W. David Petras

David Petras is a partner in Gowling WLG's Waterloo Region office. His practice focuses on domestic and cross-border M&A, debt and equity financings, corporate governance, and technology matters. His clients include advanced manufacturers, software developers, Internet businesses, auto parts manufacturers and agri/food, medical products, and alternative energy companies. David’s M&A work includes domestic and cross-border transactions involving public and private companies and both strategic and financial buyers. Financings include venture capital financings and various types of credit facilities. Corporate governance work includes structuring boards, board committees and policies and advising boards and senior management on challenging issues. Technology transactions include system development, research, distribution, strategic alliance, and technology transfer agreements. David is the Canadian leader of the firm's European Initiative and a former leader of the firm's U.S. Initiative. He is a present and former director of various corporations and community organizations, including Enova Energy Corporation, Waterloo Accelerator Centre, Communitech Corporation, Waterloo North Hydro Holding Corporation (Chair), and Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation.