John F. Clifford

First Year of Call
Ontario, 1989

Areas of Practice
Business Law

Description
John Clifford is a partner and Chief Client Officer of the firm. He is a highly experienced business lawyer, with recognized expertise in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate governance and antitrust / competition law. Service oriented and client-focused, John advises some of the world’s best-known Europe- and Asia-based automotive companies, as well as clients in the franchising, technology and manufacturing industries. In addition to assisting Canadian and international clients on domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, John provides counsel on debt financings and complex re-organizations. He also advises on establishing new businesses in Canada, including on compliance with Canada’s foreign investment review legislation and franchise laws.

Internationally acknowledged for his proficiency, John is recognized by Best Lawyers, Who’s Who Legal and other directories as a leader in Canadian M&A. He is also co-chair of a task force that is updating the American Bar Association’s model asset purchase agreement.

As a member of the firm’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Council, John represents McMillan on the national Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network. In 2021, he was recognized for the fifth consecutive year on the prestigious global list of OUTstanding Top 100 LGBT+ Executives, in recognition of his business achievements and impact on LGBT inclusion within McMillan and externally.