Background

Martin Donner is a Senior Counsel, now in his fortieth year with BLG (and previously Ladner Downs), at our Vancouver office. Martin was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 1973. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Laws in 1972. Prior to that, he attended Simon Fraser University from 1966 to 1969.

Areas of Practice

• Martin practises in all areas of corporate, commercial and business law including corporate acquisitions, divestitures and reorganizations.  He often advises clients on shareholder and partnership agreements and shareholder and partnership dispute resolution.
• Martin advises both large and small corporations on the problem-solving of day to day and long term legal issues.
• Martin has since the formation of BLG been the National Head of BLG’s Asia Pacific Team.

Rankings and Recognitions

• Recognized in the 2010 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Corporate Commercial Law)
• In 2008 Martin was nominated by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for the Giving Hearts Award in the category of Outstanding Philanthropist
• In 2008 Martin received the HELM award in the category of Lifetime Achievement for his community work.

Professional Experience

• Martin has a varied and interesting business law practice, ranging from advising large corporations on acquisitions and reorganizations to acting for individuals about to embark in business. He advises clients in many industries including manufacturing, distributing, forestry and service providers to the mining industry.
• A major part of Martin's practice is acting for companies in the process of acquiring or disposing of significant assets, often encompassing large divisions or operations both inside and outside of British Columbia.
• A significant part of Martin’s practice is advising upon and implementing corporate reorganizations to achieve the strategic objectives of clients. Often these reorganizations are very complex.
• Martin also advises clients on matters involving shareholder and partnership disputes, and dispute resolution.
• Martin acts for a considerable number of foreign companies doing business in British Columbia and has acted for many companies acquiring businesses or investing in People's Republic of China, Taiwan and the United States.

Professional Activities

• Martin has led or participated as a speaker in many Continuing Legal Education programs and seminars including:
  • Buying and Selling Businesses;
  • Shareholder Agreements and Disagreements and issues affecting Partnerships and how to resolve Partnership Disputes;
  • What To Do When The Deal Falls Apart?
  • Negotiation Techniques; and
  • How To Close A Commercial Transaction.
• Martin has written about and given seminars on “How to Negotiate with Difficult People” .
• Martin co-wrote with Paul Lowry “A Conversation on Ethics In the Negotiation Context”.
• Martin has had a long association with the Law School of the University of British Columbia and has taught the following courses:
  • Basic Company Law Course - 1980 - 81
  • Business Associations I (Basic Company Law) - 1989 - 91
  • Corporations II (Advanced Company Law) - 1994 - 95
  • Corporations I (Basic Company Law) - 1998 - 99
  • Corporations II (Advanced Company Law) 2002.
• Martin has also been a guest lecturer at UBC Law School on dozens of occasions in areas of commercial and corporate law practice.
• Martin is a member of the Canada China Business Council and the Hong Kong Canada Business Association. He is a former Vice President and Director of the Hong Kong Canada Business Association.

Community Activities

• Martin founded and co-chairs the BLG Annual Charity Volleyball Challenge which benefits many charities.  He is also a past member of the Advisory Council for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Diamond Ball.  Martin chaired the 2002 ISRAELNOW Telethon Campaign, and was a member of the Vancouver, B.C. Solidarity Mission to Israel in 2002. 
• Martin is a Past President of the Vancouver Chapter of the United Ostomy Association of Canada. 
• Martin is very active in helping a wide variety of charities including Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, United Way and Down Syndrome Research Foundation.   Martin has on several occasions been a Guest Speaker at fundraisers for Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and Down Syndrome Research Foundation.