Key Considerations For A Franchisor Exit Strategy: The M&A Deal

Acquisitions of other businesses, to strategically grow an existing business or as a financial investment aimed at earning a good return, have been around since the beginning of modern commerce.  However, historically, franchise companies grew organically, with traditional financing, as needed.  Exit strategies for the entrepreneur-franchisor were often very low on the strategic plan. Today, …

What Does a Business Setting Up in Canada Need to Know About Canada’s Tax Rules?

Canada’s tax rules are complex and subject to change. The information contained herein is not, and is not intended, to be a comprehensive overview of Canada’s tax system. Canada’s federal income tax system for businesses and individuals is governed by the federal Income Tax Act (Canada) (“ITA”) and its regulations. Businesses operating in Canada might also be affected by …

The Top Trends in Cross-Border M&A: What to Watch For

In the first half of 2018, according to a report by PWC Canada, mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) activity in Canada hit $93 billion. This is largely attributable to increased activity in the cannabis, technology, real estate and energy sectors. This trend is likely to continue for the rest of the year despite the current climate …

THE UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT (USMCA) – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW

The United States, Canada, and Mexico reached a trilateral agreement as part of the renovation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on September 30, 2018.  Preliminarily styled the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the text is available at https://ustr.gov/united-states-mexico-canada-agreement-text.  The negotiators from all three countries deserve high praise for their efforts to conclude the …

Can You Protect the Intellectual Property of Your Cannabis Strains? It Takes a Creative Legal Approach

Northern Lights. Pineapple Express. Blue Dream. For those who aren’t aware, each of these names refers to a popular strain of cannabis. It used to be taboo to say them out loud. But now that cannabis is rounding the home stretch and racing toward full legalization in Canada for recreational use, these strains and a whole host …

What Canadian and American Employers Need to Know About Ontario’s Updated Employment Standards Act

Understanding and complying with Provincial employment and labour law is essential for businesses who have employees who perform work in Ontario.  The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 has made significant changes to both the Employment Standards Act (“ESA”) and the Ontario Labour Relations Act.  Many of these changes came into force on January 1, …

What Can Ontario Cannabis Consumers Expect As the Senate Votes on the Cannabis Act

Everyone is holding their breath this week waiting for the Senate to finally vote on the Cannabis Act. By all indications, the vote will be positive which means that the provinces can move forward with their preparations for the legalization of recreational cannabis. So what can consumers expect when they finally get to walk into …

How to Develop a Cyber Attack Incident Response Plan – A List of Key Considerations

Along with my colleagues on the Dickinson Wright Cybersecurity Team, I recently attended the Incident Response Forum in Washington, D.C. The Forum, sponsored by Dickinson Wright, brought together the top government cyber-prosecutors and cyber-investigators, attorneys and experts who specialize in data breach response.  These experts discussed the most important and timely data breach response topics. After …