Laurance J. Yakimowski, K.C.
Partner
Laurance Yakimowski has extensive professional experience providing strategic counsel and advice to commercial and corporate clients in a diverse range of commercial law related matters, with a special emphasis on corporate, securities, commercial real estate, financing and secured transaction laws.
Laurance serves clients in a range of industries including agricultural products and services, automotive, financial services, food, industrial equipment, industrial products and services, manufacturing and processing and real estate.
Laurance is particularly knowledgeable on the process and legal strategies for financing entities and projects, structuring transactions, implementing internal tax oriented capital reorganizations and acquiring and selling businesses and business related interests and assets. Laurance also has valuable experience in negotiating and constructing a wide range of commercial agreements for buyers, sellers, investors, lenders, lessors, shareholders, partners and joint venturers.
Laurance is regularly consulted on securities law matters. He has acted as special counsel in relation to a secondary offering arising from a significant privatization. Laurance acts as agent counsel for issuers, underwriters, selling shareholders and investors in public offerings and private placements, and in advising on securities regulation in the Province of Saskatchewan and interfacing with Saskatchewan Securities Regulator, the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority.
Laurance has been involved in many commercial real estate and financing transactions. He has provided counsel in negotiating and completing sale and purchase transactions and loan transactions and is experienced in structuring loan agreements, sale and purchase agreements, security and mortgage agreements and in effecting real property and personal property public registry registrations.
Within Kanuka Thuringer LLP, Laurance has held management responsibilities, including terms on the firm’s management team.
* Kanuka Thuringer LLP is a partnership of professional corporations.*
Memberships
- Member of the Canadian Bar Association
- Member of the Saskatchewan Law Society
- Member of the Canadian Tax Foundation
Recognition and Appointments
- Appointed by Minister of Justice as Queen’s Counsel (2012)
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in Canada as “Lawyer of the Year” 2021 and 2023 – Securities Law, Regina
- Best Lawyers in Canada – Recognized as leading lawyer in the areas of Corporate Law and Securities Law (2012-2025)
Education
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Saskatchewan (1976)
- Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)(Distinction), University of Saskatchewan (1973)
- Admitted to Saskatchewan Bar (1977)
Community Involvement
- Director of Emmett Mooney Foundation (private foundation) (1996-present)
- Director/Chairman of John Paul II Adult Education Centre (1994-1999)
- Director of Saskatchewan Express (2004-2007)
- Director of Santa Maria Long Term Care facility (2003-2006)
- Director/Chair of Martha House (private care home) (1993-2004)
- Director of Regina Chamber of Commerce (1994-1999)
- President of Regina Chamber of Commerce (1998-1999)
- Director of Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce (1994-1999)
- Director of Junior Achievement Saskatchewan (1989-1992)
- Director/Vice-Chair of Board of Regents of Campion College (federated college of University of Regina) (1984-1988)
Publications and Presentations
Laurance has prepared papers and spoken at conferences through the course of his career in the legal profession. Activities have included the following:
- 2010 – Participated in Canadian Bar Association Webinar Conference relating to International Financial Reporting Standards and changes affecting audit inquiry letters
- 2010 – Participated as group leader in Saskatchewan Legal Education Society (“SKLESI”) sponsored seminar relating to Ethics and Conflicts of Interest for corporate/commercial lawyers
- 2010 – Presented internal seminar on effect of national Harmonized Sales Tax (“HST”) on Saskatchewan based practice
- 2010 – Participated in Saskatchewan Law Society Webinar Conference related to HST and impact on Saskatchewan legal profession
- 2008 – Delivered presentation to Regina Branch of Canadian Bar Association related to “Solicitor’s Opinions”
- 2007 – Co-authored and presented “Commercial Opinions” paper – Saskatchewan Legal Education Seminar
- 2006 – Co-authored and presented “Shareholders Agreements – Exit Considerations” paper – Saskatchewan Legal Education Seminar
Representative Work
Some of Laurance’s significant projects have involved:
- Assisting national petroleum products supplier with real property acquisition
- Assisting national office services entity in negotiation of commercial lease arrangements
- Advising land development entity in sale of land development parcels
- Negotiating sale of industrial lands in coordination with US based manufacturer and national lender
- Advising investor/shareholder/joint venture groups with respect to investor/shareholder/joint venture arrangements
- Acting on acquisition of automobile dealership interest and subsequent business combination of interests
- Representing purchaser in acquisition of forestry interests and facilities
- Representing seller in sale of automobile dealer assets
- Representing various issuers as agent counsel in the Province of Saskatchewan in respect of private placement offerings in various industries
- Representing various issuers as agent counsel in respect of prospectus-based public offerings in the Province of Saskatchewan in various industries including financial services, natural resources, mining, technology, gaming, pharmaceutical, telecommunications and health care enterprises
- Advising on shareholder dispute matters and development of approaches
- Advising national interest in relation to commercial lease practices and issues
- Advising on executive officer arrangements related to western regional and US operations entity
- Advising on the acquisition of commercial real estate facilities relating to international agricultural manufacturing facility