Martin Aquilina, partner and head of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ International law department attended the Union Internationale des Avocats 14th Winter Seminar in Aspen, Colorado, United States. The seminar was co-sponsored by the American Bar Association Sections of Litigation and International Law. The event happened between March 30 and April 06, 2019 and counted with […]
Hugues Boisvert, Founder & CEO of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers, acted for the purchaser in the acquisition of a Tutti Frutti franchise. The scope of Hugues’ mandate included reviewing the franchise agreement, the commercial lease agreement, drafting the LOI, the Share Purchase Agreement and all closing documents related to the transaction
Hugues Boisvert, Founder & CEO of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers, negotiated and drafted a share purchase agreement on behalf of a group of shareholders whose aim was to regain control of their company through a management buyout (“MBO”). Hugues has vast experience advising shareholders in the negotiation of share purchase agreements and MBOs.
Dean Blachford, head of the tax litigation department of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers, participated as a speaker in STEP Canada’s event on March 20, 2019. The event took place at the Rideau Club, in Ottawa, and dealt with tax, accounting, and legal aspects related to trusts and estate planning. The event aimed to provide an […]
Martin Aquilina, partner and head of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ International law department was one of the organizers and speakers at the Export Strategies for Commercial Growth breakfast conference that happened in Ottawa on March 28. The conference was directed to entrepreneurs who wish to enhance their international presence while mitigating international risks. The conference […]
Choosing whether or not to incorporate your company is an important decision that can have far-reaching consequences for you and your business. There are a number of benefits to incorporation and ultimately, once a company has reached a certain stage of its lifecycle, it does makes sense to incorporate. However, if you rush into incorporation […]
A fundamental role of many contracts is to set out the terms and conditions on which an ongoing relationship between two parties will be governed. For instance, this is the case in contracts between lenders and borrowers, suppliers and distributors, and even employees and employers. It is very common, at one point or another in […]
Martin Aquilina, partner and head of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ International law department is the international law expert invited to participate in this year’s Canadian International Model United Nations (CANIMUN 2019) that will be held at the Museum of Nature in Ottawa from March 14-17, 2019. The event’s summits will include the Conference on Trade […]
The rights and obligations attaching to different types of shares in Canada is the source of a great deal of confusion. Much of this stems from the fact that Canadian and US securities laws are quite different, and much of the knowledge about securities law generally (online and elsewhere) relates to US laws, which is […]
Many disputes between businesses are caused because the parties involved did not use proper written contracts when doing business. This is understandable, as many companies don’t want to use overly long or complex contracts for fear of scaring away customers. But a good contract does not need to be long or full of legal jargon. […]
Hugues Boisvert, Founder & CEO of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers and head of its business law group attended the Ottawa Senators’ 2019 Annual Gala that happened on February 9. The disco-themed soiree supported the local children and youth by raising money for physical and mental wellness as well as social and recreational programs. The event […]
HazloLaw – Business Lawyers is proud to support CPA Ottawa with its annual Tax Update. This year, on Feb. 21, over 200 CPAs attended to learn more about the recent changes to the rules on passive income, TOSI and section 55. Dean Blachford, our tax dispute resolution and litigation lawyer, MC’d the event and moderated […]
Often, when obtaining a loan from a bank or other lender, the lender will insist on taking “security” and “registering a lien” under the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario), or “PPSA”. These terms can be very confusing as they are often misused or confused with other concepts, even by the persons and companies that are […]
HazloLaw – Business Lawyers has joined the OONE network comprised of lawyers, accountants, customs, marketing and internationalization experts in over 50 countries. OONE, which is based in Padova, Italy, provides initial consultations by means of a video conference software by which clients are able to schedule one-hour calls with local professionals. This consultation system enables […]
We have written before about the benefits and drawbacks of incorporating versus doing business as a sole practitioner. But in certain industries, the choice is not quite as simple as that. For specific professionals operating in regulated industries, such as doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, architects, engineers and accountants, incorporation can only be accomplished through a […]
As lawyers we are often approached by clients who are hoping to grow and expand their business in one way or another. Among the first things we ask is to obtain a copy of the articles of incorporation, by-laws and any other relevant documents of the client’s company. These documents give us an idea of […]
Hugues Boisvert, Business Lawyer Brian Benford, Legal Intern Introduction Corporations Canada is considering a proposal to amend the Canada Business Corporations Act (“CBCA”), Canada Cooperatives Act (“Coop Act”), and the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (“NFPA”). The proposed changes will affect the service filing fees for online and non-online filings, which are described as anything other […]
