Russell J.
Sanders
Partner
Russell is a corporate lawyer who enjoys connecting with clients to build long-lasting relationships. Backed by strong analytical and communication skills, Russell provides clients with comprehensive legal advice to help them achieve their business objectives.
Russell is a member of the firm’s Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions and Sports & Entertainment Groups. His practice is focused on mergers, acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, public and private financings and ongoing corporate and commercial matters. Russell has developed specialized expertise in capital markets transactions in the technology, cannabis, psychedelics, mining and REIT sectors, including with respect to board governance, securities and financing matters.
Russell regularly advises corporations on public offerings, private placement financings, flow-through financings, reverse takeovers, stock exchange listings (Nasdaq, TSX, TSXV, NEO and CSE), continuous disclosure, corporate governance and the formation and completion of qualifying transactions for companies established under the TSX Venture Exchange Capital Pool Company Program. He advises both domestic and international clients, ranging from small start-ups to large public companies.
In his growing sports law practice, Russell has assisted professional athletes with launching their business ventures outside the arena.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Russell is deeply committed to giving back to the community. He actively engages in charitable endeavours and finds great fulfilment in contributing to the betterment of society. Additionally, Russell shares his insights and expertise by blogging about securities law and sports law topics.
Professional Involvement
Memberships:
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- Sports Lawyers Association
- Association for Corporate Growth
Community Involvement:
- NextGen Co-Chair, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto Executive
- Committee Member, Unity Through Sport
Panel Judge, "Hockey Arbitration Competition," Osgoode Hall Law School's Entertainment and Sports Law Association, November 3-4, 2025.
Moderator, "2024 Leaders Lounge," UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and the Toronto Real Estate Leaders (TREL), April 18, 2024.
Co-Author with Gary Volman and Jacob Waltman, "Investing in Sports Franchises: Legal, Governance and Structural Considerations," Aird & Berlis LLP, Sports, Media & Entertainment Bulletin, April 9, 2026.
Co-Author with Stephen Zolf, Jonathan Kyriacou and Jordan Mamelak, "Investing in Canadian Sports Teams: Private Capital and the Investment Canada Act," Aird & Berlis LLP, The Spotlight, December 18, 2025.
Co-Author with Peter Czegledy and Lawson Cross, "Buying and Selling Stakes in Companies: A Guide for Athlete Investors and Enterprises," Aird & Berlis LLP, The Spotlight, August 26, 2025.
Co-Author with Adria Leung Lim and Stephen Zolf, "Glencore’s Acquisition of Teck: Impact on the Future of Mining Transactions in Canada," Aird & Berlis LLP, August 12, 2024.
Co-Author with Karlie Nordstrom, "Insider Tipping: Recent Ontario Capital Markets Tribunal Decision Provides Important Guidance for Public Companies and Insiders," Aird & Berlis LLP, Capital Markets Bulletin, November 8, 2023.
Author, "The Age of Athlete Entrepreneurship," Aird & Berlis LLP, The Spotlight, July 13, 2023.
Co-Author with Sean Green and Ali Kwinter, “Historic NFT Insider Trading Charges in U.S. of Relevance to Canadian Operators,” Canadian Securities Law News, no. 343, August 2022.
Co-Author with Portia Biswas, "Producers Can’t Sweeten the Deal: Updated Standards on Inducing Cannabis Retailers," The Lawyer's Daily, March 3, 2022.
Co-Author with Melanie Cole and Corey Fletcher, "Freely Trading Securities Without a Prospectus: CSA Proposes Efficient New Means of Raising Equity Capital for Canadian Public Companies," Corporate Securities & Finance Law Report, v. 26, no. 4, October 2021.
Co-Author with Sherri Altshuler and Jeffrey Merk, "CSA Highlights Need for Financial Interest Disclosure in Cannabis-Related M&A Transactions and Expresses Corporate Governance Concerns of Cannabis Issuers," Securities Law Bulletin, November 19, 2019.