Sherri M.
Altshuler*
Partner
* Practising as a professional corporation
About
Sherri is Co-Leader of the firm’s Capital Markets, Cannabis and Life Sciences Groups and a member of the Corporate Group, advising clients on complex transactional and strategic matters across a range of industries. She is known for delivering practical, business-focused solutions and for managing sophisticated, time-sensitive mandates with precision and efficiency.
Sherri’s practice focuses on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate and commercial matters, with significant experience in public and private financings, corporate reorganizations and securities law compliance. She regularly represents issuers and investors in public and private offerings, reverse takeovers and stock exchange listings, and advises on continuous disclosure and corporate governance matters.
Sherri regularly works with clients across a broad range of industries, including real estate investment trusts (REITs), cannabis, life sciences, technology and mining. She advises companies at all stages of growth, from emerging ventures to established public issuers, on financing strategies, regulatory requirements and strategic transactions. Sherri’s experience includes numerous cross-border securities offerings, M&A transactions involving U.S. and international acquirors of Canadian businesses and assets, and advising companies expanding into Canada.
Sherri has received consistent recognition from leading legal directories. She is recognized by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading lawyer in Corporate Finance & Securities, Corporate Mid-Market and Corporate Commercial Law, and is featured in Lexpert Special Editions for Finance & M&A, Technology & Health Sciences and Mining. Sherri is recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for Securities Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Law and Cannabis Law. She is ranked by Chambers Canada and The Legal 500 Canada for her work in the cannabis sector. She was previously named one of Lexpert’s Rising Stars: Canada’s Leading Lawyers Under 40.
Sherri is a frequent speaker on capital markets, regulatory developments and emerging industries, and is regularly sought out as a media commentator on legal issues. Her insight into securities regulation is informed by her prior secondment with the Corporate Finance Branch of the Ontario Securities Commission. Sherri has served on the TSX Venture Exchange Ontario Advisory Committee and the Ontario Securities Commission’s Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, and previously taught Corporate Finance at Windsor Law.
Professional Involvement
Professional Activities
- President's Counsel, The Duke of Edinburgh's Emerging Leaders' Dialogues Canada
- Member, Osgoode Certificate in Cannabis Law and Regulation Advisory Board
- Member, TSX Venture Exchange Ontario Advisory Committee
- Member, the Ontario Securities Commission's Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, 2016, 2017 and 2018
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- International Cannabis Bar Association
- Women in Capital Markets
- Women Lawyers of Interlaw
Community Involvement
- The Arthritis Society (Ontario), Board of Directors
- Planning Committee, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, Freedom Day event
- Event host/coordinator, Holocaust Education Week, education program
Teaching Engagements
- Special Lecturer, "Corporate Finance," University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018
Panellist, "Cannabis Capital: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," Cannabis Law Institute 2026, June 17, 2026.
Speaker, "Negotiating Effectively," Women in Leadership Conference, Career Women Interaction (CWI), June 9, 2026.
Panellist, "Anticipating and Navigating Legal Risks in International Transactions," Cannabis Law Institute 2024, July 25-26, 2024.
Panellist, "Women Professionals & Lawyers Discuss the "Second Shift" as Family Caregivers," Aird & Berlis Women’s Initiative, November 30, 2023.
Panellist, "Canada: What Federal Legalization Looks Like 4 Years Later and What Have We Learned," Cannabis Law Institute 2023, June 10, 2023.
Speaker, "Medical Marijuana and Other Issues Relating to Cannabis," Interlaw 2023 EMEA Regional Meeting, June 8, 2023.
Speaker, "Psychedelics: A Complex and Changing Regulatory Landscape Focused on Scientific Research and IP Protection," Aird & Berlis LLP Psychedelics Webinar, January 18, 2023.
Panellist, "Raising Money: Inside and Outside the Box," The Cannabis Law Sessions, MJBizCon Las Vegas, November 15, 2022.
Panellist, Third Annual Psychedelics/Biotech Risk Management Panel by Purves Redmond Limited, June 6, 2022.
Speaker, "Update on Psychedelics: Science and Capital Markets," Aird & Berlis LLP Psychedelics Webinar, November 23, 2021.
