We would love to invite you to our annual lender conference being held in Toronto on Tuesday April 22, 2025. The event will be an exclusive morning for lenders and restructuring professionals in Toronto to come together and discuss key areas of concern, trends and best practices that we are seeing in the Canadian lending and workout space.

Date and Time

Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 8:15 am to 12:30 pm.

Location

Toronto offices of Gowling WLG
100 King St W Suite 1600, Toronto, ON M5X 1G5

Who Should Attend

If you work in commercial banking, asset-based lending, secondary lending or special loans, you will not want to miss this morning!

Insolvency professionals should also attend to meet lenders and learn about the latest lending trends and issues.

Spots are limited and will be taken quickly, so please register today to reserve your seat!

Agenda

8:15 to 9:00 - Registration & Networking Breakfast

9:00 to 9:45 - Panel 1 - Steering the Ship: Lender Strategies for Successful Business Turnarounds

This panel will focus on turnaround strategies and how lenders can effectively support distressed borrowers. The panel of experts will discuss identifying potential signs of distress, effective strategies for supporting borrowers experiencing financial challenges and how to implement critical changes to effect a turnaround of the business. The session will explore case studies of successful turnarounds and provide practical guidance for lenders navigating these complex situations.

9:45 to 10:00 - Panel 2 - Fireside Chat: Retail on the Brink – Tariffs, Liquidations, and Lessons for Lenders

In this one-on-one discussion, Ryan Mulcunry of GA Group will break down the latest retail trends and what they mean for lenders. The conversation will cover the impact of new tariffs on borrowers and lenders, insights from recent major retail collapses—including HBC and other struggling brands—and key lessons for lenders navigating retail insolvencies. From liquidation challenges to shifting consumer trends, this session will provide real-world insights into the evolving risks and opportunities in retail finance.

10:00 to 10:30 - Coffee and Networking Break

10:30 to 11:15 - Panel 3 - On the Front Lines: Lenders' Perspectives on Market Trends and Challenges

Three seasoned lenders will share their insights on current portfolio trends, including the rise of fraud and quasi-fraud, the accelerated distress of newer loans, and the interplay with private credit. The discussion will cover strategies for restructuring loans, the impact of potential tariffs on various industries, and the delicate balance of extending lifelines versus taking decisive action. Panelists will offer a candid look at how they're adapting to these evolving market dynamics.

11:15 to 12:00 - Panel 4: The Restructuring Playbook – Legal Battles, Negotiation Tactics, and Emerging Trends

This panel will explore the latest legal and strategic trends shaping insolvency and restructuring. Topics will include the rise of creditor-driven CCAAs, the increasing use of litigation funding to support both creditor and debtor claims, and evolving practices in advisor engagement—who hires whom and who truly runs the process. Experts will discuss bank and borrower negotiations, the shifting landscape of forbearance and support agreements, and what concessions lenders are making in today’s market. With court-driven processes becoming more complex, the panel will also examine how mediation is playing a growing role in resolving contentious restructuring disputes, the advantages of alternative dispute resolution over litigation, and how a mediator’s perspective can help lenders and borrowers reach workable solutions without prolonged legal battles.

12:00 to 12:30 - Closing Remarks and Final Networking

Panelists

• Stanley Julien, Head, Special Accounts Management Unit - Canada, BMO Financial Group

• The Honourable Thomas J. McEwen, Arbitrator/Mediator, McEwen Resolutions Inc.

• Naomi Loewith, Investment Manager and Legal Counsel, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Omni Bridgeway Canada

• Ryan Mulcunry, Managing Director, GA Group

• Asim Iqbal, Partner, Gowling WLG

• Duncan Lau, Partner, KPMG LLP

• Rodney Davis, Partner and Practice Leader, Greysuits Advisors

• Arif Bhalwani, CEO and Managing Director, Third Eye Capital

• Manan Parikh, Director, Special Loans, CIBC

• Matt Lafortune, Director, Financial Restructuring Group, National Accounts, TD

CPD

The learning portions of the event will be eligible for CPD credit for both lawyers and accountants.

Pricing

No cost for lenders.

$249 + HST and EventBrite fee for insolvency professionals.

We very much hope that you can join us for this morning. And please do pass along the invitation to your colleagues. We'd love for them to join as well!

Just make sure to register right away as the spots will be taken quickly. Registration can be done in under a minute.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Dina Kovacevic
Editor-in-Chief
Insolvency Insider

Sponsors

Thanks to our generous sponsors for making this conference possible: