On January 3, 2019, the Financial Post reported that 54 new equity issues on four Canadian exchanges raised a total of $2.2 billion dollars in all of 2018, approximately less than half of the $5.1 billion generated from the 37 initial public offerings (“IPOs”) in 2017. According to Go Public in Canada, between the two …
New Spaces on the Block: The Co-Sharing Office and its Legal Implications
In the not-too-distant past, corner offices were sought after as they represented power and prestige. Only the most senior partners or high-ranking executives were able to secure such spaces. In the age of startups and new technologies, “working from home” has become normalized, and flexible and collaborative atmospheres have started to shape most work environments. …
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What are the Benefits of Representation and Warranty Insurance in M&A Deals? Close Negotiation Gaps and Ensure Smoother and More Favourable Outcomes
Although representation and warranty insurance (RWI) is an insurance and risk allocation product that has been available for over a decade, the Canadian M&A deal market has not previously embraced it to the same extent as the U.S. market. However, the situation in Canada is changing and if you are purchasing or selling a business, …
Key Considerations For A Franchisor Exit Strategy: The M&A Deal
Acquisitions of other businesses, to strategically grow an existing business or as a financial investment aimed at earning a good return, have been around since the beginning of modern commerce. However, historically, franchise companies grew organically, with traditional financing, as needed. Exit strategies for the entrepreneur-franchisor were often very low on the strategic plan. Today, …
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Global Talent Stream: Fast-Track Work Permits to Fuel Canada’s Innovation Strategy
The Global Talent Stream is a two-year pilot program of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that commenced on June 12, 2017. It allows skilled workers with arranged employment in recognized “in-demand” occupations, or who have been referred to the program by designated referral organizations, to obtain work …
WSIB’s Rate Framework Reform – The Countdown is On
Schedule 1 employers should be aware that Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (“WSIB”) will usher in its new rate framework on January 1, 2020. As we count down toward implementation, my posts will provide quarterly updates and insights to assist Schedule 1 employers with the transition. The WSIB’s new framework is long anticipated, dating …
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Supreme Court Confirms Shareholders Cannot Sue Professional Advisors for Corporation’s Losses
Just a few weeks ago, the Supreme Court of Canada released a decision which confirmed that shareholders cannot sue third parties such as accountants or lawyers for negligent advice that causes losses to the corporation they own (Brunette v. Legualt Joly Thiffault s.e.n.c.r.l., 2018 SCC 55 (Brunette)). In this blog post I outline the Court’s …
We are the World! Big Changes to Canadian Trademark Law are Coming in 2019: What You Need to Know
Earlier this year, Canada’s federal government released the latest revisions to the Trademarks Act (the “Act”) and Regulations — a key step towards implementing the most significant changes to the Canadian trademark regime in half a century. After many false starts, it was announced that Bill C-31 (to amend the Act as part of a …
Key Business and Legal Considerations for Franchising Retail Cannabis Distribution
The movement towards the legalization of recreational cannabis has been greeted by the business world with the raptures reminiscent of the U.S. gold rush of the 19th century and the worldwide dot-com fixation of the 20th century. As governments try to figure out what controls they wish to impose on production, quality, location of retail …
Ontario’s Private Retail Cannabis System: Licensing Process, Restrictions on Licensed Producers and Implications for Retail Locations on First Nations Lands
UPDATE: effective the evening of December 13th, 2018, the Ontario government has taken a different approach to the retail cannabis licensure process as a result of the legal cannabis supply shortage across Canada. In lieu of the unlimited number of applications that were to be accepted on December 17th, 2018, the regulator will be accepting …