Michael Osborne

Chair, Canadian Competition Practice

Recent News:

Four Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named to the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Shane Hardy, Michael Osborne, Steven Weisz, and Kevin Zimka were named to the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for 2023.

Michael helps businesses navigate competition (antitrust), foreign investment, and other regulatory regimes, and resolve commercial disputes. Michael's 25 years' experience and broad practice enable him to identify an achievable outcome that best aligns with his clients' goals, and to work towards achieving that outcome.  

Michael advises and defends clients from around the world in inquiries and proceedings commenced by the Competition Bureau, including criminal matters, abuse of dominance, and marketing and advertising matters. He defends clients in private proceedings under the Competition Act, including price fixing class actions. 

Michael helps clients obtain merger clearance under the Competition Act and the Investment Canada Act, including national security reviews under the Investment Canada Act.

Clients also seek out Michael's representation in a wide range of commercial disputes, including contractual disputes, shareholders' disputes, commercial fraud, and employment matters.

Michael has acted as trial and appellate counsel before all levels of court across the country, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He has tried several cases before the Competition Tribunal and appeared as counsel before arbitral tribunals in international and domestic arbitrations, both institutional and ad hoc. He is also qualified as an arbitrator. 

Michael frequently speaks and writes on competition law and commercial litigation topics.

Michael earned his law degree from Dalhousie University, his master's degree in medieval studies from the University of Toronto, and his undergraduate degree in philosophy, with high honors, from the University of Saskatchewan. Following law school, Michael was a law clerk to the late Honorable Justice John Sopinka with the Supreme Court of Canada. He is bilingual in English and French.

Before joining the firm, Michael was a partner at a leading Canadian national firm. 

News

Four Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named to the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

March 14, 2023

Shane Hardy, Michael Osborne, Steven Weisz, and Kevin Zimka were named to the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for 2023.

Six Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Chambers Global Rankings

February 22, 2023

Chambers Global has recognized six Cozen O’Connor attorneys: Susan Eisenberg (Miami – Labor & Employment), Geoffrey Ferrer (New York – Transportation & Trade), Shane Hardy (Toronto – Intellectual Property), Michael Osborne (Toronto – Antitrust & Competition), Joseph Tilson (Chicago – Labor & Employment), and Steven Weisz (Toronto – Bankruptcy & Restructuring) as worldwide leaders in their respective practices.

Canada to Increase Penalties for Non-compliance with FDI Reviews

February 01, 2023

Michael Osborne and Samuel Bogetti were quoted in a Foreign Investment Watch article discussing the new guidelines the Canadian government issued for their national security review process.

Will the Rogers Ruling Drive Competition Reform?

January 26, 2023

Michael Osborne was quoted in a National Magazine article discussing the Federal Court of Appeal’s ruling to uphold the decision to allow the Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications’ merger and the effect it could have on the Competition Commissioner’s ability to advocate for reform.

Rogers and Shaw Win Merger Case at Federal Court of Appeal

January 25, 2023

Michael Osborne was quoted in a Toronto Star article discussing Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications’ victory at the Federal Court of Appeal, which upheld a ruling in favor of their merger.

Rogers-Shaw Deal Gets Lift as Court Rebuffs Antitrust Appeal

January 24, 2023

Michael Osborne was quoted in a Bloomberg article discussing the dismissed appeal by a Canadian appeals court in the Roger-Shaw Communications merger.

Supreme Court Unlikely to Want to Take On Rogers-Shaw Case: Competition Lawyer

January 24, 2023

In a video interview with BNN Bloomberg, Michael Osborne, chair of the firm’s Canadian Competition Practice, discussed the dismissal of the Competition Bureau’s appeal seeking to overturn the Competition Tribunal’s approval of Rogers Communications Inc.’s proposed merger with Shaw Communications Inc

Rogers-Shaw, Canada Regulator to Duke It Out in Federal Court Over C$20 Billion Bid

January 23, 2023

Michael Osborne was quoted in a Reuters article discussing the Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications’ appeal, which will be heard tomorrow in a Federal Court of Appeal in Ottawa.

Competition Bureau Appeal of Rogers-Shaw Approval to Be Heard Jan. 24

January 04, 2023

Michael Osborne was quoted in a Financial Post article discussing the Competition Bureau’s appeal of a tribunal decision to approve the merger between Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc.

Appeal in Rogers-Shaw Takeover Set for Jan. 24

January 03, 2023

Michael Osborne was quoted in an article published by The Globe and Mail that discusses the Competition Bureau’s appeal to the tribunal’s decision to permit a proposed $20 billion deal between Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc.

Tribunal ‘Smackdown’ Raises Odds of Rogers-Shaw Deal Closing, Experts Say, as Appeal Date Set

January 03, 2023

Michael Osborne was quoted in a Toronto Star article discussing the substantially increased odds of the Rogers-Shaw deal closing.

