Lawyer Profile
Leila Rafi
Toronto, Ontario
Overview
Leila Rafi practices securities laws and has a highly transactional practice. She advises on corporate finance, regulatory and corporate governance matters frequently. In 2022, Leila was named one of “Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada for Business Law”. Among many other distinctions, she is also recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2022-2026) as a leading lawyer in the area of corporate law.Leila has an expertise in investment fund and asset management with considerable experience advising privately offered funds and investment dealers (both foreign and Canadian). Also, she assists managers with respect to their regulatory obligations and ongoing compliance.Leila sits on the Advisory Board for the Expansive Women Project and is a mentor for the University of Toronto Women’s Association. She also sits on the Board of VersaFi (formerly Women in Capital Markets) and the Board of GEM – Girls E-Mentorship. On GEM she is the head of the Corporate Governance Committee as well.Currently, Leila is adjunct professor for an introductory securities regulations course at Western University law school. Formerly, she taught an introductory securities law course at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Alexander Lincoln School of law and at Queen’s University law school. Previously, for about five years, Leila was as an adjunct professor for the advanced business law course offered by the University of Windsor law school and the January term securities law course at the University of Western Ontario law school.From 2019 to 2021, Leila served a three-year term on the Securities Advisory Committee, which provides advice to the Ontario Securities Commission on legislative and policy initiatives and capital market trends.This bulletin provides key highlights of the CSA's Staff Notice 25-315 - 2025 Annual Activities Report on CIRO and CIPF.CSA announces Blanket Order 31-930 allowing Exempt Market Dealers to participate in Selling Groups in Prospectus Offerings will not be extended.A summary of the Federal Court of Appeal's decision regarding psychedelic assisted psychotherapy in Toth v. Canada, 2025 FCA 119.
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 2006 (ON)