CL Talk

Why Indigenous equity and gaming M&A in BC will set a precedent across the country

Jan 27, 2026

   

In this episode of CL Talk, Canadian Lawyer managing editor Tim Wilbur sits down with McCarthy Tétrault partner Pavan Jawanda to unpack a seismic shift in British Columbia’s gaming sector: First Nations moving from revenue-sharing arrangements to equity ownership and operational control of major casino assets. Jawanda, who has advised on the first seven First Nations casino M&A deals in BC, discusses how these transactions differ from conventional deals, why they require building timelines backwards from regulatory approvals, and how a generational investment horizon changes governance, risk, and community consultation. He also outlines how this Indigenous ownership model in gaming could influence deals in other regulated industries across Canada, including infrastructure and energy, as well as real estate.

Allison Speigel on flat fees, fast decisions, and what Big Law can't match

Allison Speigel on flat fees, fast decisions, and what Big Law can't match

Jun 16, 2026

Litigator Allison Speigel joins host Tim Wilbur to talk through how a small firm uses flat-fee billing, quick decisions, and plain talk with clients to take on the country's largest firms

Erin Cowling on small firms, AI, and the freelance edge

Erin Cowling on small firms, AI, and the freelance edge

Jun 02, 2026

Flex Legal's Erin Cowling joins CL Talk on AI billing fights, the shiny-object trap, and why freelance counsel are senior strategists

Matthew Peters on the AI tools McCarthy Tétrault's lawyers are actually using right now

Matthew Peters on the AI tools McCarthy Tétrault's lawyers are actually using right now

May 26, 2026

A candid conversation with one of Canada's leading legal innovators on what AI looks like inside a major firm

Harvey Brownstone: Canada's first openly gay judge speaks without prejudice

Harvey Brownstone: Canada's first openly gay judge speaks without prejudice

May 19, 2026

The retired judge’s memoir lays bare the failures of family and criminal courts

How associates really succeed: a candid conversation with Paul Karvanis

How associates really succeed: a candid conversation with Paul Karvanis

May 05, 2026

A coach, speaker and former Bay Street lawyer on why it is not just about knowing the law