Hugues Boisvert, Founder & CEO of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers and head of its business law group, was the instructor of a estate planning course directed to retiring federal government employees. The course took place in Ottawa on February 05, 2019 and addressed relevant aspects related to the drafting of wills, power of attorney and […]
Hugues Boisvert, Founder & CEO of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers and head of its business law group, was the instructor of a estate planning course directed to retiring federal government employees. The course took place in Ottawa on February 05, 2019 and addressed relevant aspects related to the drafting of wills, power of attorney and […]
Martin Aquilina, partner and head of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ International law department is in Lima, Peru, attending the 33nd ILFA E-Iure Convention that takes place between January 31 and February 2, 2019. The E-Iure comprises a network of law firms from all over the world. Meant to be a link between Europe and Latin […]
Martin Aquilina, International Business Lawyer Brian Benford, Legal Intern Introduction The Federal Minister of Finance recently introduced Bill C-86, Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No 2. Amongst other amendments outside of the scope of this article, Bill C-86 makes important changes to the Canada Business Corporations Act (the “Act”) in relation to corporate transparency. These changes […]
Martin Aquilina, International Business Lawyer Marcela Souki, Articling Student Many countries grant immunity from seizure to artistic and cultural objects while they are on loan from foreign jurisdictions. The immunity is desirable because it operates as a safeguard to the lending institution that its artwork will not be seized while it’s abroad and thus perhaps […]
This week, Dean Blachford, head of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ Tax Litigation department was in the Kitchener/Waterloo area presenting on tax issues related to real estate agents to the Royal LePage team at their 2019 Kick-Off Seminar. You can read Dean’s article on property flipping issues by clicking here. Follow HazloLaw on Twitter and LinkedIn to […]
By Dean Blachford, Tax Litigation Lawyer and Robert Barnes, Law Student Thousands of Canadians invest in Offshore Investment Fund Property (OIFP) every year. There are many legitimate reasons why Canadian individuals and corporations may want to invest offshore. Higher ROI, added security, and diversification are just some of the most common reasons. There is nothing […]
The Brussels I Regulation was adopted by the European Union in 2000 in order to minimize the impact of differences between national rules governing jurisdiction[1] and facilitate the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters across the EU. The Recast Regulation[2], adopted 12 years later, was enacted in order to clarify certain […]
It has almost become common knowledge that restrictive covenants are not looked-upon kindly by the courts and tend not to be valid or enforceable. Courts consider it contrary to public policy to enforce restrictive covenants because they put an improper restraint on business. But, not all restrictive covenants are created (or treated) equally. Depending on […]
[ENG] Ottawa’s first outdoor Christmas market opening took place on December 5th, 2018 in the Clarendon Court in the Byward Market. Hosted by Alpha Art Gallery owner Edith Betkowsi-Sokolowski and sponsored in part by Hazlolaw Business-Lawyers, Martin Aquilina, COO of the firm and International Lawyer, attended the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in which the Mayor […]
Dean Blachford, Tax Litigation Lawyer and Valentine Gurfinkel, Articling Student Being audited by the CRA can be a confusing and overwhelming process for a taxpayer. What are your rights? Are there any limits as to what CRA can ask you for? In this article we will look at where CRA’s audit powers come from and where […]
HazloLaw – Business Lawyers filed its first prospectus this week in connection with the initial public offering of 5,000,000 common shares of NBS Capital Inc. The offering is expected to close in the next 90 days. Martin Aquilina and his team acted as advisors to the issuer.
A franchise disclosure document and the franchise agreement are the backbone of the franchising relationship between the owner of the franchise (franchisor) and the potential buyer of the franchise (franchisee). The franchise disclosure document is a legally required document that the franchisor must provide to the prospective franchisee before the signing of the franchise agreement. […]
Searching for a new employee can be a long process. But it doesn’t stop once the employer has found the perfect candidate. Once the employer has decided to hire, the next step should include getting the new employee to sign a written employment contract. A written employment contract is important because it safeguards employers from […]
Dean Blachford, head of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ Tax Litigation department presented at the Tax Law in Practice: Panel Discussion 2018. Dean addressed questions related to the practice of law and its challenges, the reasons for choosing to pursue a legal career, his experience as a clerk at the Tax Court of Canada and many […]
Hugues Boisvert, Founder & CEO and head of the Business law department of our Firm, has acted on behalf of a group of shareholders on a management buyout of a large construction company. The transaction involved the negotiation of the final terms and the drafting of the share purchase agreement and all related legal agreements. […]
Hugues Boisvert, Founder & CEO and head of the Business law department of our Firm, and Martin Aquilina, COO and International Business Lawyer, advised the National Gallery of Canada regarding an agreement to acquire a painting by Carl Moll (1861-1945) titled “At the Lunch Table.” According to the National Gallery, this will be the first […]
Dean Blachford, head of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ Tax Litigation department has recently spoken about property flipping in the Canadian Bar Association’s webinar entitled: “When CRA and Your Real Estate Transactions Collide”. 221 lawyers attended the webinar from across the country. Dean presented alongside Terry Barnett, Alexander Demner and Brett Horton.
