Toronto Commercial Lawyers

Commercial law plays a significant role in the growth and success of any business or corporation, and directly impacts a country’s economy.

This area of law regulates the business activities of individuals and companies and encompasses a wide range of legal issues. It provides a framework for transactions, promotes fair competition, encourages innovation, and supports economic growth.

In Ontario, Canada, commercial law is based primarily on federal and provincial legislation, like the Canadian Business Corporations Act, the Competition Act, and the Ontario Business Corporations Act.

Looking for information or a lawyer in the area of commercial law? At Hadri Law, we help clients with all aspects of commercial law, including the following transactions:

1. Mergers and Acquisitions: Buy an Existing Business or Sell your Business

Many businesses grow or diversify, by combining two or more companies through a purchase or a merger. When going through a M&A process, it is highly advisable to retain a lawyer to assist with transactions such as Asset Sale or Share Purchase.

2. Business Incorporation

Commercial law outlines the process of incorporating a business, including the legal requirements for registering it, the shareholder agreements, and how shares should be issued or divided.

3. Draft, Review, Negotiate Contracts

We can help you draft, review, and negotiate any number of agreements, such as:

a. Commercial Lease Agreements:

These are legally binding contracts that outline the agreement between a landlord and tenant and touch on points such as how the property can be used, what the rent is, subleasing provisions, etc. With many people investing in real estate and rental properties, it’s crucial to get the right information to protect your interests, whether you are the landlord or the tenant.

b. Shareholder Agreements:

When a business has shareholders, their interests, rights and responsibilities are outlined in shareholder agreements. This is an extremely important contract to have in place to protect the business and the shareholder.

c. Partnership Agreements:

When setting up business with someone else, a partnership agreement is crucial as it specifies things like, the management structure, the decision-making process, individual responsibilities, the terms and conditions of the partnership as well as the financial arrangements that were agreed upon.

d. Joint Venture Agreements:

A joint venture agreement outlines the terms and conditions of a business arrangement between two or more parties when they decide to join together. It outlines many of the same things found under a partnership agreement.

e. Consulting and Independent Contractor Agreements:

It is common practice for businesses and organizations to hire external consulting companies, or independent contractors. When hired, an agreement is essential as it provides a framework to define the scope of the work, clarify expectations from both the business and the consultant, and set out payment terms. Legal agreements minimize the risk of disputes or conflict.

f. Influencer Marketing Agreement:

An influencer marketing agreement serves the same purpose as drafting a consulting and contractor agreement. It provides the scope, conditions and expected results of a marketing campaign, clarifies compensation, as well as ownership of any intellectual property in question.

4. Secured and Unsecured Lending and Borrowing

Corporations, businesses and individuals may require financing for various reasons, commercial law sets out the laws around secured and unsecured lending and borrowing.

Secured lending or borrowing typically involves using an asset as a collateral, whereas unsecured does not and is based on the borrower’s credit and financial history. When considering getting a loan or borrowing money, its important to carefully consider and understand the terms and conditions of each option before making a decision. Especially since if the loan is not repaid, creditors will seek to recover the debt, and you may face heavy fines, and penalties.

Commercial law in Ontario, is intricate, and complex, and it plays a vital role in ensuring that businesses operate legally, and that everyone’s rights are protected. If you are currently dealing with any of issues related to commercial law, or simply looking for some advice and guidance, it is recommended that you speak with a lawyer.