In-House Counsel
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August 07, 2025
Ontario Court of Appeal limits number of interveners in private employment dispute
In a private employment dispute, the Ontario Court of Appeal has allowed leave to intervene to only one of two proposed interveners as a friend of the court. The court found there would be unfairness if both were granted leave, despite both being well-placed to address public policy issues.
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August 07, 2025
Stratford stands strong in Ontario Court of Appeal decision on side-yard squabbles
The case of 2708959 Ontario Inc. v. Stratford (City), 2025 ONCA 512 is an important decision for Ontario municipalities dealing with encroachments — when a private building or structure extends onto municipal land, such as a road allowance. This case clarifies what municipalities can do when they discover such encroachments, even if they have existed for many years. The Court of Appeal held that the municipality’s issuance of building permits did not expressly approve the encroachments.
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August 06, 2025
N.L. supports ‘Pathways’ to employment for those out of criminal justice system
Newfoundland and Labrador is giving more than half a million dollars towards an advocacy group’s efforts to strengthen job opportunities for those who have gone through the criminal justice system.
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August 06, 2025
FINTRAC publishes new supervisory framework, tightens administrative penalty policy
Canada’s anti-money laundering watchdog has published its comprehensive supervisory framework and unveiled a more streamlined administrative monetary penalties policy.
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August 06, 2025
‘Time is of the essence’ clauses don’t apply to indefinite time limits, court rules
The Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal has clarified that “time is of the essence” (TOE) clauses do not apply to contractual obligations with indefinite or open-ended time frames, such as those requiring action using “commercially reasonable efforts.”
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August 06, 2025
Agentic AI in law: Navigating the evolution of artificial intelligence
AI agents are driving the next stage in the evolution of artificial intelligence. Agentic AI is a large language model (LLM) that interacts with external systems such as web browsers, databases, emails and calendars, commonly referred to as “tools.” AI agents use tools to execute tasks to pursue user-defined goals. These systems can make decisions and take autonomous actions.
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August 06, 2025
Entering the U.S.: How it has changed
The process of entering the United States has undergone significant changes in 2025, shaped by executive orders, immigration enforcement priorities and a shifting national security agenda. Changes include heightened visa scrutiny, expanded travel restrictions and limitations, rising visa fees and updated entry regulations.
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August 06, 2025
Mitigating human rights risks in hiring and firing: A practical guide for employers
Hiring and termination are the two most consequential moments in the employee life cycle. These actions not only impact workplace culture and morale but can also carry significant legal liability for employers, particularly under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Too often, employers encounter human rights complaints not because of deliberate wrongdoing, but because of rushed decisions or a lack of understanding of legal requirements.
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August 06, 2025
Trademark infringement, post-sale confusion
The U.K. Supreme Court, the country’s highest court, has confirmed that trademark infringement because of post-sale confusion is a viable cause of action.
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August 05, 2025
Carney announces $1.25B program to boost softwood lumber industry
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced plans to spend more than $1 billion to boost the competitiveness of Canada's softwood lumber industry. The federal government will channel separate amounts of $700 million, $500 million and $50 million to respective areas of the sector to help it better withstand ongoing and increasing U.S. duties.