Justine Johnston

Antitrust, Competition & Foreign Investment

Justine advises clients on all aspects of Canadian competition law, with a particular focus on obtaining competition clearance in domestic, cross‑border and multi-jurisdictional transactions, and criminal, civil and internal investigations. Recent investigations include allegations related to price fixing, employment agreements, and abuse of dominance. She also advises clients on compliance matters, including pricing, distribution and other trade practices.

Justine regularly advises clients on public interest reviews under the Canada Transportation Act, and Canadian foreign investment reviews under the Investment Canada Act, with recent experience guiding clients through industrial, cultural and national security processes and reviews. She also has significant experience working with government and public relations advisors in connection with securing regulatory approvals for high‑profile transactions.

Justine has extensive experience with e-discovery processes related to merger review, criminal and civil investigations, and internal compliance. Justine draws on her experience to facilitate clients’ compliance in a timely and efficient manner.

• Advising a client on competition, public interest and foreign investment review requirements for the sale of its Canadian agricultural business.
• Advising a Canadian client in defense of criminal investigation and civil class actions related to allegations of price fixing.
• Advising a Chinese state-owned enterprise on the competition and foreign investment review aspects of the sale of a majority interest in its Canadian critical minerals mine to a Chinese state-owned enterprise.
• Advised Sika AG on competition and foreign investment review aspects of its EUR 5.3 billion acquisition of the MBCC Group, and the divestment of MBCC's admixtures business in the United States, Canada, the UK, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand to Cinven.
• Advised Onex Corporation on regulatory requirements for its CAD 5 billion acquisition of WestJet Airlines Ltd. In particular, obtained competition clearance under the Competition Act, public interest approval under the Canada Transportation Act, and a determination from the Canadian Transportation Agency that the airline continued to meet Canadian ownership and control requirements.
• Advised Essilor International S.A. on competition and foreign investment review aspects of its EUR 46 billion global combination with Luxottica Group S.p.A.
• Advised Newmont Corporation on competition and foreign investment review aspects of its USD 10 billion merger with Goldcorp Inc.
• Advised a Canadian client on competition and public interest review aspects of the sale of its transportation business.

• Associate to Watch for Competition/Antitrust, Chambers: Canada – Nationwide (2025)
• Future Leader (Non-Partners) for Competition, Lexology Index (2025)
• Ones to Watch in Canada for Competition/Antitrust, Best Lawyers (2024, 2025)
• Future Leader (Non-Partners) for Competition, Who’s Who Legal (2023, 2024) 

• Law Society of Ontario
• Canadian Bar Association (Competition Law and Foreign Investment Review, Chair of the Reviewable Matters and Unilateral Conduct Committee)
• Ontario Bar Association
• American Bar Association (Section of Antitrust Law)