Ayanna Ferdinand Catlyn has a corporate and commercial law practice. She serves as a counsel for local territorial, Canadian and international companies, banks and other lenders, law firms and not-for-profit organizations seeking assistance on corporate and commercial transactions. She primarily advises in respect to commercial real estate and financing transactions impacting their operations in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon.

As the supervising partner of the Northern Canada corporate records office, she also has a general solicitor’s practice dedicated to serving similar business needs of local clients based in the northern territories.

Examples of how Ayanna has helped her clients achieve their business goals:

1. multiple local businesses Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut on share and asset transactions worth several millions dollars.
2. local counsel for several banks and national and international lenders on financing transactions valued at over $100 million.
3. local business and as local counsel for national companies on the acquisition and sale of commercial real estate and financing.
4. local counsel for mining and metal companies on due diligence, financing and security.
5. local clients for multi-million dollar reorganizations while working closely with the client’s accountants.

Ayanna also regularly advises the Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board on daily operational decisions, long-term organizational strategy, corporate and commercial issues, policies and procedures, and administrative law.

Because of her ability to communicate and respond clearly to her clients, Ayanna was recently ranked in Chambers Canada Guide 2025 for General Business Law - Northern Canada and the Arctic. She strives for perfection and any client, big or small, deserves her full attention. Ayanna’s analytical thinking gives her the ability to solve a problem before the client realizes there is one.

Value to Clients

Before joining the firm, Ayanna served as general counsel and corporate secretary for several organizations for more than a decade. She recognises the importance of understanding the client’s business needs before providing legal advice thus adding daily value to her clients’ operations and ensuring that their interests always come first.

Outside the Office

Ayanna and her husband enjoy travelling to destinations around the world and having new experiences, volunteering at the local SPCA and providing a foster home for neglected cats. Ayanna also enjoys biking to work, running, tennis, skiing and a variety of Northern sports.