What Size of Transactions Does Outsiders Law Handle?

Outsiders Law's M&A practice focuses on Alberta's lower mid-market: transactions with an enterprise value of $2M and above. While all M&A transactions are complex and require significant work, this is the price point at which legal issues can be properly handled without breaking the client's budget. While Outsiders Law will always be practical and client-centric, we will not cut corners on a deal in order to get the work.

Why the Lower Mid-Market?

The lower mid-market is underserved in Alberta. Large firms focus their best resources on transactions above $100M. General practice firms lack the depth of M&A experience that transactions in the $2M to $100M range require. The business owners navigating these transactions are often doing it for the first time, with the highest financial stakes of their lives, against buyers who have done it many times before.

That gap is exactly where Outsiders Law was built to operate.

What About Smaller Transactions?

Not every transaction fits the same mould. A $3M deal is not necessarily simpler than a $15M deal. Many smaller transactions are more complex because of the financial constraints faced by buyers: vendor take-back financing, earnout provisions, top-up targets, and clawbacks all add layers that a straightforward cash deal at a higher price does not require. A business owner selling a $3M business deserves the same quality of counsel as one selling a $30M business. We evaluate every mandate on its own merits.

What Makes a Transaction Right for Outsiders Law?

The transactions we do best are the ones where: (1) the legal, payment mechanics, and tax dimensions are genuinely complex, (2) the client values experience and senior lawyer involvement over the lowest possible hourly rate, and (3) where the stakes are high enough that getting it right matters more than getting it done cheaply.

That typically means private Alberta businesses with enterprise values of $2M and above, owner-operators selling or acquiring a business, and transactions in which the payout or tax structure has a material impact on the after-tax outcome.

The Right Fit Matters

We are not the right firm for every transaction, and we will tell you that directly if we are not. What we will never do is take on a file we are not equipped to handle, or underservice a client because the transaction is not large enough to justify our full attention.

If you are thinking about a transaction and want to understand whether Outsiders Law is the right fit, the best way to find out is a conversation. That conversation is free, and it will give you a clear picture of what we can do for you and what it will cost.

The best time to have it is now.

For more on the M&A process, visit our Mergers & Acquisitions page or our Selling Your Business in Alberta page.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not create a solicitor-client relationship and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice tailored to your specific transaction or circumstances. If you're navigating the complexities of M&A, remember that the details matter. For expert guidance, feel free to contact Outsiders Law.