Martin Aquilina, head of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ International law department is in Mexico City attending the American Bar Association international conference that is taking place between November 6 and November 10. The conference focuses on themes such as the NAFTA, information privacy in the Americas, investment and mega-regionals, the future of labour mobility in […]
Dean Blachford, head of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ Tax Litigation department presented to the attendees at the Video Tax News fall seminar in Ottawa on October 5, 2018. The VTN offers a number of publications for tax professionals. The VTN is composed by professionals across Canada who provide Video Tax News’ live or online courses […]
When entering a business negotiation, remember to discuss non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). An NDA, also known as a confidentiality agreement, is a legal obligation preventing parties from sharing information exchanged. A properly drafted NDA is a valuable tool to business owners because it protects sensitive information. If one party shares the information to the public, the […]
Martin Aquilina, International Business Lawyer The Ultimate Beneficial Owner Register (the “UBO Register”) is a mandatory registration system in the European Union (the “EU”) directed to all individuals who have formal or effective control over an European corporation, company, association, trust, foundation or non-profit organization. This is a initiative brought by EU Directive 2015/84 in […]
Time and time again we are approached by clients who have entered into a contract, had their contract breached in one way or another, and want to sue the other party. There are many reasons that compel people to sue. Money is most often a motivating factor, but other factors often complement or eclipse monetary […]
Martin Aquilina, head of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ International Law department, will be presenting at Outaouais Export – Evénement Accélérateur d’Affaires on November 15, 2018 at the Hilton Lac Leamy (Gatineau). Martin’s presentation will focus on the legal aspects of Canada’s new trade agreement, the Comprehensive Progressive Agreement for Transpacific Partnership, which includes 10 other […]
HazloLaw – Business Lawyers is pleased to have Antonio Almeida, a Tax lawyer from Deloitte Brazil, join our firm for a six-week internship. Antonio has expertise in representing and advising Brazil’s largest oil & gas industry companies on a variety of complex tax issues. He has been providing HazloLaw’s team with some fascinating insights into […]
Take These Steps to Help Prevent This from Happening to You There are many advantages to operating business as a sole proprietorship as opposed to a corporation, particularly when the business is at an early stage of its lifecycle. But this doesn’t change the fact that even sole proprietors need help to run their businesses. […]
Martin Aquilina, International Business Lawyer Marcela Souki, Student-at-Law In the recent case R v. Comeau,[1] the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) reaffirmed its commitment to upholding provincial legislation that limits the movement of goods between Canadian provinces. In Comeau, a resident of New Brunswick, Mr. Comeau, crossed the bridge to Quebec and bought a significant […]
On October 12, 2018, Capital Magazine featured HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ Founder and CEO, Hugues Boisvert, in its article “Networking and Risk-Taking Keys to Accelerating Your Business”. In his interview with Capital Magazine, Hugues shared his belief that “building and accessing a network of mentors and advisors is paramount for those thinking about accelerating their business”. […]
HazloLaw – Business Lawyers has been appointed as a complaint recipient by D-Quest, a Japanese firm assisting Japanese public companies operating worldwide to comply with their obligations to offer a whistle-blowing channel. D-Quest provides investigative services such as due diligence investigations, background checks, and intellectual property rights protection investigations/support, in particular anti-counterfeit measures and infringement […]
On August 20, 2018, the head of HazloLaw – Business Lawyers’ Tax Litigation department, Dean Blachford, was cited by the Law Times in an article about the recent decision of the Tax Court of Canada regarding the application of section 160 of the Income Tax Act. The article addresses the Court’s decision in Aitchison Professional […]
Why Are There Different Types of Partners in a Limited Partnership? A Limited Liability Partnership is one of the most commonly used business structures. It is comparable with corporations in its potential uses, and often individuals that are looking at starting a company will be choosing between a corporation and a limited partnership because they […]
Last September, Dean Blachford, head of HazloLaw’s tax dispute resolution and litigation practice, was sent by Royal LePage to their national conference in Halifax to present to their real estate agents on common and significant tax issues that arise from real estate transactions. Dean enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the agents, who were very […]
Martin Aquilina, head of HazloLaw’s international law department recently advised Linde AG, Engineering Division on an engineering and procurement contract involving the build of Canada’s first integrated propane dehydrogenation and polypropylene complex. The design contract was awarded to Linde AG in 2017. This investment will represent the largest organic growth project in the history of […]