Overview
Michael Caruso is a partner in the corporate group and is based in the Toronto office. His practice focuses on cross-border M&A, private equity transactions, leveraged and management buyouts, and other complex specialty situation solutions and transactions.
Michael has advised US, Canadian and other foreign public, private and multinational companies, banks, private equity firms and their associated portfolios, and insurance companies on a variety of industries including financial services, technology, automotive, manufacturing and gaming.
Michael leads the firm’s M&A and tax transaction underwriting practice group. This team advises leading global underwriters in issuing insurance policies, and assists insurers in the claims process. Prior to joining the firm, Michael led the M&A and tax transaction underwriting practice group in Canada for leading global law firm.
Michael is recognized as a leading practitioner in Canada, and is a regular speaker on corporate and M&A transaction insurance topics.
Michael has served in a number of senior leadership and management roles throughout his career, and has previously served on boards of directors for public, private and not-for-profit entities.
Professional achievements & leadership
- The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – Mergers & Acquisitions, 2021-2022; Corporate Commercial Law, 2022-2023
- Quoted – Lexpert Magazine (Shedding Light on the PE Field), September 2018
- Noted – Legal 500 (Technology), April 2017
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Magazine – Private Equity: On the Cover, April 2015; Corporate Commercial Law, 2020
Notable matters
- Acted for large U.S. banks in connection with their acquisition and disposition of securities in Canadian based companies
- Acted for a large U.S. bank in connection with their disposition of a business division in Canada
- Acted for a large U.S. bank corporate private equity group in connection with various acquisitions and add-on transactions in Canada
- Acted for a large U.S. bank in its formation of an equipment financing business in Canada
- Acted for a Canadian bank in its acquisition of a financing business
- Acted for global insurance companies with respect to the issuance of M&A insurance policies
- Acted for Summer Street Capital Partners with the divestiture of its interest in Belmont Meats
- Acted for an emerging AI technology company in the publication and social media industry, with respect to successive issuance of securities
- Acted for an emerging e-commerce technology company in the consumer retail sector, with respect to successive issuance of securities and collaboration and commercialization mandates
Corporate directorships
- Past Director – Independent Living Residences for the Deaf/Blind (Ontario)
Professional memberships
- Canadian Bar Association
- Law Society of Ontario
Bar admissions & education
- Ontario Bar, 1993
- LL.M. (Taxation), Osgoode Hall Law School, 1997
- LL.B., University of Windsor, 1991
- B.A., York University, 1988
