Max Portner

Max advises both public and private companies on initial public offerings, reverse takeovers, qualifying transactions, prospectus offerings and asset and share purchase sales. He also advises clients with respect to corporate governance matters, securities regulation, continuous disclosure obligations and stock exchange requirements. Max has worked with clients across a wide range of industries, including biotechnology, mining, digital health, cannabis, consumer beverages and wellness products, fintech, cryptocurrency and blockchain, life sciences and real estate investment trusts. He has also represented registered securities dealers in listings and offerings. 

Prior to joining MLT Aikins, Max practised at a large regional B.C. firm where he focused on public listings, prospectus offerings, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions. After completing his articles at an international law firm in its Vancouver office, he worked at a corporate/commercial boutique law firm where he advised startups and early-stage technology companies with a focus on venture capital financings. 

Max was born and raised in Vancouver and obtained his Juris Doctor from Queen’s University. Prior to law school, he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria, earning a double major in political science and sociology. 

• A TSX Venture Exchange Tier 2 mining issuer in two overnight marketed offerings for total proceeds of over $10 million by way of short form prospectus and prospectus supplements* 

• A biotechnology company in its Canadian Securities Exchange listing by way of long form prospectus and concurrent subscription receipt financing* 

• A mining company in its initial public offering and TSX Venture Exchange listing by way of long form prospectus* 

• A health and wellness company in a reverse takeover and Canadian Securities Exchange re-qualification for listing of subordinate voting shares with multiple concurrent financings* 

• An underwriter in a TSX Venture Exchange qualifying transaction and concurrent subscription receipt financing by a digital health issuer* 

• An agricultural technology issuer in a reverse takeover and Canadian Securities Exchange listing by way of non-offering prospectus and concurrent special warrant financing* 

• An omnichannel digital health company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange with multiple underwritten offerings of common shares by way of short form prospectus* 

• A water company in its US$11.5 million prospectus offering of common shares by means of Canadian MJDS base shelf prospectus and U.S. shelf registration statement* 

• A beverage company in an amalgamation and its non-offering listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange by way of long form prospectus* 

• A blockchain technology company in its initial public offering and listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange by way of long form prospectus* 

• An oil and gas reserves company in its non-offering direct listing on the TSX Venture Exchange as a Tier 2 issuer* 

• A beverage and supplements company in a re-qualification for listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange following a reverse takeover and fundamental change and concurrent $10.5 million non-brokered private placement of subscription receipts* 

• A medical device company in its initial public offering and listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange by way of long form prospectus* 

• A health technology company in its TSX Venture Exchange qualifying transaction and concurrent $11.8 million brokered private placement of subscription receipts and $15 million concurrent non-brokered private placement of secured convertible debentures* 

• A private Canadian technology company in its sale to a technology company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange* 

• A private Canadian technology company in its $17 million Series D financing* 

• A private Canadian technology company in its $27 million Series A financing* 

• An overseas venture capital firm in its investment in a private technology company* 

• An overseas venture capital firm in its investment in a fintech company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange* 

• Over ten private Canadian technology companies in Seed financing rounds* 

• Over fifteen private Canadian technology companies in early-stage SAFE, convertible debt, and angel investor financing rounds* 

 *Prior to joining MLT Aikins LLP 

• Member, Law Society of British Columbia
• Member, Canadian Bar Association
• Member, Vancouver Bar Association
• Past volunteer, Access Pro Bono
• Past caseworker, Queen’s Legal Aid
• Past coach and instructor, Real Basketball League