 2025
Memberships and activities
Memberships and activities
- Canadian Bar Association
- Canadian-German Lawyers Association
Languages
Languages
- English
- French
- German
Insights and news
Insights
Client Work
Ryan Specialty Expands Canadian Market with Acquisition of Stewart Specialty Risk Underwriting
Canada | November 07, 2025