Lawyer Profile
John F. Clifford
Toronto, Ontario
Overview
John Clifford is a highly experienced senior business lawyer, with recognized expertise in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate governance and antitrust / competition law. Known for his service-oriented and client-focused approach, John advises some of the world’s most renowned automotive companies based in Europe and Asia, clients in the business services, entertainment, financial services, franchising, technology and manufacturing sectors, and family offices on governance, structuring and transaction matters.In addition to assisting Canadian and international clients on domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, John provides counsel on debt financings and complex re-organizations. He also advises on establishing new businesses in Canada, including on compliance with Canada’s foreign investment review legislation and franchise laws.Internationally acknowledged for his expert knowledge and proficiency, John is recognized by Best Lawyers, Lexology (formerly Who’s Who Legal), Lexpert and other directories as a leader in Canadian M&A, corporate governance, and corporate / commercial law.John was co-chair of a Task Force of the American Bar Association’s M&A Committee (the Task Force was comprised of 40+ M&A deal lawyers) that updated the ABA’s Model Asset Purchase Agreement with Commentary, the second edition of which was published in April 2026. For seven years John chaired a working group of Canadian M&A deal lawyers that studied and developed reports for the ABA M&A Committee on trends in deal terms used in Canadian private company acquisitions.Over many years John has held various leadership and management positions at McMillan LLP, including head of the Business Law / M&A Group, Chief Marketing Partner, Chief Client Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. He was a founding member of and co-chaired the firm’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.In each of 2017 – 2021, John was named to the prestigious global list of OUTstanding Top 100 LGBT+ Executives, as presented by the Financial Times / Yahoo Finance, in recognition of his business achievements and impact on 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion within McMillan and externally. He received a Lexpert Zenith Award in 2016, in recognition of his efforts and accomplishments to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and in the same year was selected by Out On Bay Street to receive a “Leaders To Be Proud Of” Award in recognition to his achievements and community service within the 2SLGBTQ+ community.This bulletin provides an overview of Canada’s Competition Act and Investment Canada Act notification thresholds in 2026.As part of the Federal Budget 2025, significant changes were announced to the greenwashing provisions in the Competition Act .
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 1989 (ON)