In-House Counsel

  • September 23, 2026

    Sport Law welcomes 2 partners

    Michelle Kropp and Will Russell have joined Sport Law as partners in Toronto.

  • September 23, 2026

    Canadian justice system attracts EU interest amid rule of law threats abroad: top judge

    Chief Justice of Canada Richard Wagner says Canada’s independent justice system and perspective on confronting global threats to the rule of law has attracted interest abroad. Speaking Sept. 22 at a Newfoundland and Labrador law society event in St. John’s, Chief Justice Wagner told local lawyers and those online that he was the only non-European court leader invited to attend the meeting in Cyprus last June of the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the 27-member European Union (EU).

  • September 23, 2026

    Why commercial arbitral awards are so difficult to appeal

    Ontario’s Arbitration Act represents one of many efforts by the state to delegate the adjudicative function to non-judicial decision-makers.

  • September 23, 2026

    The meaning of ‘effective’: Canada’s new AML compliance-program standard

    Since March 26, 2026, every reporting entity under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act must under the new s. 9.6(1.1) “ensure that the program is reasonably designed, risk-based and effective.” Its schedule entry is a very serious violation with a $20 million per violation ceiling for an entity ($4 million for a person). Little has been written about what s. 9.6(1.1) actually adds: an express program-level performance standard.

  • September 23, 2026

    Not signatory to arbitration clause? No problem: Arbitrator’s jurisdiction confirmed in dispute

    In 1171757 Ontario Limited et al. v. 1171758 Ontario Limited et al., 2026 ONSC 4414, the Superior Court of Justice applied the rules of contractual interpretation to hold that a shareholder of a corporate partner qualified as a “party” to a partnership agreement, even if he is not a principal under that corporation, or has ceded controlling power to his partner by way of a power of attorney (POA).

  • September 22, 2026

    What Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers can teach athletes about building the right off-court team

    There are plenty of obvious lessons from the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers. But one lesson should matter to every professional athlete: when a serious investigation begins, your lawyer can quickly become the most important member of your off-court team.

  • September 22, 2026

    Earnouts: Where sellers should spend their negotiating capital

    In mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions, there is a constant struggle between the vendor and purchaser regarding risk allocation. This tension often arises from uncertainty regarding future performance, issues identified during due diligence and disagreements regarding value. One common mechanism for bridging that gap is an earnout, which makes part of the purchase price contingent on the post-closing performance of the target business.

  • September 22, 2026

    The lawyer’s ABCD triage grid for prioritizing clients

    The chief difference between outstanding lawyers and those who just schlep along is how they prioritize the work and the clients they take. Many of us never think much about that, particularly if you live under the gun of monthly targets or run a dump truck practice. But if you look around you at the maestros of the profession, it always seems that they are working on interesting, consequential and financially rewarding matters. This is no accident.

  • September 21, 2026

    Ottawa’s flagship bill on ‘Building Canada Strong’ aims for labour reforms, faster project reviews

    The Carney government says its proposed “Building Canada Strong” legislation and supporting Cabinet directive will ensure that federal reviews and decisions on major project proposals are completed within one year of a “comprehensive” submission by the project’s proponents. The 243-page Building Canada Strong Act (Bill C-39) was introduced in the House of Commons Sept. 21 by Transport Minister and Government House leader Steven MacKinnon.

  • September 21, 2026

    Atlantic courts see rise in AI filings, cite accuracy and deepfake concerns

    Judges in Atlantic Canada are confronting a rapid rise in the use of artificial intelligence in court proceedings, warning that unverified AI-generated materials, deepfakes and increasing volumes of submissions could threaten accuracy, privacy and the efficient administration of justice.