Ian Macdonald
Automatically compiled listing. Details may contain errors.Partner at Gowling WLG
- Called to the bar
- 2001
- Languages
- English
About Ian Macdonald
Businesses in Canada and abroad bring Ian Macdonald their competition and antitrust questions and their foreign investment reviews, and merger review sits at the heart of that work. As a partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office, Ian has steered dozens of Competition Act pre-notifications, plus Investment Canada Act notifications and reviews, for private-sector clients and state-owned enterprises in many different industries.
Ian was called to the Ontario bar in 2001 and later went back to school for a master's in international trade and competition law at Osgoode Hall. Ian's work has also taken in power deals: Ian advised British Energy and Bruce Power on the sale of British Energy's stake in Bruce Power to a group of Canadian investors, and helped Vaughan and Markham combine their electricity distribution companies.
Not every competition problem is a merger. Ian also counsels clients on the civil and criminal sides of the Competition Act, which has included helping them answer information and document production orders over alleged breaches. Prevention is part of it too: Ian often writes competition compliance policies for clients and runs compliance seminars for them.
You'll find Ian active well beyond client files. Ian once chaired the International Committee of the Canadian Bar Association's Competition Law Section, served on the editorial board of the Canadian Competition Law Review, and speaks at conferences. Best Lawyers in Canada has recognized Ian for competition and antitrust law since 2019.
Practice areas
Merger clearance for cross-border deals
Ian has been Canadian counsel on insurance deals, among them State Farm's side of the Desjardins Group purchase of State Farm Canada's businesses and Travelers' acquisition of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company. Other clients include Sterigenics on its purchase of Nordion and YM Biosciences when Gilead Sciences acquired it.
Acquisitions and sales
In 2019, Ian acted for Party City Holdco on the sale of its Canadian retail business to Canadian Tire, for Bombardier on selling its Q Series aircraft program assets to De Havilland, and for Cummins on its cross-border purchase of Mississauga's Hydrogenics.
Energy and infrastructure
Ian has advised Macquarie Essential Assets Partnership, an infrastructure fund, on matters including its acquisition of AltaLink LP. The bookshelf reflects it too: Ian was a contributing author of Gowling WLG's book The Electricity Industry In Canada, with primary responsibility for the Ontario chapter.
Education & credentials
- LLM, International Trade and Competition Law, Osgoode Hall Law School (2005)
- LLB, University of Western Ontario (1999)
- BA (Hons.), Political Studies, Queen's University (1996)
- Called to the bar of Ontario (2001)
Awards & recognition
Publications & speaking
- Legislation Passes To Amend Environmental Claims Prohibitions Of The Competition Act, Gowling WLG (republished on Mondaq), co-author (2026)
- 2022 Joint Ventures - Canada, Lexology Getting the Deal Through, contributing author (2022)
- Canadian Competition Tribunal Issues First Contested Hold Separate Order In A Merger Case, Gowling WLG (republished on Mondaq), with Elad Gafni (2015)
- The Electricity Industry In Canada (Ontario chapter), Gowling WLG
Memberships & affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association, Competition Law and Foreign Investment Review Section: Ian is a past chair of the section's International Committee.
- Canadian Competition Law Review: Ian is a past member of the journal's editorial board.
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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 Ian Macdonald’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗
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