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Toronto Construction Lawyer: New Ontario Construction Act – Amendments in Review

Read time: 4-5 minutes The new Construction Act introduced major changes in two general tranches:  Changes generally relating to “lien modernization” and transition rules (in force July 1, 2018) Changes relating to prompt payment and adjudication (in force October 1, 2019)  The new Construction Act is dramatically different than the former Construction Lien Act, although […]

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Disclosing Caveat Emptor in Real Estate Transactions – Notes from a Real Estate Law Firm

Do I Have to Disclose This? The Duty to Disclose and Caveat Emptor in Real Estate Transactions Read time: 3-4 minutes In real estate transactions, when must the vendor disclose defects with the property? Or can a vendor rely on the doctrine of caveat emptor or “buyer beware?” And what happens if the vendor doesn’t […]

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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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Bill 108: Proposed Changes to the Land Use Planning Appeal Process | Real Estate Law

Read time: 5 minutes Bill 108, More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019 is currently in its second reading. The bill aims to increase the supply of housing in Ontario to make housing more affordable. It proposes to make significant amendments to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Act, 2017 and the Planning Act, amongst other acts, […]

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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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Highest & Best Use: Determining Market Value in Expropriation Compensation Claims with an Expropriation Lawyer

Determining Market Value in Expropriation Compensation Claims: Highest and Best Use Read time: 4 minutes Property owners facing expropriation can be entitled to significantly higher compensation when the highest and best use of land both before and after the expropriation is examined. This is critical in determining the appropriate and fair amount of compensation to […]

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Civil Litigation Law: The Basic Steps of Civil Litigation

Read time: 6-7 minutes Settlement Discussions & Demand Letters Some disputes can be resolved without formal litigation. Depending on the parties, engaging in pre-litigation settlement discussions can be fruitful, even before the delivery of a demand letter. In other cases, it might make more sense to send a demand letter first, especially where the relationship […]

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Expropriation Lawyer on Injurious Affection Damages: Damages & Public Projects

Injurious Affection Damages: Claiming Business Damages Caused by Public Projects Where there is no Taking of Land Read time: 4-5 minutes As we all know, public projects often result in lengthy construction periods that can span months or even years. For business owners in the surrounding area, this could mean a significant loss in revenue […]

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Summary Judgment Motion in Civil Litigation Law | Civil Litigation Lawyer

Read time: 4-5 minutes Summary judgment motions are a procedural tool that can be utilized by either party in certain situations to obtain an order from the court without going through the lengthy and formal trial process. A summary judgment motion can lead to a cost-effective and timely resolution if used appropriately. It is best […]

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Consequences of a Breach of APS | Agreement of Purchase of Sale Law

Read time: 4-5 min Agreements of Purchase and Sale: The Consequences of a Breach Rapidly changing and volatile housing markets, like we have experienced in the last few years in Toronto and the GTA, lead to an increase in cancelled real estate transactions. This occurs particularly when demand for houses, and consequently prices for houses, […]

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Applications for Judicial Review | Judicial Review Law

Applications for Judicial Review Read time: 6 minutes Applications for judicial review are some of the most complex litigation proceedings. When a party  believes that a final proceeding before an administrative body was incorrect or unreasonable, they may submit an application for judicial review to the Divisional Court, a branch of the Superior Court of […]

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Civil Litigation Lawyer Tips: The Discovery Process in Superior Court

The Discovery Process in Superior Court: What you Should Understand Read time: 4 minutes Discoveries are a part of the Ontario Superior Court process, as established by the Rules of Civil Procedure (the “Rules”) and assist with understanding the other parties’ positions and evidence. Discoveries are a key step after pleadings have been delivered and […]

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Notes from a Construction Lawyer: Changes to the Construction Lien Act

Read time: 6 minutes The New Construction Act: Follow-up on Changes to the Construction Lien Act | As we discussed in our previous articles, “4 Key Changes to the Construction Lien Act” and “The New Construction Act: Papering Your Files”, there are some significant changes coming to the Construction Lien Act, now called the Construction […]

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Municipal Real Estate Law | Brownfield Redevelopment | Land-Use Planning

Read time: 6 minutes What is a Brownfield? Brownfields are potentially contaminated lands due to historical uses, such as commercial, manufacturing or industrial. Brownfields may contain environmental contaminants due to the historical lack of regulation of environmental contamination prior to the introduction of the Environmental Protection Act in 1971. Previously, there were no regulations preventing […]

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The Limitations Act: Understanding the Time Limits to Commence a Claim | Civil Litigation Law

Read time: 3 minutes If you have suffered an injury or loss due to the actions of another party and are considering initiating a civil claim, it is important to understand the limitations imposed by the Limitations Act, 2002 (the “Act”). The Act imposes limitations on how long a plaintiff can wait before initiating their […]

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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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The New Construction Act: Papering Your Files | Construction Law

The New Construction Act: Papering Your Files Read time:  3 minutes  The Construction Lien Amendment Act, 2017 (the “Act”), received royal assent on December 12, 2017. Although a few provisions of the new Construction Act came into force immediately, the majority of key changes have yet to come into force. These changes are expected to […]

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Real Estate Law Toronto: Legal Non-Conforming Uses

Legal Non-Conforming Uses Read time: 5-6 minutes A legal non-conforming use occurs when the use of one’s land, building or structure is not permitted by the current zoning by-law, but was permitted by a previous by-law. Pursuant to section 34(9) of the Planning Act, no zoning by-law passed can be applied to prevent the continued […]

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