Melanie
Cole
Partner
Whether advising her clients on public and private financings, mergers and acquisitions, or corporate commercial matters, Melanie takes a client-first approach and makes their priorities her own. She is quick-thinking, highly responsive and skilled at providing her clients with the information they need to make business decisions that matter.
Melanie is Co-Leader of the firm’s ESG & Sustainability Group and Chair of the Associates Committee. She is also a member of the firm’s Capital Markets, Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups, as well as a number of industry groups, including the Life Sciences, Cannabis and Mining Groups. Melanie practises corporate and securities law with a focus on public and private financings, mergers and acquisitions, ongoing securities and continuous disclosure, corporate governance, and going-public transactions, including reverse takeovers and initial public offerings. She advises domestic and international clients, ranging from small startups to large public companies, including those listed on the TSX.
Outside of her practice, Melanie is deeply committed to community engagement. She actively contributes to the charitable sector and serves as a mentor to junior lawyers. Melanie is a Director of the Eating Disorders Foundation of Canada, a charity dedicated to funding evidence-based care, advancing research and raising awareness about eating disorders in Canada. She is also Past Chair of the Breast Cancer Support Fund.
Prior to her legal career, Melanie was a legislative advisor to a federal cabinet minister.
Professional Involvement
Memberships
- OSC Small Business Advisory Committee
- International Bar Association
- International Cannabis Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Director of the Eating Disorders Foundation of Canada, a charity committed to raising funds to support evidence-based care for, research into and increased awareness about eating disorders in Canada.
- Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Breast Cancer Support Fund, a charitable organization whose mission is to support breast cancer patients on their journey to wellness by providing short-term financial support, educational workshops and by raising awareness about the impact of the environmental factors affecting breast cancer.
- Past Chair of the Board of Directors of On-Track Career and Employment Services, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to facilitate sustainable employment opportunities for marginalized populations in Malvern, a high-priority neighbourhood in Scarborough.
Co-Presenter, "ESG & DEI in 2026: Relevance, Risk and Responsibility," Aird & Berlis LLP ESG & Sustainability Webinar, December 3, 2025.
Co-Presenter, "From Risk to Opportunity: ESG as a Growth Strategy," Aird & Berlis LLP ESG & Sustainability Webinar, November 28, 2024.
Speaker, "ESG and Sustainability Issues: A Canadian Lens," Brazil Lithium Summit, June 12-13, 2024.
Speaker, "Canada's New Modern Slavery Act: Does It Apply to You?" EDA's Directors Summit, May 2, 2024.
Interviewee, "The Future of ESG for Canadian Businesses," Lexpert TV, November 27, 2023.
Speaker, "Ethical Issues when Buying or Selling a Business," OBA 7th Annual Professional Issues for Business Lawyers, October 23, 2019.
Speaker, "The Canadian Cannabis Industry: A Crash Course for Employers Outside the Sector," Cannabis at Work: One Year Later, October 15, 2019.
Speaker, "One Degree of Separation: An Ancillary Industry Wisdom Panel," Lift & Co. Cannabis Expo, June 7, 2019.
Speaker, "Closing Remarks," Lift Cannabis Business Conference, June 6, 2019.
Speaker, "Grant Thornton Industry Day: Cannabis," May 22, 2019.
Moderator, "Bringing Products to Market: Medical and Recreational," Lift & Co. Cannabis Expo, January 12, 2019.
Speaker, "Ethical Issues when Buying or Selling a Business," OBA 6th Annual Professionalism Issues for Business Lawyers, October 23, 2018.
Speaker, "Young Women in Law Speed Mentoring Event," September 26, 2018.
Speaker, "Buying and Selling a Business: A Comprehensive Guide," OBA Business Law Program, March 8, 2018.
Speaker, "Women in Business: Overcoming Gender Stereotypes and Social Constructs in Leadership," Aird & Berlis webinar, September 19, 2017.
Speaker, "Managing a Closing," In-house seminar, September 28, 2017.
Speaker, "Introduction to Securities Law," In-house seminar, July 6, 2017.
Speaker, "Introduction to Capital Markets," In-house seminar, May 15, 2017.
Speaker, "Women in Business: Creating a Network of Allies," Aird & Berlis webinar, April 6, 2017.
Speaker, "Buying and Selling a Business: A Comprehensive Guide," OBA Business Law Program, March 27, 2017.
Speaker, "Managing a Closing," In-house seminar, August 25, 2016.
Speaker, "Introduction to Securities Law," In-house seminar, July 21, 2016.
Speaker, "Legal Lens on Women's Health – The Stress of Success: Taking It to Heart," Aird & Berlis webinar, May 26, 2016.
Speaker, "Managing a Closing," In-house seminar, August 27, 2015.
Speaker, "Managing a Closing," In-house seminar, August 28, 2014.
"Key Lessons From the First Reporting Year Under Canada’s Mandatory Supply Chain Reporting Regime," co-authored with Nadia Narain and Essber Essber, ESG Bulletin, November 20, 2024.
"How ESG Considerations Can Impact and Create Value in M&A Transactions," co-authored with Gary Volman, Nadia Narain and Aaron Hirshberg, ESG Bulletin, April 9, 2024.
