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insights / Business Law

Employment Law and the Corporate Veil: How Far Does It Reach & Does It Protect Employees?

Read time: 3-5 minutes One of the more appealing aspects of a corporate business structure is that it has a distinct legal identity from its shareholders, directors and officers. This means that a corporation can sue, be sued, enter into contracts or acquire a loan. It also protects the shareholders, directors and officers from personal […]

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Shareholder Agreement Lawyer

Read time: 5-6 minutes Closely-held corporations tend to be premised on relationships between a group of friends, colleagues, or family, and are often more informal in terms of business organization. As such, there is less likely to be separation of roles between managers and investors. In a small corporation an individual may be a shareholder […]

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Commercial Leases & COVID-19

Read time: 2-3 minutes Given this unprecedented situation, commercial landlords and tenants should review their lease documents to determine their rights and obligations. Force Majeure or Unavoidable Delay Clause Force majeure or ‘unavoidable delay’ clauses in commercial leases address events beyond a party’s control, such as a natural disaster, that prevent a party from performing […]

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Business Law | Toronto Waterloo Tech Corridor – Protect Your Start Up

The Toronto-Waterloo Tech Corridor: Protect Your Start-Up! Read time: 3-5 minutes There is an incredible number of technology start-ups setting down their roots in the tech corridor from Waterloo Region to Toronto. The corridor is home to approximately 15,000 tech companies, 200,000 tech workers and 5,200 tech start-ups.   There is also a shocking number […]

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Business Lawyer Advice: 10 Tips for Entering into Commercial Contracts

Read time: 5 minutes A well-written contract is a useful tool in many business relationships. Some commonly used commercial contracts include shareholder agreements, commercial leases, supply contracts, indemnity agreements, security agreements, asset or share purchase agreements, confidentiality or nondisclosure agreements and partnership agreements, amongst others. While a contract does not always need to be in […]

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Tips from a Business Lawyer – Ontario Business Structures: Selecting the Right Structure for your Business

Ontario Business Structures: Selecting the Right Structure for your Business Read time: 3-4 minutes Businesses in Ontario are typically organized in one of three main business structures: sole proprietorship, partnership or a corporation. Each structure has many advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to consider all three options if you are considering registering a […]

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Oppression Remedy | Business & Corporate Law

Read time: 5 minutes A breakdown of corporate relationships can occur for several reasons, including: dishonesty, theft, fraud, or differing visions for the company. Without clear shareholder agreements in place, these disputes can easily develop into an oppression case, where one or more shareholders treat other shareholders unfairly. Fortunately, corporations are governed by both federal […]

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Key Glossary for Commercial Leases | Business Law

Key Glossary for Commercial Leases Read time: 3 minutes Reading a commercial lease agreement can often feel like you are trying to learn a new language, unless you work in the legal profession. This is because specific terminology, which we don’t often hear in our day-to-day interactions, is used to draft the most effective agreements. […]

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Business Law: Asset Purchase vs. Share Purchase when Buying a Business

Buying a Business: Asset Purchase vs. Share Purchase Read time: 4-5 minutes There are two core methods to buy or sell a business: an asset purchase or a share purchase. An asset purchase requires the sale of individual assets. A share purchase requires the purchase of 100 percent of the shares of a company, effectively […]

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Business Lawyer Advises: Piercing Through the Corporate Veil

Piercing Through the Corporate Veil Read time: 4 minutes The Corporate Veil | Businesses often choose to incorporate because corporations operate as separate legal entities, shielding the personal assets of shareholders from creditors. Many people think that they can hide behind corporations. While the corporate veil will often protect shareholders, directors and officers from personal […]

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Business Lawyer Advice on Shareholder Agreement: A Tool for Avoiding Disputes

The Shareholder Agreement: A Tool for Avoiding Disputes Read time: 3-4 minutes What is a Shareholder Agreement? A Shareholder Agreement is a written agreement that specifies the rules and procedures that shareholders must follow and the entitlements of shareholders in a corporation. While some aspects of corporate affairs are dictated by legislation, such as the […]

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Business Law: Letter of Intent or a Memorandum of Understanding

Agreements to Agree: How the Court Will Interpret Them Read time: 2-3 minutes An agreement to agree is a preliminary document exchanged by a possible buyer and seller to a transaction, such as a share or asset sale. Typically the agreement will include the major contract terms and leave the specific terms to be negotiated […]

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Business Lawyer Advises: Weighing the Benefits and Costs of Incorporating Your Business

Weighing the Benefits and Costs of Incorporating Your Business Read time: 4-5 minutes There is a lot to think about when deciding whether to incorporate your business. In order to make this decision, it is important to balance the benefits and costs. Some Benefits Liability A corporation is a separate legal entity from its shareholders. […]

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