What We Actually Do

What This Really Means

Governance isn't just about following rules - it's about building a framework that protects your company and keeps everyone accountable. We've seen too many businesses get caught off guard by regulatory changes or internal conflicts that could've been avoided.

How We Help

• Board Structure & Bylaws: Setting up governance that actually works for your specific situation, not cookie-cutter templates
• Regulatory Compliance: Staying ahead of securities laws, corporate regulations, and industry-specific requirements
• Risk Management: Identifying potential issues before they become expensive problems
• Shareholder Relations: Managing agreements, disputes, and keeping everyone on the same page
• ESG Initiatives: Yeah, environmental and social governance matters now - we'll help you navigate it

Industries We Work With

Finance, tech startups, manufacturing, retail chains, energy companies - honestly, good governance matters everywhere. We tailor our approach based on your sector's specific challenges.

The Reality of Global Trade

International trade sounds exciting until you're dealing with customs delays, regulatory differences, and contracts spanning multiple jurisdictions. We've handled agreements involving everything from manufacturing parts to software licensing across borders.

Our Expertise Covers

• Trade Agreement Negotiation: Getting terms that protect you while keeping deals viable
• Import/Export Compliance: Making sure you're not accidentally breaking any country's rules
• Customs & Tariff Planning: Minimizing costs and avoiding unexpected fees
• International Distribution Agreements: Setting up partnerships that work across different legal systems
• Trade Dispute Resolution: When things go wrong internationally, resolution gets complicated fast
• Sanctions & Export Controls: Navigating restrictions that seem to change weekly

Regional Experience

We've worked on deals involving the US, EU, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Each region has its quirks. For instance, what works in a US contract might completely bomb in China. We know these differences because we've learned them the hard way - so you don't have to.

M&A Without the Drama

Buying or selling a business is nerve-wracking. There's a million things that can go wrong, and you're usually working under tight deadlines with a lot of money on the line. We've been through enough of these to know where problems typically pop up.

What We Bring to the Table

• Due Diligence: Digging deep to find issues before they become deal-breakers (or leverage points)
• Valuation Support: Working with financial advisors to make sure the numbers actually make sense
• Deal Structuring: Finding the right setup that works for tax, liability, and everyone's goals
• Negotiation: We don't just draft documents - we're at the table fighting for your interests
• Regulatory Approvals: Competition Bureau, foreign investment reviews - we handle the government side
• Post-Closing Integration: Making sure all the legal pieces fit together after the deal closes

Deal Sizes We Handle

From small acquisitions in the low millions to complex transactions worth hundreds of millions. We've done hostile takeovers, friendly mergers, asset purchases, and everything in between. Tech companies, manufacturers, retail chains - each deal is different.

Protecting What Makes You Special

Your IP is often your biggest asset, even if it doesn't show up on your balance sheet that way. We've worked with companies who had valuable IP and didn't even realize it, and others who thought they were protected but had massive gaps in their strategy.

Our IP Services

• Patent Strategy: Filing, prosecution, and portfolio management across multiple countries
• Trademark Protection: Registration and enforcement of your brand identity
• Copyright Matters: Especially important for software, content, and creative industries
• Trade Secrets: Sometimes not patenting is the smarter move - we'll help you figure out which
• Licensing Agreements: Getting paid for your IP without giving away the farm
• IP Due Diligence: Making sure you actually own what you think you own
• Infringement Defense: When someone copies your stuff, we make it stop

Why This Matters More Than You Think

We once had a manufacturing client who developed an innovative process but never protected it. A competitor got wind of it, and within months they were using a similar approach. By the time we got involved, we'd lost years of potential protection. Don't be that company.

When Things Get Messy

Nobody wants to end up in court. It's expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. But sometimes it's unavoidable. When that happens, you want someone who's been through it before and won't back down.

Types of Disputes We Handle

• Contract Disputes: When one side doesn't hold up their end of the deal
• Shareholder & Partnership Conflicts: Business relationships that've gone south
• Breach of Fiduciary Duty: When directors or officers mess up (or worse, act in bad faith)
• Trade & Competition Issues: Antitrust, unfair competition, restrictive covenants
• IP Litigation: Patent infringement, trademark disputes, trade secret theft
• International Arbitration: Sometimes you can't go to court - we handle that too
• Class Action Defense: When you're facing a whole group of claimants

Our Approach

We always look for settlement opportunities first. Litigation is a last resort. But when we do go to court, we're prepared. We've argued cases at all levels, including appeals, and we know how to build a winning strategy.

The key is being realistic about your chances and costs from day one. We won't promise you the moon - we'll give you an honest assessment and let you make informed decisions.

Taking Your Business Global

Going international isn't just about translating your website and shipping products overseas. There's legal infrastructure you need to get right - corporate structures, tax planning, regulatory compliance, and a whole lot more.

What We Handle

• Market Entry Strategy: Figuring out the best legal structure for each jurisdiction
• Foreign Subsidiaries: Setting up entities that comply with local laws while fitting your global structure
• Joint Ventures: Partnering with local companies without losing control or getting burned
• International Contracts: Agreements that work across different legal systems
• Tax Structuring: Working with tax advisors to avoid double taxation and minimize liability
• Foreign Investment Reviews: Getting government approvals when required
• Currency & Payment Issues: Structuring deals to manage exchange rate and payment risks

Real World Example

We worked with a Toronto-based tech company expanding to the EU, Singapore, and Brazil simultaneously. Each region needed a different approach - EU required GDPR compliance, Singapore had specific IP requirements, Brazil needed local partnerships. We coordinated with local counsel in each jurisdiction to make it happen without major setbacks.