Gesta Abols

Gesta Abols is a partner at Fasken in Toronto and Co‑Leader of the firm’s Cross‑Border Practice. He advises private equity firms, strategic acquirers, boards of directors and special committees on complex mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance matters and strategic investments. His practice has a particular focus on cross‑border transactions, and he regularly acts for international investors and their counsel on Canadian mandates.  Gesta is widely recognized as a leading transactional lawyer in Canada, including by Chambers Canada, The Legal 500, Lexpert and Best Lawyers. His work spans public and private M&A, shareholder activism and high‑stakes negotiated transactions, including mandates involving special committees and conflicted situations.  In addition to his practice, Gesta is actively involved in legal and policy development. He serves as an advisor to the Ontario Securities Commission through its Securities Advisory Committee and is a member of the American Bar Association’s Mergers and Acquisitions Committee, where he co‑chairs the Canadian Private Target M&A Deal Study. He is a frequent speaker and writer on developments in M&A and corporate governance. Gesta holds a JD from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and a BA (Honours) in Economics from Queen’s University.