Don’t Expect Minister Champagne to Second Guess the Tribunal: Competition Lawyer on Rogers-Shaw Deal

December 30, 2022

In a video interview with BNN Bloomberg, Michael Osborne, chair of the firm’s Canadian Competition Practice, discussed his view on the Competition Tribunal not opposing the Rogers-Shaw $20 billion deal.

Rogers-Shaw Hearings Not So Public Despite Tribunal’s Pledge to Hold Open Process

November 18, 2022

Michael Osborne was quoted in a Globe and Mail article discussing the increased interest and confidentiality aspects of the Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. public hearing.

Cozen O'Connor's Recent Canadian Growth Featured on Law.com International

November 16, 2022

In the article, "Foreign Firms Making Waves in Canada's Mid-Market" Law.com discusses Cozen O'Connor's recent growth in Toronto and Vancouver.

Federal Judge Asks Rogers and Shaw to Provide Evidence Supporting Competition Bureau’s Proposed Relief

November 04, 2022

Michael Osborne was quoted in an article published by The Globe and Mail that discusses a recent request for Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. to address proposals from Canada’s anti-competition watchdog to resolve a dispute.

Veteran Litigator Michael Osborne Joins Commercial Litigation Department

October 17, 2022

Osborne has defended leading pharmaceutical, banking, and technology enterprises based in Canada, the U.S., and Asia in high-stakes litigation.

Publications

The Turning of the Tide? Price-Fixing Class Actions in the Canadian Courts

February 27, 2023

Michael Osborne contributed an article to Lloyd’s List Intelligence Competition Law Insight, discussing the potential change for a more balanced, less plaintiff-friendly approach to the certification process for price-fixing class actions.

Getting Ready for Canada’s Upcoming Ban on Wage-Fixing & No-Poach Agreements [Alert]

February 17, 2023

Wage-fixing and no-poach agreements will be illegal and subject to criminal penalties in Canada as of June 23, 2023.

Opinion: Industry Committee Has No Business in Rogers-Shaw Merger Review [Financial Post]

January 24, 2023

Michael Osborne contributed an article to Financial Post discussing the new hearings held by the House of Commons Standing Committee in the Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications merger.

Canada Gets Tough on Chinese Investors [Alert]

January 23, 2023

New policies and changes to Investment Canada Act to block Chinese control of critical minerals supply chains.

Canada Proposes Sweeping National Security Updates to Investment Canada Act [Alert]

January 23, 2023

Foreign investors in Canadian businesses are set to face tougher national security review provisions under the Investment Canada Act.

Competition Bureau Is Likely to Lose Its Appeal in Rogers-Shaw Takeover

January 23, 2023

Michael Osborne contributed an article to The Globe and Mail discussing the Competition Bureau’s appeal in the Rogers-Shaw Communications merger.

Commissioner’s Appeal of Rogers-Shaw Decision Likely to Fail [Alert]

January 17, 2023

The Commissioner’s appeal is scheduled to be heard on January 24, 2023. Read our prediction on the outcome of this appeal.

Rogers-Shaw-Videotron Deal will Increase Competition, Tribunal Finds [Alert]

January 17, 2023

The Commissioner of Competition had applied for a full block of the Rogers-Shaw-Videotron deal. The Tribunal rejected every allegation made by the Commissioner.

Guide for Internal Investigations of White Collar Crime

December 19, 2022

Michael Osborne contributed three sections, Multi-Jurisdictional Investigations, Employee Witnesses and Upjohn Warning, and Data Protection and Privacy, and provided edits to the Canadian Bar Association’s “Guide for Internal Investigations of White Collar-Crime.”

Technicality Likely Won’t Decide Rogers-Shaw-Quebecor Case [Financial Post]

November 14, 2022

Michael Osborne contributed an article to The Financial Post discussing the Commissioner of Competition’s challenge to the Rogers Shaw acquisition.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

The 26th Annual Course on Written Advocacy

November 01, 2022 - Webinar

Plenary: Contentious and High Stakes Mergers

October 20, 2022 - Ottawa, ON

Industry Sectors

Education

  • Dalhousie University, LL.B., 1996
  • University of Toronto, M.A., 1991
  • University of Saskatchewan, B.A., high honors, 1988

Awards & Honors

Best Lawyers in Canada (Competition/Antitrust)

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Competition)

Chambers Canada (Competition/Antitrust)

Chambers Global (Competition – Litigation)

Lexpert Special Edition, Litigation

Martindale Hubbell, AV Peer Review Rated

Who's Who Legal: Canada (Competition)

  • Ontario

Honourable John Sopinka, Supreme Court of Canada

American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, Vice Chair, Books & Treatises Committee

Association des juristes d'expression francaise de l'Ontario 

Canadian Bar Association, Competition Law Section and Anti-Corruption Team

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Fellow

Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow

Order of St. John, Canada, Member

Ontario Bar Association

The Advocate's Society

Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society (TCAS)

International Centre for Dispute Resolution Canada, Arbitrator