Lawson Lundell Lawyers Publish Comprehensive M&A Outlook for Canada in 2026 with Lexpert
Lawson Lundell partner Amaan Gangji, and associates Katherine Zhou and Crystal Szeto, offer strategic insights on deal recovery, regulatory complexity, and key sectors shaping the Canadian M&A landscape.
They shared their legal insight in a Lexpert article titled, “M&A in Canada: What to Expect in 2026.” The publication provides a timely and authoritative analysis of current trends and challenges driving M&A activity across the country.
Drawing on deep experience in Canadian corporate law and transactional practice, our lawyers examine the forces driving a cautious but meaningful recovery in deal activity following a period of subdued market conditions:
- Market Recovery: Deal volume and value have picked up steadily since late 2025, with pent-up demand converting into completed transactions as buyers and sellers close valuation gaps.
- Sectors to Watch: Critical minerals, energy, agribusiness, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and defence and aerospace are identified as key areas of deal activity, reinforced by Canada’s $180 billion Defence Industrial Strategy.
- Regulatory Complexity: Amendments to the Competition Act and Investment Canada Act are reshaping how transactions are structured and timed, with national security review now a threshold consideration for foreign acquirers.
- Trade Policy: While markets have largely adapted to tariff uncertainty, the upcoming CUSMA review and remaining sectoral tariffs continue to introduce complexity into cross-border deal planning.
- Certainty of Execution: In a heightened regulatory and geopolitical environment, early and disciplined transaction planning has become the defining competitive advantage.
The 2026 M&A environment presents real opportunities for strategic acquirers, but successful execution will depend on careful planning, regulatory awareness, and disciplined transaction structuring from the outset.
Read more here.