We’re a Different Kind of Law Firm.
Serving multiple generations of mid-sized businesses since 1934, we’re a progressive law boutique with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Much like our clients, we value collaborative, long-term partnerships, strategic advice, and highly engaged teams. Not to mention the value of doing business in plain English.
Our Team
Our Expertise
With our diverse expertise, we help privately-owned businesses and Canadian subsidiaries of foreign companies grow and manage risk.
Mergers & Acqisitions
You need a legal team that runs a deal very efficiently, adapting with agility to respond to your unique needs rather than simply replicating actions from the last client’s deal.
Commercial Real Estate & Development
Are you purchasing, financing, selling, or leasing commercial, industrial and multi-residential properties in Ontario? Rely on our decades-long track record of solving difficult issues in this field with distinction, and ability to craft creative solutions that close transactions smoothly and on time while protecting your interests and peace of mind.
Shareholder Agreements & Disputes
In a closely-held company, relationships need to be closely managed (not unlike a marriage). When differences arise, we use skill and sensitivity to help you manage your relationships and preserve the value of your business. Our carefully-drafted shareholder agreements enable you to manage relationships and avoid or resolve disputes. These agreements also serve as a roadmap for critical decisions on financing, dividing profits, selling, succession, and transferring shares.
General Business Law
Are you a service provider, manufacturer, distributor, real estate developer, landlord or the head of a condominium corporation? Leverage our broad experience in your diverse business, contract and employment matters. Enjoy the best of both worlds: our boutique size enables us to respond quickly to your ever-changing legal needs, yet our global network facilitates partnerships internationally.
Financing
Our firm has the experience to advise you through the lending or borrowing landscape. We know how to take and enforce security for debt, help you structure capital injections, and arrange sophisticated financings.
Corporate Structure & Governance
Take advantage of our direct experience with a variety of effective business structures, from limited companies to joint ventures, partnerships, limited partnerships and sole proprietorships. As time passes, if you want to re-organize your business to include new shareholders or partners, or wish to benefit from tax planning, we can help.
Professional Partnerships & Corporations
Are you a lawyer, accountant, doctor, dentist, engineer, or architect who devotes so much attention to serving clients or patients that you neglect the management side of your practice? Perhaps you simply avoid the business aspects because you don’t enjoy them.
Business Succession Planning
Like every business owner, you must plan for your succession. Sooner is always better. Few closely-held or family businesses transfer ownership successfully. We help you weigh your options, ask key questions and help you plan wisely. Are you ready to step away and/or sell, and to whom? Is a family member interested in and capable of assuming management? Are you procrastinating with succession because your plan will favour one family member, potentially causing resentment in others? We sensitively help you have difficult conversations constructively and offer mediation. The longer issues linger, the harder they are to address – we help you take action before real crisis brews.
Private Wealth / Estate Planning & Administration
You’ve been building a successful career or business. Now you’re looking to ensure that your wealth enriches your family without depriving your children of the drive and motivation they need to build a life for themselves independently.
Investing in Canada
Are you growing a business in Canada and need a local guide to shepherd your growth? Or are you planning to enter the market gradually, perhaps by appointing a local distributor, or plunging in deeply by acquiring a Canadian company?
Employment Law
As your business grows, your success depends more and more on managing your people well. With a very collaborative and communicative approach, we help foreign-owned companies navigate the complexities of the Canadian employment law minefield.
Condominium Law
If you’re the head of a condominium corporation or the owner of a corporate, commercial or industrial property, we will work side-by-side with you to help navigate a wide variety of complex legal transactions with accuracy, proactive due diligence and timely service. In addition, we will provide you with legal opinions, chair your AGMs and draft your alteration agreements.