Speaker, "Cannabis Sector Update: M&A, Financing, Legal Matters & More," Aird & Berlis LLP Cannabis Webinar, October 28, 2021.
Speaker, "Business Law - Finance 201: Business Fundamentals - Finance and M&A," International Cannabis Bar Association webinar, October 15, 2021.
Co-moderator on "The Science of Psychedelics: How Law & Science Support the Sector," Aird & Berlis LLP Virtual Industry Update Webinar, September 22, 2020.
Speaker, "Unpacking Cross-Border Cannabis Sector Class Action Risks," Aird & Berlis LLP Cannabis Webinar, June 16, 2020.
Speaker, "The Rise of the Psychedelics Sector," Aird & Berlis LLP Virtual Industry Update Webinar, June 10, 2020.
Speaker, "The Cannabis Sector’s Public Policy Response to COVID-19: Canada, U.S. and International Impact," Aird & Berlis LLP Cannabis Webinar, May 21, 2020.
Speaker, Mayer Brown's "All Things Canada Webinar", February 27, 2020.
Moderator, "Raising Capital: What Investors Are Looking For," Lift & Co. Cannabis Business Conference, January 8, 2020.
Speaker, “Current Challenges and Opportunities for M&A Activity in the Cannabis Industry,” Aird & Berlis LLP Cannabis Webinar, December 5, 2019.
Speaker, "International Cannabis Bar Association Webinar," November 21, 2019.
Speaker, "Capital Markets and Public Offerings," International Cannabis Bar Association, The Cannabis Law Institute, October 4, 2019.
Speaker, "Cross-Border Finance: Moving Money," International Cannabis Bar Association, The Cannabis Law Institute, October 3, 2019.
Speaker, "Important Issues the Cannabis Sector Needs to be Aware of in Canada and Around the World," Northwind’s Inaugural Cannabis Invitational Forum, September 25-27, 2019.
Moderator, "Cannabis Industry Update," Global Growth in the Cannabis Market Assembly & Mixer, September 5, 2019.
Speaker, "Going Public in Canada," Canadian Capital Markets Team Talk, July 16, 2019.
Speaker, "Can We Expect More Investments in the Cannabis Market?," World Cannabis Congress, June 18, 2019.
Speaker, "Access to Capital Markets in the United States and Canada," The Cannabis Law Sessions, MJBizConNEXT New Orleans, June 11, 2019.
Speaker, Closing Remarks, Lift Cannabis Business Conference," June 6, 2019.
Moderator, "How to Thrive in the Canadian Cannabis Retail Market," Aird & Berlis LLP Cannabis Webinar, April 18, 2019.
Presenter, Luncheon Address, Laurentian Bank Securities Annual Institutional Investor Conference, April 4, 2019.
Speaker, “Going Public in Canada,” Aird & Berlis LLP Cannabis Webinar, February 6, 2019.
Moderator, “Business Growth Strategies: Collaborations, Partnerships, M&A’s,” LIFT Vancouver, January 11, 2019.
Speaker, "The Canadian Real Estate Industry: Soaring to New Heights," Aird & Berlis LLP Real Estate Webinar, October 31, 2018.
Co-presenter on “Oh Canada, Oh Cannabis, A Primer on Going Public in Canada” and “Financing & Investment” at the National Cannabis Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Institute conference, September 8, 2018 in Washington, DC.
Speaker, “Deals, Mergers and Acquisitions for Cannabis Businesses,” O’Cannabiz Business Conference and Expo, June 8, 2018.
Speaker, “Cannablitz: The Lightning Round” and “Passport to International Considerations,” MJBizConNEXT conference, National Cannabis Bar Association, May 9, 2018.
Speaker, “Myth-Busting the Cannabis Sector on International Cannabis Day,” Aird & Berlis LLP Cannabis Webinar, April 20, 2018.
Speaker, “Mergers and Acquisitions in the Canadian Cannabis Sector,” Aird & Berlis LLP Cannabis Webinar, March 21, 2018.
Speaker, "Investing in Cannabis 101: Seed Money and More," Lift Cannabis Business Conference, January 12, 2018.
