Overview

Chris Borden is the leader of McInnes Cooper’s Aerospace & Defence Group, working at the intersection of industry, government, and innovation. Chris is a respected corporate and commercial lawyer with a practice spanning energy, natural resources, and the rapidly evolving aerospace and defence sector. With more than 30 years of experience, he advises clients on complex transactions, regulatory strategy, and critical operational matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, compliance, and dispute resolution.

Chris is also closely engaged with innovation initiatives such as NATO’s DIANA program and collaborations with organizations like COVE, helping bridge the gap between early-stage dual-use technology companies and the procurement and regulatory pathways required to commercialize their innovations. He spoke at NATO DIANA’s security conference in Munich about the defence procurement eco-system in Canada. His work in this area reflects a broader focus on how Atlantic Canada can leverage its innovation capacity to contribute to national and allied defence objectives.

Chris has served in leadership roles at McInnes Cooper, on its board of directors and more recently as the Office Lead Partner of McInnes Cooper’s Moncton office. He brings a pragmatic, business-focused perspective to both firm leadership and client work, grounded in his experience as in-house counsel to a regional downstream oil company and an international aquaculture enterprise. This background informs his ability to translate complex legal and policy developments into clear, actionable strategies for clients operating in highly regulated and rapidly evolving industries.

Chris enjoys spending time with clients and getting to know their business and the industry in which they operate. Through his experience as in-house counsel, Chris continues to lead with a strong understanding that strategic solutions are the successful by-product of collaboration between legal and multi-disciplinary resources.

Chris has completed the Directors Education Program with the Institute of Corporate Directors and obtained his Qualified Arbitrator designation from the ADR Institute of Canada.

Practice Areas

• Corporate & Commercial Law
• Natural Resources & Energy
• Securities

Bar Information

Called to the bar: 1995 (NB); 1998 (NS)