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
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. ”
Deeper Learning Opportunities
LLMs
Are you a law graduate or an executive/senior professional with at least 5 years of specialized experience? Consider a full-time or part-time LLM degree.
Part-time LLMs Full-time LLMsThe Osgoode Certificate
Stay competitive with deep dives into the most critical issues in law. Taught by leading experts and designed for flexible learning, choose from multi-day programs or take courses at your own pace to build towards a certificate.
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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
Registration questions
Technical support
Online Technical Requirements
To ensure you do not encounter any issues that will impact or limit your learning experience, please review the following information.