Virgil Hlus

Chair, Canadian/U.S. Cross Border

Vancouver

(236) 317-6894

(604) 674-9245

Recent News:

14 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch in Canada

Best Lawyers Canada has named 14 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from the firm’s Toronto and Vancouver offices in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada©.

Virgil has been a trusted business advisor and advocate for his corporate clients for over 30 years. Whether a company wants to go public, engage in a reverse takeover, a restructuring, conduct a cross-border financing or listing, or complete a tax-driven spin-off, Virgil makes it happen with efficiency and precision, all while providing exceptional client service. His clients appreciate his commitment to giving sensible, commercial solutions to the challenges that arise at all stages of complex business transactions. His strong network enables him to connect clients with opportunities and make strategic introductions, especially in the financial, mining, and business sectors.

Prior to joining Cozen O'Connor, Virgil was a partner with one of Western Canada's leading law firms, where he concentrated his practice on complex corporate restructurings, domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, public and private financings, go public transactions, mining transactions and corporate governance matters. He also served in several key leadership roles, including co-chairing the capital markets, securities, mergers and acquisitions practice, chairing the U.S. practice, the mining practice, and the venture capital and emerging company services practice, and co-chairing the family office practice. His experience serving on several corporate advisory boards provides him with unique insight into capitalizing on market opportunities and overcoming challenges.

Virgil earned his B.Com. in finance and accounting from the University of Alberta and his L.L.B. from the University of British Columbia.

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Experience

Represented ThinkEquity LLC, a New York-based boutique investment bank, as placement agent’s counsel in its $6 million (USD) private placement of Vision Marine Technologies Inc., a producer of electric outboard marine engines.


Represented ThinkEquity LLC, a New York-based boutique investment bank, as placement agent’s counsel in its $3 million (USD) follow-on public offering of BriaCell Therapeutics Corp., a clinical-stage immune-oncology company.


Served as underwriter’s counsel to ThinkEquity LLC, an investment bank, in follow-on public offerings of securities of BriaCell Therapeutics Corp., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, for aggregate proceeds of $22.1 million (USD).


Handled the sale of a Canadian CSE company's mining assets to an Australian mining company and the subsequent spin off of the Australian mining company's shares.


Represented a U.S. database software company in a go public transaction by way of a qualifying transaction on the TSX Venture Exchange.


Represented a U.S. beverage company in a go public transaction by way of a reverse takeover on the TSX Venture Exchange.


Handled numerous public and private capital raising transactions for a green EV company listed on the Nasdaq.


Handled numerous ATM offerings in the United States, acting for both the issuer and for investment banks.


Handled numerous shelf and short form offerings in the United States and Canada.


Handled numerous listings of U.S. and foreign companies on NYSE, Nasdaq, OTCQX, OTCQB, CBOE, TSX, TSX Venture Exchange, and CSE.


Handled the reorganization and spin off of assets to form a new cobalt refinery company by way of a plan of arrangement by reduction of capital.


Handled numerous spin offs of assets and subsidiary companies in Canada and the United States.


News

14 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch in Canada

September 03, 2025

Best Lawyers Canada has named 14 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from the firm’s Toronto and Vancouver offices in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada©.

The Canadian Lexpert Directory Names Eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers to its 2025 Edition

March 13, 2025

Brian Fast, Rory Godinho, Shane Hardy, Virgil Hlus, Cam McTavish, Michael Osborne, Lucy Schilling, and Steven Weisz have been recognized as leaders in their respective fields and for their prominence in their practice areas and professional organizations.

17 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch in Canada

September 04, 2024

Best Lawyers Canada has named 17 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from the firm’s Toronto and Vancouver offices in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada.

Cozen O’Connor Significantly Expands its Footprint in Canada With the Strategic Addition of 13 Lawyers and 9 Staff Members to its Vancouver Office

September 03, 2024

The incoming group is led by international finance, M&A, and mining attorney Virgil Hlus, international finance and M&A attorney Cam McTavish, and family attorney Chantal M. Cattermole.

Publications

What Canadian High Net Worth Families Should Know About the U.S. One Big Beautiful Bill [Alert]

August 08, 2025

Chantal Cattermole and Virgil Hlus discuss new U.S. tax legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill, which significantly impacts Canadian high net worth families with cross-border ties.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

Education

  • University of British Columbia, LL.B., 1994
  • University of Alberta, B.Com, 1990

Awards & Honors

Best Lawyers in Canada: Securities Law (2021–2026)

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Corporate Finance & Securities (2021–2025)

  • California
  • British Columbia

Make-A-Wish Foundation Canada, B.C. and Yukon Chapter, Advisory Board Chair