Atty. W. David "David" Petras

Atty. W. David "David" Petras

David Petras is a partner in the firm's Waterloo Region office. His practice focuses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions; debt and equity financing; licensing, distribution and strategic alliance arrangements; and electronic commerce and Internet issues.

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Profile Summary

About W. David "David" Petras at a glance

W. David "David" Petras is a business, m&a, and internet attorney based in Kitchener, Ontario, practicing at Gowling WLG. Admitted to practice in Ontario, The Law Society of Upper Canada. Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Corporate Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Technology Law (2026). Serands clients in Kitchener, ON and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • David Petras is a partner in the firm's Waterloo Region office
  • His practice focuses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions
  • debt and equity financing
  • licensing, distribution and strategic alliance arrangements
  • and electronic commerce and Internet issues
  • David’s clients include software developers, Internet-related companies, advanced manufacturers, computer products distributors, financial institutions, auto parts manufacturers, medical products companies and alternative energy companies
  • David’s mergers and acquisitions work has included domestic and cross-border transactions involving public and private companies
  • Financings have included venture capital financings and IPOs and various types of credit facilities
  • Technology agreements have included system development, research, distribution, strategic alliance and technology transfer agreements
  • He has also held various positions within the firm including Head of the Waterloo Region Technology Law Group, member of the Board of Trustees, Chair of the CEO Nominating Committee and Leader of the U.S
  • Sales group
  • David was also a Research Assistant for a federal Member of Parliament

Practice Areas Explained

W. David "David" Petras's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases W. David "David" Petras handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

W. David "David" Petras is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Ontario →

Mergers & Acquisitions

W. David "David" Petras is one of 49,731 m&a attorneys indexed nationally. Browse m&a attorneys in Ontario →

Internet & Cyber Law

Internet and cyber lawyers for data breaches, online defamation, privacy law, and cybersecurity matters.

W. David "David" Petras is one of 17,958 internet attorneys indexed nationally. Browse internet attorneys in Ontario →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Ontario

Practicing law in Ontario. Legal matters in Ontario are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Kitchener are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Ontario state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Ontario brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Ontario courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Ontario attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Kitchener or all attorneys in Ontario.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about W. David "David" Petras

Where is W. David "David" Petras's law office located?
W. David "David" Petras's law practice is located in Kitchener, Ontario. The firm is Gowling WLG. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does W. David "David" Petras handle?
W. David "David" Petras focuses on business, m&a, internet. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Ontario.
How can I contact W. David "David" Petras for a consultation?
You can contact W. David "David" Petras directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has W. David "David" Petras received?
W. David "David" Petras's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Corporate Law; Best Lawyers in America — Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Best Lawyers in America — Technology Law; Best Lawyers in America — Awards:; Best Lawyers in America — Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Corporate Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Technology Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory--corporate mid-market, technology and m&a
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Corporate Law, Hamilton (Canada)
- 2023
Lawyer of the Year — Corporate Law, Hamilton (Canada)
- 2019

Bar Admissions

Ontario, The Law Society of Upper Canada

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