Civil Litigation

  • July 23, 2026

    N.W.T. brings more laws into force to protect victims of family violence

    The Northwest Territories has new legislation to better support victims of family violence, including laws that formally recognize stalking, give people greater ability to protect themselves and allow victims to sue perpetrators.

  • July 23, 2026

    Ibrahim Keshta joins MLT Aikins in Edmonton

    MLT Aikins has added Ibrahim Keshta as an associate in its Edmonton office.

  • July 23, 2026

    Family law: Looking out for yourself or the client

    Eleanor practised family law. She was good at the technical stuff, but not so good at dealing with clients. Especially vulnerable clients, such as people getting divorced.

  • July 23, 2026

    MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT - Child support - Spousal support - Retroactive awards

    Appeal by appellant from aspects of a final family law order, and application by respondent to quash or stay the appeal due to non-compliance. The appellant, who did not attend trial, sought to vary orders relating to child and spousal support arrears, mortgage credit, and findings of contempt.

  • July 22, 2026

    Court upholds stay, leaves non-signatory’s reliance on arbitration agreement issue to arbitrator

    The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld a stay of a $24.5-million action concerning payments tied to Swedish tax losses recognized after a divestiture, ruling that an arbitral tribunal should decide its own jurisdiction where a non-signatory to an arbitration agreement has an arguable basis for relying on it.

  • July 22, 2026

    Appeal court remits personal injury case after mistrial for jury discharge

    The British Columbia Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal and sent a lengthy personal injury trial back to the lower court which had labeled it a mistrial after the jury was discharged due to potentially prejudiced comments made by counsel. 

  • July 22, 2026

    Thomas J. Moran new partner at DLA Piper

    Thomas J. Moran is a new partner at DLA Piper, based in the firm's Vancouver office.

  • July 22, 2026

    The coercive control lens: A new framework for family law decision-making

    “Coercive control” is rapidly becoming one of the defining concepts of modern Canadian family law. Courts must now expand their focus of family violence and must consider whether one party exerted coercive control over the other party during the relationship.

  • July 22, 2026

    A slap in the face to the power of good oral advocacy

    Upon receiving the Consolidated Practice Direction for Central East Region (the PD) from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, updated July 7, 2026, I actually read it, or at least all parts relating to family law. Without exaggeration, I was shocked to read paragraph 186 confirming that all short motions will be “heard” (my quotations) presumptively (their word not mine) in writing! However, parties and counsel are to be “available” (my quotations) on Zoom in case the presiding justice wishes to hear submissions. Counsel and parties will not be given entry into the Zoom unless the presiding justice deems it necessary. “Parties and counsel are not permitted to make oral submissions unless the judge permits.”

  • July 22, 2026

    Before you sign the LOI: What business owners need to know

    When business owners begin the process of selling their business, the execution of a letter of intent (LOI) is an integral moment. The LOI puts in writing the key terms for a definitive purchase agreement.