Goodman Phillips & Vineberg acts for Diamond Fields in ground-breaking deal

Top 10 Canadian firm Goodman Phillips & Vineberg (GP&V) claims to be handling the two largest acquisitions Canada has seen this year, including the single largest take-over in Canadian history.

The two deals, which involve five mining companies, have a combined value of over Can$6 billion.

Both deals are being led by a securities partner from GP&V's Toronto office, Steve Halperin.

Halperin is representing Diamond Field Resources, which is the target of a Can$4.5 billion take-over bid by Canadian mining company Inco.

The Inco offer follows a Can$4.2 billion offer by Falconbridge.

A GP&V spokesman said there was speculation that Falconbridge would increase its offer. "The Diamond Field deal is the largest acquisition in Canadian history," he said.

Falconbridge already owns a small part of Diamond Field he added.

Diamond Field owns the mining rights to the world's largest deposit of nickel and minerals.

Halperin is also acting for US company Battle Mountain Gold in its Can$2 billion take-over of Canadian company Hemlo Gold Mines.

Meanwhile, the co-chair of GP&V, Dale Lastman, has been selected as one of Canada's top 40 leaders under 40 years old.

Lastman was the only lawyer selected in the awards, sponsored by Toronto-based management consulting firm Caldwell Partners International and Canadian newspaper The Financial Post.