"First Reports Under Canada’s Mandatory Supply Chain Reporting Regime Due by May 31, 2024," co-authored with Nadia Narain, Aird & Berlis LLP, February 21, 2024.
"The 2023 Canadian Environmental Reporting Landscape: OSFI Guideline B-15 and ISSB Global Sustainability Reporting Framework," co-authored with Nadia Narain, Key Developments in Environmental Law, 2023 Edition, Thomson Reuters.
"The Evolving Landscape of ESG: Trends, Standards and Legislative Developments," Lexpert, January 31, 2024.
"Progress in Standardizing Voluntary ESG and Sustainability Reporting," co-authored with Amy Marcen-Gaudaur, Nadia Narain and Alyssa Marchese, Capital Markets Bulletin, September 2023.
“A Closer Look at OSFI Guideline B-15: Climate Risk Management," co-authored with Gary Volman, Kanika Sharma, Angela Oh and Nadia Narain, Capital Markets Bulletin, June 2023.
"ESG and Capital Raising: An Overview of the Unique Sustainable Finance Tools Available to Canadian Businesses," co-authored with Amy Marcen-Gaudaur and Karlie Nordstrom, Capital Markets Bulletin, May 2023.
"Responsible Sourcing and Supply Chain Diligence: What Canada's Proposed Anti-Forced and Child Labour Legislation Could Mean for Your Business," co-authored with Nadia Narain, Capital Markets Bulletin, March 2023.
"Proposed Climate-Related and ESG Disclosure Requirements: Insights and Guidance for Junior Mining Issuers," co-authored with Jackson Phillips and Nadia Narain, Capital Markets Bulletin, March 2023.
"TSXV Revises Rules for Security Based Compensation: Implications for the 2022 Proxy Season and Beyond," co-authored with Sean Green and Angela Oh, Capital Markets Bulletin, February 2022.
"Disclosure of Non-GAAP Financial Measures: A Practical Guide to National Instrument 52-112," co-authored with Sean Green and Al Turnbull, Aird & Berlis LLP Capital Markets Bulletin, January 2022.
"Rethinking Diversity in Canada’s Capital Markets: Beyond Gender," co-authored with Amy Marcen-Gaudaur and Meredith McCann, Aird & Berlis LLP Capital Markets Bulletin, November 2021.
"Modernizing Ontario’s Capital Markets: Capital Markets Act (Ontario)," co-authored with Meredith McCann, Capital Markets Bulletin, November 2021.
"Freely Trading Securities Without a Prospectus: CSA Proposes Efficient New Means of Raising Equity Capital for Canadian Public Companies," co-authored with Russell Sanders and Corey Fletcher, Corporate Securities & Finance Law Report, v. 26, no. 4, October 2021.
“Oh Cannabis: Reasons to ‘Grow’ in Canada,” MjBizCon Las Vegas, November 2018.
"How to Get it Right - Increased Use of Rights Offerings Leads to New Guidance By the CSA," co-authored with Daniel Everall and Liam Tracey-Raymont, Aird & Berlis LLP Securities Law Bulletin, June 2017.
"OSC Reports Uneven Use of New Prospectus Exemptions," co-authored with Daniel Everall, Liam Tracey-Raymont and Jonathan Yantzi, Aird & Berlis LLP Securities Law Bulletin, June 2017.
"CSA Publishes Proposed Amendments to Form 45-106F1 Report of Exempt Distribution," co-authored with Daniel Everall and Liam Tracey-Raymont, Aird & Berlis LLP Securities Law Bulletin, June 2017.
"TSX Publishes Proposed Amendments to Personal Information Form, Declaration and TSX Listing Application," co-authored with Daniel Everall, Liam Tracey-Raymont and Gobind Ahuja, Aird & Berlis LLP Securities Law Bulletin, June 2017.
"More to Offer: Recent Changes to the Offering Memorandum Exemption in Canada," co-authored with Daniel Everall, Aird & Berlis LLP Securities Law Bulletin, December 2015.
“Getting it Right: CSA Amends the Prospectus-Exempt Rights Offering Regime,” co-authored with Daniel Everall, Aird & Berlis LLP Securities Law Bulletin, November 2015.
"TSXV Amends Policy 5.1 - Loans, Loan Bonuses, Finders Fees and Commissions," Aird & Berlis LLP's Securities Law Bulletin (April 9, 2015).
"TSXV Amends Policy 4.1 - Private Placements," Aird & Berlis LLP's Securities Law Bulletin (April 9, 2015).
"National Instrument 58-101: New Disclosure Rules for Board Renewal and Diversity,"
Aird & Berlis LLP's Securities Law Bulletin (April 9, 2015).
"OSC Announces Consultation Regarding Women on Boards and in Senior Management Positions of TSX-Listed Companies," Aird & Berlis LLP's Securities Law Bulletin (August 2013).
"Toronto Stock Exchange Issues Guidance on Director Election and Disclosure Requirements," Aird & Berlis LLP's Securities Law Bulletin (July 2013).
“TSX Venture Exchange Implements Amendments to Incentive Stock Option Policy,” Aird & Berlis LLP's Securities Law Bulletin (May 2013).