Aird Berlis Logo in white
Aird McBurney Logo
  • Home
  • People
  • What We Do
    • Practice Areas & Industries
    • Representative Matters
  • Who We Are
    • About Aird & Berlis
    • Firm Values
    • Accolades
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • International Reach
    • Commitment to Community
  • Insights
    • All Insights
    • Firm News
    • Publications
    • Videos
    • Events & Webinars
    • Subscribe
    • Doing Business in Canada
  • Join Us
    • Students
      • Summer
      • Articling
      • In Their Own Words
      • Resources
      • Contacts
  • Contact Us

Randy
Williamson

Partner
  • rwilliamson@airdberlis.com
  • 416.865.7705
Office:
  • Toronto Office
Call to Bar:
Admitted to the Ontario Bar: 1990
  • Share this page
    • LinkedIn
    • X (Twitter)
    • Facebook
    • Email
WILLIAMSON_Randy-1159-web
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. People
  4. >
  5. Bio
  6. >
  7. Randy Williamson

Randy draws upon 35 years of experience as a legal adviser, Chartered Professional Accountant, public company senior executive and three-time business owner to help his clients’ achieve their organizational objectives. Following a distinguished career in business, Randy has built a successful law practice by providing value to clients through strategic advice, so they may fulfill the mission of, add value to, or realize the value of their enterprise. Randy has a particular focus on Canada’s sustainability industries – renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean technology.

Randy is Co-Leader of the firm's Renewable Energy & Cleantech Group and a member of the Corporate Group. He advises private companies and their owner-managers, private equity and venture capital investors, as well as public issuers, on acquisitions and divestitures, senior and subordinated debt and equity financings and business structuring matters. He also helps clients settle shareholder, partnership, joint venture, outsourcing, distribution and licensing arrangements.

Randy previously owned and operated three business services companies, outsourcing critical operating, marketing/communication and HR functions for businesses large and small. He has also served as a senior executive with a large, publicly-listed industrial products company, responsible for all corporate development and treasury/finance activities. Randy was originally trained as a Chartered Accountant, and holds CPA Canada’s Corporate Finance qualification. He has been a director and officer of several private and public companies and frequently speaks in business and legal settings on M&A and finance matters.

Randy is deeply involved in the community. He is currently a Governor, Board Executive Committee member and Land & Property Committee Chair at York University. He previously chaired its Pension Fund Board and the Endowment and Treasury Funds’ Investment Committee, as well as chairing the York University Alumni Board.

Randy has served as Board Vice-Chair of The Atmospheric Fund and member of its Investment Committee. He was a Governing Council member and Finance/Investment Committee Chair at St. James Cathedral, governing the investment of its endowment funds, and shepherding financing matters for the building of its Cathedral Centre. Randy was Board Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, and founded its Alumni program. He was twice named Toronto Big Brother of the Year, and received Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal for Community Service.

Expertise

  • Healthcare
  • Private Equity
  • Renewable Energy & Cleantech
  • Private Client
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Energy
  • Corporate

Representative Matters

Representative Matter

The Stevens Company Completes Majority Investment in Schaan Healthcare Products Inc.

On April 8, 2024, The Stevens Company Limited (The Stevens Company), a medical products distributor and equipment services provider based in Brampton, Ontario, completed its majority investment in Schaan Healthcare Products Inc., a family business based in Saskatoon offering similar products and services to health-care providers in Saskatchewan.

April 08, 2024

Professional Involvement

Memberships

  • Association for Corporate Growth
  • Canadian Solar Industries Association
  • Canadian Wind Energy Association
  • Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association
  • CPA Canada and CPA Ontario
  • Financial Executives International

Professional Activities & Community Involvement

  • Governor, Executive Committee member, Land & Property Chair, York University, Toronto
  • Pension Board Chair, Endowment/Treasury Funds Committee Chair, York University Alumni Board Chair, York University, Toronto (2005-2018)
  • Board Vice-Chair, Investment Committee member, Toronto Atmospheric Fund (2006 - 2013)
  • Governing Council Member, Investment, Finance & Audit Committee Chair, St. James Cathedral, Toronto (1999 - 2012)
  • Founding Board Chair, Big Brothers Big Sisters Alumni (2004 - 2013)
  • President, Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (now Enactus) (2003 - 2004)
  • Board Chair, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (1995 - 2003)
  • Founding Council Member, Ontario's Promise to Children and Youth (2000 - 2003)
  • Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal for Community Service (2002)
  • Director, Big Brothers of Toronto (1993 - 1997)
  • Toronto Big Brother of the Year (1990, 1991)

Moderator, ACG Family Office Reception/Panel, (2025).

“Tax Implications of Broadening of Corporate Registries,” Ontario Bar Association’s Institute (2020).

Moderator, Association for Corporate Growth, "U.S. Inbound Investing - Implications of USMCA, Tariff and other Trade Barriers," (2019).

Moderator, Business Transition Forum, "Strategic Buyers and Private Equity Purchasers," (2019).

Co-chair and Presenter, The Advocates' Society, "Understanding Financial Statements: A Litigator's Guide to Persuading with Numbers" (2012 - present).

"Understanding and Looking Behind Financial Statements," Masters Association of Ontario Conference  (2013).

"Drafting of Purchase and Sale Agreements," Osgoode Hall Law School, York University (2006 – 2012).

"Succession Planning," Financial Executives International SME Conference (November 2011).

Moderator, "Renewable Energy Information Forum," Niagara Region (January 2011).

Moderator, "Ontario's Long Term Energy Plan," Ontario Solar Network (January 2011).

"Contracts and Legal Issues of Participating in Solar, " Ontario Electricity Forum (September 2011).

"Financing Renewable Energy Projects," Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (February 2011).

Chair and Presenter, Canadian Institute, "Interpreting and Using Financial Statements in Legal Practice" (2010).

"Understanding Financial Statements," Canadian Bar Association Skilled Lawyer Series (2010).

"Solar Rooftop PV for Building Owners," National Green Building Conference (December 2010).

Keynote Speaker, Canadian Conference on Student Leadership, York University (2009).

"Mid-Market Corporate Finance, Current M&A Perspectives," ScotiaMcLeod Niagara (2008 - 2009).

"Corporate Finance – Perspectives on the M&A Process," Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (2007 – 2009).

Related Publications

Article

Venture Capitalists and Founders Beware: CBCA Mandates Public Disclosure of Significant Control

November 30, 2023

Article

Nevada's Net-Metering Decisions - A Not-so-Thin Edge of the Wedge

February 19, 2016

Education

  • Corporate Finance (CF) Qualification, CPA Canada, 2008
  • JD, Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, 1988
  • Chartered Accountant (CPA), 1984
  • B.Comm. (Hons), Queen's University, 1982
Aird Berlis Logo in white
Aird McBurney Logo
  • Toronto Office

    Aird & Berlis LLP
    Brookfield Place
    181 Bay St., Suite 1800
    Toronto, ON, Canada
    M5J 2T9
  • Vancouver Office

    Aird & Berlis LLP
    701 West Georgia St., Suite 1420
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    V7Y 1E4

  • People
  • What We Do
  • Who We Are
  • Insights
  • Join Us
  • Contact Us
  • Students
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Join us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on YouTube

All content © Aird & Berlis LLP. All rights reserved.

Aird McBurney is a trademark of Aird & Berlis LLP.

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Disclaimer
  • Responsible Use of AI

Developed by Cubicle Fugitive