Corporate Governance: More Engagement

Alternative practice structures (APS), already firmly established in the United States, are generating significant interest and activity in the Canadian market, particularly in regard to accounting firms.

In Ontario's fast-paced and constantly changing business landscape, contracts are the basis of all commercial relationships in law. Whether you're a businessperson ordering stock for resale, a tech firm providing...

Christopher Anderson and Michael Kandev are featured legal professionals at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, a prominent law firm. Their professional backgrounds and expertise are highlighted through biographical information and imagery from the firm's Toronto office.

What are the essential requirements for franchise disclosure documents in Ontario? Jennifer Shayko breaks down the key legal obligations franchisors must meet when preparing disclosure documents under the Arthur Wishart Act, covering content requirements, delivery methods, and critical timing considerations that can impact franchise agreements.

The Court does not have discretion under the Ontario Business Corporations Act ("OBCA") to refuse a shareholder's request for the corporation to produce audited financial statements.

On October 25, 2022, the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC") adopted a new self-certified investor prospectus exemption under Ontario Instrument 45-107 (the "Exemption")...

The amendments were developed with the input of stakeholders, including members of the judiciary, the legal profession, government ministries and the public, in response to ongoing concerns regarding chambers delays, scheduling inefficiencies, inaccurate time estimates, and matters that are set down for hearing but ultimately do not proceed as scheduled

Putting a unanimous shareholders' agreement in place is an exercise in good governance. It gives a group of owners an agreed framework for running the corporation, sharing its profits and dealing with the departure of a shareholder, and it settles those questions at a point when everyone is still working well together. Every agreement is different, because the answers depend on who the shareholders are and what each of them wants from the business.

Earn-out clauses have become increasingly popular in M&A transactions, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty, as they help bridge valuation gaps between buyers and sellers by tying a portion of the purchase...

Explore the legal structures available for conducting business in Canada, from corporations and partnerships to branch operations. Understand key considerations including director residency requirements, shareholder rights, liability protections, and the strategic choice between federal and provincial incorporation for foreign investors entering the Canadian market.

Canada and the United States have escalated their trade war with new retaliatory tariffs and import prohibitions taking effect in September 2026. What specific goods are now subject to these measures, and how do the complex layers of tariffs interact to impact cross-border commerce? This comprehensive analysis breaks down the latest developments in the deteriorating Canada-U.S. economic relationship.

As Canada and the United States escalate their trade dispute with new retaliatory tariffs, businesses face mounting compliance challenges across multiple sectors. This analysis examines the comprehensive tariff landscape affecting bilateral trade, including Canada's September 8, 2026 surtaxes on U.S. imports and the corresponding American section 338 tariffs, detailing rates, exemptions, and the legal frameworks governing these measures.

The Canada Revenue Agency has announced a new priority system for advance income tax ruling requests, targeting investments of at least $1 billion in Canada. This initiative aims to accelerate the tax certainty process for major investors by reducing processing times and providing binding guidance on how specific Income Tax Act provisions apply to proposed transactions.

Canada's new Productivity Mega Deduction permanently provides immediate expensing for a wide range of depreciable property and Canadian development expenses, dramatically expanding the scope beyond the previously announced Productivity Super Deduction. The measure aims to reduce Canada's marginal effective tax rate on new business investment to 6.4%, positioning it as the lowest among major economies and less than half the U.S. rate.

This comprehensive legislative update covers recent regulatory changes, proclamations, and proposed regulations across Canada's federal government and all provinces and territories.

Alternative practice structures (APS), already firmly established in the United States, are generating significant interest and activity in the Canadian market, particularly in regard to accounting firms.

The Ontario Securities Commission's 2026 survey reveals significant shifts in Canadian cryptocurrency adoption, awareness, and sentiment. With ownership rates more than doubling since 2023 and a growing belief that crypto will play a key role in Canada's financial system, the findings paint a picture of an evolving landscape where traditional financial advisors increasingly recommend crypto investments, yet regulatory awareness remains surprisingly low among the general population.

Osler's Legislative Update is a bi-weekly listing of new legislation. This issue covers legislation for the period 8/20 to 09/09.

Toronto-based generative AI company Cohere has gone from being a largely unknown Canadian startup a few years ago to grabbing headlines in the Wall Street Journal, the New York...

The Government of Canada has launched its highly anticipated Defence Drone Initiative to accelerate the development, testing, production and procurement of Canadian uncrewed and autonomous systems for the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard.