Daniel (Dan) E. Sears

Partner

Calgary
[email protected]
403.232.9529

Dan’s practice focuses on corporate finance and, in particular, banking, corporate lending, project finance, acquisition finance, structured finance and leasing.

Recent transactions have included major acquisition financings, private placements and cross-border financings, such as financings of oil sands projects, coalbed methane development, conventional oil and gas reserves, pipelines and power generating assets.

He also provides clients with advice on complex matters involving the Personal Property Security Act.

Dan has acted as lead counsel for Crescent Point, Enbridge, Petrobank and TransAlta and for the lenders to Nexen, Calfrac, Baytex, Trinidad Drilling and others, in connection with their respective senior syndicated credit facilities.

Experience

  • Acting for HSBC as the Agent in representing the syndicate of banks in the Calfrac CBCA Filing. Also acting for HSBC in numerous Court applications in Alberta and Texas. And acting for HSBC in closing the refinancing.
  • Strad Inc. in it's $130MM management led going private acquisition of all shares via a plan of arrangement and all aspects of securing debt financing for the arrangement.
  • The lenders to Nexen Inc. in its US$3 billion syndicated credit facilities
  • TransAlta Corporation in its $2 billion syndicated credit facilities
  • PetroBakken in its $1 billion syndicated credit facility
  • The lenders to Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. in its $1.75 billion syndicated credit facilities
  • Enbridge Inc. in its US$250 million bilateral senior credit facility
  • Enbridge Inc. in its $2 billion syndicated credit facilities
  • Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. in its $300 million senior secured syndicated credit facilities
  • PetroBakken Energy Ltd. in its $1.05 billion senior secured syndicated credit facilities, including a fully underwritten acquisition facility used in the take-over of TriStar Oil & Gas
  • Storm Exploration Inc. in its $115 million senior secured credit facilities
  • Crescent Point Energy Corp. in its $1.2 billion senior secured syndicated credit facilities
  • The lenders to Calfrac Well Services Ltd. in its $135 million senior secured syndicated credit facilities, including a fully underwritten acquisition facility
  • Fording Canadian Coal Trust and Elk Valley Coal Partnership in their $1 billion syndicated credit facilities
  • The lenders to an oil and gas services company in its US$100 million credit facilities
  • The lenders to Baytex Energy Trust in its $490 million senior secured credit facilities
  • Numerous mid-market oil and gas firms in connection with various demand and borrowing base credit facilities in the $15-50 million range
  • An oil and gas issuer in a US$60 million U.S. Note Offering
  • TransAlta Corporation in a $90 million surety bond
  • Sound Energy Trust in its $135 million syndicated secured borrowing base operating facility
  • Oilexco Incorporated and Oilexco North Sea Limited in connection with the latter's US$1 billion secured syndicated credit facilities

Beyond our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Calgary Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Committee Member, Minerva Foundation

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2023 edition of Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Asset Equipment Finance/Leasing), in the 2022, 2021 and 2020 editions (Banking & Financial Institutions), and in the 2015 and 2013 editions (Asset Securitization and Asset-Based Lending)
  • Recognized in the 2022 (and since 2020) edition of the IFLR1000 — The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms (Banking & Finance - Highly Regarded).
  • Recognized in the 2022 (and since 2013) edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada (Banking and Finance Law).
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition of Who's Who Legal: Canada (Banking).
  • Recognized in the 2015 edition of the Legal 500 Canada (Banking & Finance)

Bar Admission & Education

  • Alberta, 1999
  • LLB, University of Saskatchewan, 1998
  • BA (History), University of Calgary, 1997
  • BA (Political Science), University of Western Ontario, 1993