Michael E. Burke
Michael Burke is a Partner in the Financial Services Group in the Toronto office of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. His practice primarily focuses on securitization and asset-based lending/leasing transactions and the development of wholesale and retail (consumer) lending/leasing programs. Michael is the longest serving Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s PPSL Committee, whose submissions have been responsible for virtually all major amendments that have been made to Ontario’s PPSA over the last two decades. Michael is on the Board of Regents of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers (ACCFL), is a member of the Legal Committee of the Canadian Finance & Leasing Association (CFLA) and, until 2021, was on the CFLA’s Board of Directors. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Lenders Association from its formation until 2023. For over a decade, Michael has been recognized by his peers and clients as one of Canada’s top securitization and lease/finance lawyers, including by Chambers Global, Chambers Canada, Best Lawyers, Lexpert and Who’s Who Legal. For his extensive work in these areas (including his publications and speaking engagements), he was inducted in 2016 as a Fellow of ACCFL. For 2020, he was named by Best Lawyers as its 2020 Equipment Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Toronto, repeating the same honour that he had received for 2015 from Best Lawyers. Since 2016, Michael has been rated as a “stand-out lawyer by senior in-house counsel” by Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer (formerly known as Acritas Stars: Independently Rated Lawyer). Michael was selected as one of CFLA’s “Members of the Year” in 2010 for developing the Leasing Law and Leasing Documentation materials for CFLA’s education program.
Adam Jackson
Adam Jackson is a Partner in the Financial Services Group in the Toronto office of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. His practice primarily focuses on securitization and asset-based lending/leasing transactions. Adam advises equipment lessors and lessees on the establishment of lending/leasing programs for motor vehicles and other types of equipment. He also advises financial institutions, captive finance companies and equipment lessors on inventory finance and the securitization of fleet and consumer leases and loans. In 2023, Adam has been recognized for Asset Securitization and Asset Equipment Finance/Leasing by Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, for Asset-Based Lending and Structured Finance Law by The Best Lawyers in Canada, and for Securitization by Chambers Canada.
Danielle Butler
Danielle Butler is a senior associate in the Financial Services Group in the Toronto office of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. Danielle’s practice primarily focuses on securitization and assets-based lending/leasing transactions. She advises sellers and purchasers on public and private securitization transactions involving various asset classes, including auto loans and leases, residential and commercial mortgage loans, credit cards and trade receivables. Danielle was recognized as a “One to Watch (Banking and Finance Law)” by The Best Lawyers in Canada 2023 and in Euromoney’s Rising Stars Expert Guide 2022 (Structured Finance and Securitization).