Business Law and Corporate Law

Effective CEO succession planning requires careful board oversight and strategic preparation. This guide examines the critical role boards play in ensuring smooth leadership transitions and maintaining organizational continuity during periods of executive change.

Canada's Big Six banks and major TSX issuers saw strong shareholder support for incumbent boards and management in their 2026 annual meetings, while facing increased scrutiny over AI governance, capital allocation, and shareholder rights. Though ESG-related proposals declined roughly 30% year-over-year, emerging themes around artificial intelligence oversight and meeting format transparency signal evolving investor priorities in the Canadian governance landscape.

On February 24, 2025, Fasken published its third annual ESG Disclosure Study, offering insights into the environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") strategies of 81 publicly listed companies...

Le gouvernement canadien et les provinces intensifient leurs efforts pour soutenir l'innovation nationale face aux perturbations géopolitiques et à la concurrence mondiale. De nouveaux programmes de financement, sources de capitaux et initiatives axées sur le talent visent à commercialiser la recherche, préserver la propriété intellectuelle canadienne et attirer des investissements dans des secteurs stratégiques comme l'IA, les sciences de la vie et la défense.

Geopolitical disruptions and intensifying competition are driving Canadian governments to invest strategically in innovation, talent, and supply chain resilience. This edition explores recent regulatory developments in AI, employment law, financial services, and capital markets, while tracking the trend toward larger late-stage venture capital deals in 2026.

A convergence of geopolitical shifts, trade uncertainty and heightened industrial policy ambition has fundamentally altered the operating environment for Canadian businesses. How are federal and provincial governments responding with new funding programs, capital sources and talent initiatives to support the retention and growth of technology, intellectual property and human capital in Canada? This comprehensive overview examines recent strategic initiatives spanning artificial intelligence, life sciences,

Foreign franchisors expanding into Canada face critical decisions about accepting deposits before providing franchise disclosure. Understanding when a refundable deposit crosses legal boundaries can determine whether your franchise relationship begins on solid ground or creates statutory rescission risks that emerge after substantial investment.

Canada's Competition Bureau has released draft Cartel Enforcement Guidelines that consolidate and update guidance on criminal cartel provisions, introducing significant new positions on bid-rigging, foreign-based conspiracies, facilitating practices like MFN clauses, franchise systems, and employer agreements. These proposed guidelines expand the Bureau's enforcement approach beyond established case law and warrant careful attention from Canadian businesses operating in competitive markets.

Ontario's Arthur Wishart Act establishes comprehensive franchise disclosure requirements and strict penalties for non-compliance, fundamentally shaping the relationship between franchisors and franchisees. Understanding these regulatory obligations is essential for anyone involved in franchise operations within the province. This video explores the key protective measures and legal framework governing franchise relationships under Ontario law.

The Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that solicitor-client privilege can be implicitly waived when a party's pleadings rely on their understanding of their legal position...

Due to their duty of loyalty, lawyers may not act in matters which are adverse to current clients. The duty of loyalty generally extends to matters which are adverse to former clients if there is the potential...

Lenczner Slaght is a leading Canadian litigation firm that specializes in distilling complicated legal concepts into sharp, winning arguments.