About Faran Umar-Khitab

Private equity and venture capital funds, institutional investors and strategic buyers rely on Faran Umar-Khitab when a complex deal has to close. Faran is a Toronto partner at Gowling WLG and co-leads the firm's Canadian group for corporate commercial work, funds and private M&A. Day to day, that means buying and selling businesses, raising capital, and advising on governance and commercial contracts.

Some clients use Faran as their general counsel, and boards and special committees bring governance and transaction questions to the table too. The sectors run from energy, mining and infrastructure to tech, life sciences and financial services, and Faran speaks English, Hindi and Urdu.

The deal list is long and often crosses borders. Faran has acted for Bombardier on selling its Q Series aircraft program assets to De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, served as Canadian counsel to Newell Brands on several divestitures, and represented Sterigenics on its cross-border purchase of Nordion.

Giving time to students matters to Faran too. Faran has mentored Rotman Commerce undergraduates at U of T since 2007, the year before being called to the Ontario bar, pitching in on networking events and mock interviews, and in 2016 the University of Toronto honoured that volunteer work with an Arbor Award.

Practice areas

Business & Corporate Law

Mergers and acquisitions

Faran negotiates purchase and sale deals, builds the shareholder, partnership and joint venture structures that go with them, and puts cross-border tax structures in place. Faran has also been Canadian counsel to Newell Brands on divestitures and to Blackhawk Network on its acquisition of Achievers Corp.

Capital markets and corporate finance

Faran leads debt and equity issuances and supports issuers on public and private financings, including a Canadian notes offering for TELUS Corporation. Faran was also Canadian counsel to Mattamy Group Corporation on a cross-border notes offering.

Governance and general counsel services

Boards of directors and special committees turn to Faran on governance and transactional questions, and a number of clients rely on Faran for general counsel services.

Education & credentials

  • BComm, Trinity College, University of Toronto (2004)
  • JD, University of Windsor (2007)
  • Called to the bar of Ontario (2008)

Awards & recognition

  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Finance and M&A; also Energy and Mining, Technology and Health Sciences, and Infrastructure), Lexpert
  • Acritas Star, Acritas
  • Arbor Award, University of Toronto (2016)

Publications & speaking

  • Buying and Selling a Business: A Comprehensive Guide (topic: The Broker/Lawyer Relationship: How to Work Together), Ontario Bar Association (2020)
  • Mergers & Acquisitions Review: Planning a Private M&A Transaction (co-author), Who's Who Legal: Canada 2015 (2015)

In the community

  • By 2016 Faran had also joined the Alumni Steering Committee of the Rotman Commerce Alumni Mentorship Program.

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This listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on their firm’s website. Confirm Faran Umar-Khitab’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗

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