May 04, 2026
Lawyers untrained in the science of negotiation might assume that negotiation is a contest of personalities. The better talker, quicker thinker, the more persuasive presence: these are the traits incorrectly associated with strong negotiators.
May 04, 2026
First-year property law, 1988. Two hundred students. I could feel the energy in the room of young people excited to have made it into UBC law school. Professor Tod enters and slams the door. Walks over to the podium and scans the room while saying, “All title is vested in the Crown.” I felt like he was looking directly at me or even searching for visibly First Nation students as if to say, “We will not be tolerating any uppity Indians in this course!”
May 01, 2026
In Canada, privilege protections are analogous but termed differently. Solicitor-client privilege safeguards confidential communications between a client and lawyer (or agents) made for obtaining or giving legal advice. Litigation privilege covers documents created predominantly for anticipated or ongoing litigation, including third-party inputs if directed toward that purpose. Both require intent to maintain confidentiality and reasonable steps to do so.
May 01, 2026
For years, cybersecurity in Canada’s defence sector was largely a matter of self-declaration. That changed on April 14, 2026, when the Government of Canada officially introduced Level 1 of the Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification (CPCSC). Mandatory requirements take effect in select defence contracts starting summer 2026. Suppliers that can’t demonstrate compliance at contract award risk losing work they’ve already won.
May 01, 2026
Heralding a significant shift in the Canadian legal landscape, the British Columbia Supreme Court has rejected the legal profession’s constitutional challenge to the B.C. Legal Professions Act — legislation that would end more than 150 years of lawyer self-governance and self-regulation by benchers elected from the provincial bar.
May 01, 2026
On April 2, Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks released proposed amendments to various producer responsibility regulations under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016. Comments on the proposed amendments can be submitted via the Environmental Registry of Ontario until May 2.
April 30, 2026
The Ontario Court of Appeal has allowed a mine operator to pay disputed royalty funds into court, overturning a ruling that found no adverse claims to support interpleader relief amid a battle for control of the owner of the mining rights.
April 30, 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a new measure called Team Canada Strong, a $6-billion nationwide effort to “recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers in the next five years.”
April 30, 2026
Death, as it turns out, is not the end of the revenue stream. If anything, it may be the beginning of a particularly vigorous second act. Consider the perennial earners on Forbes’ list of highest-paid dead celebrities: Michael Jackson still moonwalks to the bank, Dr. Seuss continues to rhyme his way into licensing deals, Richard Wright and Syd Barrett echo through classic rock royalties, and the Notorious B.I.G. remains, well, notorious — and profitable. The moral? Mortality is inevitable; monetization, apparently, is optional but highly recommended.
April 30, 2026
Increasingly, U.S. government entities appear to be utilizing technology to screen visa and other immigration benefit applicants. In some cases, this has become very public and transparent. For example, most people are aware that phones and other electronic devices can be screened when coming into the United States.