Speaker, “Branding in the Cannabis Sector: Regulations, Restrictions and Tips on How to Market Your Brand,” Aird & Berlis LLP Cannabis Webinar, December 5, 2017.
Speaker, "Deals, Mergers and Acquisitions for Cannabis Businesses," Grow Up Cannabis Conference & Expo, October 6, 2017.
Speaker, "Introduction to Canadian Cannabis Law," Cannabis Law Institute presented by the National Cannabis Bar Association and co-sponsored by the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in Denver, Colorado, July 29, 2017.
Moderator and speaker, "Deals, Mergers and Acquisitions," Cannabis Law Institute presented by the National Cannabis Bar Association and co-sponsored by the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in Denver, Colorado, July 29, 2017.
Speaker, “Introduction to Securities Law,” In-house Student Seminars, July 6, 2017.
Speaker, Young Women in the Law Speed Mentoring Event, June 27, 2017.
Speaker, "Key Factors for a Successful IPO - What CEOs Need to Know Before Going Public," RBC Dominion Securities - The Network Exchange, June 27, 2017.
Speaker, "Law of the Land,” 2nd Annual Young Presidents’ Organization Cannabis Summit 420, April 2017.
Speaker, "Pay Equity and Women's Economic Empowerment," Aird & Berlis LLP Women in Business Webinar, November 2016.
Speaker “Introduction to Securities Law,” In-house Student Seminars, July 21, 2016.
Speaker, “Retaining Female Leaders,” Women in Leadership Conference, April 14, 2016.
Speaker, “Advanced Topics in the Law of Commercial Finance 2016,” The Commons Institute, February 26, 2016.
Course Leader and Speaker, “Preparing Key Documents in Private Placements and Public Offerings,” 7th Mastering Transactions for Law Clerks and Legal Professionals, Federated Press, February 17-18, 2016.
Speaker, “Networking & Developing Strategic Relationships,” 3rd Women & Leadership in the Legal Profession Conference, November 25, 2015.
Speaker “Introduction to Securities Law,” In-house Student Seminars, July 30, 2015.
Speaker, “Compliance with Regulatory Disclosure: Recent Developments,” 240 Minutes on Mining Law Conference, February 20, 2015.
Speaker, “Preparing Key Documents in Private Placements and Public Offerings,” 6th Mastering Transactions for Law Clerks and Legal Professionals, Federated Press, December 9, 2014.
Speaker, “Preparing Key Documents in Private Placements and Public Offerings” 6th Mastering Transactions for Law Clerks and Legal Professionals, Federated Press, December 17 & 18, 2014.
Speaker, “Networking & Developing Strategic Relationships,” 2nd Women & Leadership in the Legal Profession Conference, November 26, 2014.
Speaker “Introduction to Securities Law,” In-house Student Seminars, July 17, 2014.
Speaker, “Building Successful Teams,” Leadership for Women Lawyers Conference: Making an Impact, April 24, 2014.
Speaker, “Preparing Key Documents in Private Placements and Public Offerings,” 5th Mastering Transactions for Law Clerks and Legal Professionals, Federated Press, December 10 & 11, 2013.
Speaker “Introduction to Securities Law,” In-house Student Seminars, July 10, 2013.
Speaker, “Preparing Key Documents in Private Placements and Public Offerings,” 4th Mastering Transactions for Law Clerks and Legal Professionals, Federated Press, December 5 & 6, 2012.
Speaker, “Nuts and Bolts of Closing Transactions,” August 21, 2012.
Speaker “Introduction to Securities Law,” In-house Student Seminars, July 11, 2012.
Speaker, “Managing the Due Diligence Process,” 3rd Mastering Transactions for Law Clerks and Legal Professionals, Federated Press, December 1 & 2, 2011.
Co-chair and Speaker, “Managing the Due Diligence Process,” 2nd Corporate Transactions for Law Clerks, Federated Press, December 20 and 21, 2010.
Co-chair and Speaker, “Managing the Due Diligence Process,” Corporate Transactions for Law Clerks, Federated Press, December 14 and 15, 2009.