We are entrepreneurs! We are excited by new business ventures and can help you get your legal affairs in order. 

Incorporations, Reorganizations & Dissolutions

Are you ready to take the next step in your business? We can help you determine whether you should incorporate, expand your business, sell or acquire new business shares or assets or start thinking of winding down. We assist with the preparation of provincial and federal incorporation documents, business financing, corporate reorganization strategies and the purchases and sales of shares and assets. Do not overlook the importance of annual corporate filings or maintaining and updating your minute books on a regular basis.

partnership & SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENTS

Have you decided to share your responsibilities with others or join someone else's business venture? Contracts are crucial in the development and continuance of successful business relationships. Have you decided on your business name and set out the purpose of your business? Have you discussed responsibilities, workload, contributions, compensation, ownership interests and authority? Have you dealt with the eventualities of exit strategies, methods of dispute resolution, death or disability or the introduction of new partners? Having a contract in place to deal with these issues will help define partner and shareholder roles and eliminate the need for extensive debates and future litigation. Let us help you define the parameters and preempt future issues so that you can focus on your business and making it successful.

Commercial Leasing

Whether you are a tenant or a landlord, we can assist you with your leasing requirements. Do not overlook the implications of boilerplate clauses or underestimate the value of lease review and negotiation. We can provide you with the guidance and confidence you will need in lease negotiations. Whether it's on the review or drafting side, we are here to ensure that you are protected and comfortable with the provisions that you are signing onto. Commercial lease negotiation requires forecasting the future needs, goals and targets of your business without losing sight of commercial realities and the importance of contractual protections. 

Have you chosen your premises and discussed the terms of the lease with your potential landlord or tenant? You will want to consider the costs of rent, initial construction to complete the premises, alterations and improvements (and removal of alterations and improvements), maintenance and repair, day to day operations, taxes and utilities (including HVAC), insurance and indemnity and maintenance and repairs. Generally, all of these costs will get passed on to the tenant. You will also need to determine what services are to be provided by each party. You will want to consider the importance of common areas, parking and other shared facilities and who how those areas will be maintained. You will need to determine the potential uses for the premises and sufficiently define all potential uses of the business that is being considered for the space. 

You will need to define the rights and convenants of the landlord and tenant. You will need to consider potential damage or destruction to the premises and how these eventualities will be dealt with. The length of the lease is a consideration as well as how the lease may be terminated, whether there will be options for renewal and what will be the repercussions of staying over the duration of the lease. There should also be some negotiation surrounding default provisions and the rights of each of the parties with respect to default and remedies.     

Let us help you understand the clauses and negotiate on your behalf so that you can ensure that your business needs are met and a positive landlord and tenant relationship is established from the outset. Preemptive contractual review and negotiation sets out the parameters of future business relationships and simplifies matters before you face the eventualities.