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Overview

John Mercury is Executive Chair and Chair of the Board of Bennett Jones. As Chair, John has overall responsibility for the direction, management and financial performance of the firm, with a focus on its strategic plan, market and industry initiatives, and client relationships. 

In his practice, John was formerly the head of the firm's private equity practice and has been recognized as one of Canada's leading M&A lawyers with a significant focus on cross-border transactions. He will continue to practice and serve clients in his new role.

John joined Bennett Jones after spending nearly a decade in New York, where he practised corporate and U.S. tax law with a leading New York-based law firm and where he worked as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch in its M&A group. In these roles, John provided legal and financial advice to a broad range of U.S., Canadian and foreign companies, primarily in the fields of mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, debt and equity financings and corporate governance matters.

John serves on a number of corporate and not-for-profit boards. He is also a member of the American Bar Association and the New York City Bar.

Client Work

Plains All American Pipeline in its C$5.15-billion sale of its NGL business to Keyera
The controlling shareholder of Westbrick Energy in its C$1.075-billion sale to Vermilion Energy.
NOVA Infrastructure, an infrastructure investment firm, as Canadian counsel, in connection with its take-private acquisition of UGE International, a Canadian publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., in connection with its C$1.19-billion acquisition of an indirect minority equity interest in the Labrador-Island Link from Emera Inc. 
Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P. in its equity financing in Parallax Energy, L.P., a Calgary-based upstream oil and gas company focused on acquisition and development opportunities in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.
Riverstone Holdings LLC, in its acquisition of all issued and outstanding common shares of Hammerhead Energy Inc. by Crescent Point Energy Corp. for total consideration of $2.55-billion.  

Recognitions & Awards

Chambers Canada

Ranked, Private Equity: Buyouts

Chambers Global

Band 3, Private Equity: Buyouts

The Legal 500 Canada

Leading Lawyer, Corporate and M&A
Recommended, International Expertise

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Consistently Recommended, Corporate Commercial Law; Private Equity
Repeatedly Recommended, Corporate Mid-Market; Corporate Finance & Securities; Mergers & Acquisitions; Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)

Lexpert Guide to the Leading U.S./Canada Cross-border Corporate Lawyers in Canada

Recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the area of private equity
Recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the area of corporate commercial
Recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the area of mergers and acquisitions

Lexpert Special Edition—Canada's Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers

Recognized as a leading Finance and M&A lawyer

Education & Bar Admissions

Education

  • Northwestern University, BA, 1990, summa cum laude (Economics)
  • Yale University, MA, 1995 (Finance)
  • University of Toronto, LLB, 1996, dean's honour list

Bar Admissions

  • Ontario, 1998
  • New York, 1999
  • Alberta, 2007

News, Events & Speaking Engagements

PlaceholderIn The News

Law.Com on New Leadership at Bennett Jones

November 16, 2023
Dominique T. HusseyJohn M. Mercury
Dominique T. Hussey & John M. Mercury
PlaceholderIn The News

Changing of the Guard Bennett Jones Announces New Executive Chair and CEO

November 16, 2023
Dominique T. HusseyJohn M. Mercury
Dominique T. Hussey & John M. Mercury