Program Directors

Chris Burr

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Eric Belli-Bivar

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP

Heather Fisher

Gowling WLG

Don Waters

McMillan LLP

Master the full secured debt lifecycle: from structuring the deal to enforcing rights

Gain practical, end-to-end insight into the secured debt lifecycle, from structuring and documenting transactions to enforcement, restructuring and insolvency. This certificate equips lawyers and financial professionals with the cross-disciplinary knowledge needed to manage risk, protect creditor rights and advise confidently in complex lending and distressed debt matters.

As economic uncertainty and challenges with obtaining and structuring financing, borrower distress and debt enforcement activity continue to reshape the lending landscape, legal and financial professionals can no longer afford to work in silos. The Certificate in the Secured Debt Lifecycle: Lending, Enforcement, and Restructuring provides a practical, comprehensive understanding of secured transactions from origination and documentation through default, enforcement, workouts and insolvency proceedings. Participants will gain commercially focused insight into how lending structures, security arrangements, creditor priorities and restructuring strategies interact across the full debt lifecycle.

This certificate is designed for lawyers in private practice and in-house roles, including banking and finance lawyers, commercial litigators, insolvency and restructuring counsel and professionals advising lenders, borrowers, trustees, monitors, or distressed businesses. It is also valuable for insolvency professionals, financial advisors and others seeking a deeper understanding of secured lending and enforcement in Canada.

Osgoode Professional Development brings together leading practitioners, judges, insolvency professionals and industry experts to deliver practical, current and market-driven education. Combining the strengths of Secured Lending and Debt Finance and Secured Debt Enforcement and Insolvency Practice , this certificate offers a rare opportunity to develop cross-disciplinary expertise that is increasingly essential in today’s complex lending and restructuring environment.

Registration includes 120-day unlimited, online access to the recorded program.

What You’ll Learn

Practical overview of Canadian debt financing, including a survey of products offered and how they reflect the current business climate

How to work with the commitment letter and term sheet

Tactics for negotiating and drafting loan documentation from a lender’s or borrower’s perspective

How to navigate critical issues raised by the type of credit facilities and the form of financing (e.g. asset-based lending vs. equipment lending)

Strategies for negotiating intercreditor arrangements and structuring priorities between lenders

How to deal with strategic and tactical concerns when taking, perfecting and enforcing security

What every professional needs to know about the ISDA Master Agreement and Schedules

Loan agreements – which clauses are most important and why

Best practices for providing opinions

Objectives and requirements of appropriate due diligence

Examining the policy foundations, strategic objectives, and practical realities driving modern insolvency proceedings

Navigating critical pre-filing issues, including restructuring support agreements, forbearance agreements, standstill arrangements, and stakeholder negotiations

Understanding and applying core CCAA principles, processes, and litigation strategies

Managing receivership proceedings, enforcement remedies, and competing stakeholder interests

Addressing the legal and practical challenges arising in cross-border insolvency matters

The role of representative counsel in complex multi-party proceedings

Emerging and high-impact issues involving:

  • Pension liabilities and legislative developments
  • Securitization structures in distressed scenarios
  • Mediation strategies in insolvency disputes
  • Gaining practical insight from the Bench on advocacy, courtroom expectations, practice issues, and procedural pitfalls in insolvency proceedings

Who Should Attend

Junior to mid-level lawyers in corporate/commercial or financial services law

Government and in-house counsel whose work involves lending/financing or commercial transactions

Professionals whose work involves negotiating or reviewing commercial deals, financing, loan agreements, transactions, lending or credit facilities

Professionals working with financial institutions, merchant banks, asset-based lenders or leasing companies

Insolvency or litigation professionals seeking to gain a greater understanding of market conditions in commercial financing transactions

Consultants

Bankruptcy and insolvency lawyers

Commercial and civil litigators

In-house lawyers and business professionals who work in secured debt financing and enforcement

Faculty

Program Directors

Chris Burr

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Eric Belli-Bivar

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP

Heather Fisher

Gowling WLG

Don Waters

McMillan LLP

Eseosa Omoruyi (Secured Lending and Dent Finance 2026 participate)

Finance Content Lawyer, LexisNexis Canada

“The program was excellent. The instructors delivered clear, well-structured introductory overviews of their topics and covered all of the key issues. They broke down complex concepts in a way that was accessible for junior lawyers and used practical examples that helped to contextualize the material. I particularly valued the hands-on review of the provisions of the credit agreement and the discussion of common types of financings. I also appreciated the instructors’ openness and willingness to answer questions as they arose, which made the sessions engaging and highly informative. ”

Courses

Please select the program below to access more information on the course, including CPD hours.

Course:

Secured Debt Enforcement and Insolvency Practice 2026

Course:

Secured Lending and Debt Finance 2026

Bundle price (2)

$3390

$2995+ HST

Register for all required modules

Printable Registration Form

If a downloadable form is required, please contact OsgoodePD@osgoode.yorku.ca.

“Is financial assistance or funding available?”

As law evolves, we know how important it is to stay up to date. We also understand the financial implications of continuously upgrading your professional skills and knowledge. For more information on available options, including Job Grants, OSAP, please visit:

Certificate Requirements

To receive the Certificate in the Secured Debt Lifecyle: Lending, Enforcement, and Restructuring, you must view all program modules and successfully complete an online assessment within 21 days of the last module.

Complete the following required courses:

The Intensive Short Course in Secured Debt Enforcement & Insolvency Practice

The Intensive Short Course in Secured Lending and Debt Finance

Wayne Cente (Secured Lending and Dent Finance 2026 participate)

Associate at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP

“The course covered a broad range of topics and presented the material in a clear, accessible manner. ”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Client and Technical Support

Have questions? Get advice in person, by email or over the phone.

Program content questions

Stephen Ahad, Program Lawyer
SAhad@osgoode.yorku.ca

Online Technical Requirements

To ensure you do not encounter any issues that will impact or limit your learning experience, please review the following information.