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Christopher Ramsay

Partner

Christopher Ramsay is a senior partner at Clark Wilson LLP, where he chairs the firm’s Insolvency & Restructuring and Fraud & Asset Recovery groups.

Chris is an accomplished insolvency, business and litigation lawyer with over 25 years of experience advising financially troubled businesses in need of restructuring. He represents a wide range of stakeholders in contentious insolvency and fraud matters, including corporations, bondholders, creditors, financial institutions, investors, purchasers of distressed assets, boards of directors, and insolvency professionals. Chris has extensive experience in restructurings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act of Canada.

He has represented clients in almost every industry, including:

  • mining
  • real estate
  • retail
  • forestry
  • aviation
  • cryptocurrency
  • manufacturing
  • cannabis
  • technology

He has significant cross-border insolvency experience under Chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy Code and has worked extensively with United States counsel on cross-border insolvency and fraud proceedings. Chris is a member of the Insolvency Institute of Canada, Canada’s premier insolvency organization, which is drawn from the top experienced insolvency professionals in Canada.

Chris has prosecuted numerous significant and complex international fraud cases and is one of only four designated Canadian members of the International Chamber of Commerce’s FraudNet. He has years of experience investigating fraud, tracing and recovering proceeds worldwide, and implementing extraordinary international recovery strategies such as Mareva injunctions, Anton Piller orders, Norwich discovery orders, and tracing orders.

Chris regularly presents on topics related to fraud and insolvency and is a leading expert in Canada on Ponzi schemes and investor recovery. His peers nationwide consistently recognize Chris as a Best Lawyer® in Canada and in Lexpert for his extensive work in insolvency, business litigation, fraud, and asset recovery.

Work Highlights

Huldra Mining CCAA

  • Acted as counsel to the mining debtor in its restructuring under CCAA proceedings.

League Group of Companies CCAA

  • Acted as counsel to the Monitor in CCAA proceedings involving the complex restructuring of real estate investment vehicles across Canada.

Yukon Zinc Corporation Receivership

  • Acted for an Australian purchaser of mining assets in adversarial proceedings involving the sale of mining assets.
View more work highlights >
Services
Insolvency and restructuring Corporate restructuring
Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
Cross-border insolvency proceedings, including Chapter 11 proceedings under the United States Bankruptcy Code Distressed M&A transactions, including board of directors for both the target and acquiring entities, and creditors including bondholders under trust indentures
Multi-jurisdictional fraud matters Asset recovery and tracing
Commercial bankruptcies Receiverships
Creditors’ rights Debtor protection
Security enforcement

 

Awards & Distinctions
  • Best Lawyers® in Canada, Banking and Finance Law, 2020-2026, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, 2019-2026, Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law, 2015-2026
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal as one of the leading insolvency lawyers in Canada
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal as one of the leading fraud/asset recovery lawyers in Canada
  • Member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) FraudNet
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Huldra Mining CCAA
  • Acted as counsel to the mining debtor in its restructuring under CCAA proceedings.
League Group of Companies CCAA
  • Acted as counsel to the Monitor in CCAA proceedings involving the complex restructuring of real estate investment vehicles across Canada.
Yukon Zinc Corporation Receivership
  • Acted for an Australian purchaser of mining assets in adversarial proceedings involving the sale of mining assets.
Canadian Dehua International CCAA
  • Acted for an international purchaser of mining assets involving metallurgical coal interests in Tumbler Ridge, BC.
Soccer Express CCAA
  • Acted as counsel to the largest sports retail company in Canada in highly contested but successful proceedings involving post-filing critical supply under the CCAA.
True Leaf CCAA
  • Acted as counsel to the cannabis company in CCAA proceedings involving cannabis grow and retail operations, leading to a sale of the company’s assets.
Speakeasy CCAA
  • Acted as counsel to the cannabis company in CCAA proceedings involving cannabis grow and retail operations.
Energold Drilling CCAA
  • Acted for the first secured noteholder in the complex reorganization and ultimate sale of international mining and drilling assets.
Purewal Blueberry Farms
  • Acted as counsel to the debtor in CCAA proceedings, ultimately leading to a sale of the farm assets and an approved plan of arrangement to its creditors.
Shop Your Mortgage Ponzi Scheme
  • Represented the largest investor and creditor in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in Canada, successfully placing the company and its operations into receivership.
Sunrise/Saskatoon Apartments Limited Partnership
  • Acted as counsel to the Sunrise Corporate Group in CCAA proceedings involving the restructuring of over CA$200 million in secured debt.
New Future CCAA
  • Acted as counsel to the companies in CCAA proceedings involving the restructuring and ultimate sale of over $100 million in real estate assets.
Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) CCAA
  • Acted for the landlord of one of the largest retail operations in Alberta, opposing the disclaimer of leases in highly contested CCAA proceedings.
British Columbia Currency Exchange (BCCE)
  • Acted for the trustee in bankruptcy involving a currency exchange business that was, in reality, a sophisticated Ponzi scheme operating as a front for a real estate investment scheme.
Rashida Samji Bankruptcy
  • Acted for the trustee in bankruptcy in relation to a fraudulent Ponzi scheme orchestrated by a licensed Notary Public in British Columbia. Successfully litigated and recovered millions of dollars from investors who had profited from the scheme, leading to precedent-setting law on Ponzi schemes in Canada.
Law Society of British Columbia
  • Acted for the Law Society in the bankruptcy and successful recovery of funds in the Martin Wirick bankruptcy. Mr. Wirick was a real estate lawyer in British Columbia who breached his undertakings, leading to millions of dollars in losses to financial institutions and individuals.
Quest University Canada
  • Acted for a post-secondary institution in the restructuring of Quest, a private not-for-profit institution, under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA).
Ian Gregory Thow
  • Acted for several investors in the $100 million Ponzi investment fraud perpetrated by Mr. Thow.
Anderson Square CCAA
  • Acted for the developer in litigation and trial involving the termination of pre-sales under REDMA. This eventually led to a successful proposal in bankruptcy.
BC Transit
  • Acted for BC Transit as co-counsel with U.S. insolvency counsel in relation to the Proterra bus manufacturing company’s Chapter 11 proceedings in the United States and the supply of electric buses.
Canwest Aerospace CCAA
  • Acted for the aviation parts repair and supply company in contested receivership and CCAA proceedings.
Care Lending Group
  • Acted for the Receiver in proceedings involving health and drug clinics in Northern British Columbia and allegations of fraudulent billing by the operators.
Coromandel Group of Companies CCAA
  • Acted as counsel to the Coromandel companies, which operated a real estate development business with over $900 million in secured debt.
Big Ridge Brewing Company
  • Acted for the trustee in bankruptcy in relation to a wine and brewery operation.
Atom Holdings
  • Acted as counsel to the Cayman Islands Joint Official Liquidators in multi-jurisdictional cryptocurrency asset tracing and cross-border recognition proceedings. Using the international provisions of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, successfully obtained Anton Piller and Mareva injunction orders in relation to stolen cryptocurrency.
Teal Jones CCAA
  • Acted for a significant stakeholder in relation to site remediation.
Orion Engineered Carbons GmbH
  • Acted for a German company, the victim of a multimillion-dollar fraud, in international fraud asset recovery proceedings.
Catalyst Paper
  • Acted as co-counsel for the Committee of First Lien Secured Noteholders in the group’s high-profile and complex successful restructuring under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in Canada and Chapter 15 proceedings in the U.S.
Bankruptcy of Euro-Rite Cabinets CCAA
  • Acted for the principals and founder in bankruptcy proceedings leading to a successful sale and investment transaction.
Structurlam U.S. Chapter 11 Proceedings
  • Acted for a significant creditor group in the United States bankruptcy proceedings.
Medipure CCAA Proceedings
  • Acted for the Trustee under the Proposal and subsequent CCAA Monitor in relation to the reorganization and sale of a pharmaceutical company.
World Properties Ltd.
  • Acted for the Cayman Islands liquidators in international insolvency proceedings involving the tax-driven sale of international operations, including real estate development and farming businesses.
Foxtrot Farms Receivership
  • Acted for the Receiver and Trustee in relation to a vineyard and retail operation involving the alleged fraudulent transfer of assets encumbered by a first-priority security interest.
Grupo Schahin U.S. Chapter 15 Bankruptcy
  • Acted for the Brazilian trustee in bankruptcy tracing the fraudulent transfer of assets in Canada following fraud investigations into the state-owned oil company Petrobras.
The Boeing Company
  • Acted for Boeing in relation to the restructuring of credit facilities and supply agreements with a large Canadian aerospace equipment supplier.
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation CCAA
  • Acted for the debtor in a complex real estate development in the Okanagan, BC.
Teliphone Navigata Westel Communications (TNW) CCAA Proceedings
  • Acted for TELUS in highly contested, adversarial CCAA proceedings involving TNW, which provided internet, phone, and television services and was engaged in a commercial dispute with TELUS.
Weyerhaeuser
  • Acted for RBC in relation to contentious and complex insolvency proceedings commenced in the Supreme Court of Barbados with respect to Weyerhaeuser and its captive insurance company.
Interclaim
  • Acted for Interclaim in relation to the prosecution of international bankruptcy proceedings against Blair Down, a reseller of lottery tickets in Vancouver who targeted elderly customers in the United States.
View more >
Awards & Distinctions
  • Best Lawyers® in Canada, Banking and Finance Law, 2020-2026, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, 2019-2026, Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law, 2015-2026
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal as one of the leading insolvency lawyers in Canada
  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal as one of the leading fraud/asset recovery lawyers in Canada
  • Member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) FraudNet
Industry Involvement
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Canadian Bar Association, member, 1996 - Present
  • Canadian Bar Association of British Columbia, member, 1996 - Present
  • International Bar Association
  • INSOL
  • Turnaround Management Association
External Publications
  • Co-author, Navigating Cross-Border Insolvency in the Digital Age: Insights from Atom Holdings, published in in LexisNexis’ National Creditor Debtor Review, 2025
Education & Call to Bar
  • Call to Bar: British Columbia, 1996
  • Calls to Bar: London, England, 1990