|
"Lerners has given us peace of mind for 55 years. When I hear the name Lerners, I think of exceptional quality"
You may be preparing to launch your business or you may have been running it for several years. Regardless of your situation, at one time or another you may face business challenges. You may be looking for financing, or advice from professionals who understand your individual needs and can help you through various business-related issues, like privacy issues, the purchase or sale of a business or restructuring.
Lerners has unparalleled experience in working with entrepreneurs and business owners to focus on and achieve their visions. We also have strong relationships with a broad network of reputable business professionals, each of whom is skilled in addressing the unique requirements of today's businesses. Expert legal assistance in all areas of business law For more information on our specific areas of expertise, click the links on the right or scroll down. Corporate FinancingEvery business needs appropriate financing to grow and prosper. From start-up companies to maturing businesses, we have put together financing agreements to meet every client's unique objectives. Our relationships with lenders - both private and institutional -allow us to find solutions that work for each specific situation. We draw on the full depth of the Business Law Team. |
Incorporation and Not-for-Profit and
|
When businesses change hands, many different issues must be considered. There are tax implications, employee issues, regulatory concerns and much more. For over 76 years, our lawyers have completed many transactions and have helped diverse organizations pass the torch smoothly and efficiently.
When a business is purchased, we closely review and negotiate terms to protect our clients. This means anticipating future issues, understanding business needs and putting together agreements that enable a smooth transition and provide peace of mind.
Technology has rapidly changed the way business is conducted, giving rise to new types of businesses that require their own brand of legal advice. We've worked with many of these unique companies and have helped write law that has directly affected their businesses.
Working closely with our clients who are new-technology developers, we have gained a deep understanding of what they do, and what they need to continue in their future advancements. We have assisted organizations that work on local, national and international scales in these and other areas:
• software licence distribution agreements
• outsourcing agreements
• electronic data interchange agreements
• web hosting agreements
• technology, software and database agreements
• source code escrow agreements
• security and privacy policy review
We have specialized training and understand what is important to our clients. We have a depth of experience and talent beyond this team. When required, we draw on all areas of law under the Lerners umbrella to provide the most extensive and comprehensive advice for this unique burgeoning business sector.
With all the laws, regulations and necessary forms, incorporating can be a daunting prospect. Many business owners are unsure about whether they need to incorporate or whether they should instead form a partnership or remain sole proprietors.
At Lerners, our Business Law team has helped many individuals and organizations across Southwestern Ontario through the process by providing the best advice for each unique situation. We sit down with the owners and discuss what they want and where they see their company going in the future. By listening to our clients and considering their needs and desires, we can provide solutions that are relevant to them.
Beyond the best advice, we assist businesses through the incorporation and organizational process by providing assistance with name searches, governmental approvals, by-law assessment and organizational overviews. We make it easy for our clients so that they can concentrate on what's really important—their business.
You've worked hard to create a unique and innovative brand design (company name, logo and tagline), and now you want to protect it.
At Lerners, we've helped many different organizations register trademarks and copyrights and put together protection strategies to ensure that their hard work is protected and their brand's value maximized.
The Business Law Group recognizes the difficult nature of trademark and copyright law. We take the time to understand our clients' present needs and future requirements should their intellectual property change or evolve. Lerners can help any business, from small start-up organizations to large multinational companies, with trademark and copyright protection in the following areas:
• registration of trademarks and copyrights
• licensing agreements
• franchise agreements
When it comes to trademark and copyright protection, we've seen it all and have been instrumental in resolving some of the most difficult cases. We've argued at all levels of the courts and have handled cases over various jurisdictions. Protecting your rights is our first priority.
We assist small companies and large institutions in all matters concerning debt collection. Should a debt be owed to you, we take quick and forceful steps to seek payment, including court action where necessary. If a business owner is in debt, we can help negotiate a payout plan that will allow that business to remain operational.
We protect the interests of creditors by carefully structuring security and acting quickly and efficiently to collect on that security. We help borrowers to organize their affairs to best minimize risks and exposure, and to defend themselves against over-aggressive creditors.
Businesses may come to a point where change is required or desired. For example, a business may consider the purchase of a competitor company, or it may have shares in several companies and need to reorganize its share holdings for tax purposes. A good law firm recognizes the best way to direct clients through the change efficiently and effectively to ensure future success. Your legal counsel must also be sensitive to the need for business to continue as normally as possible through the restructuring process. It's important to your clients and to you.
At Lerners, we have the people and expertise to implement virtually any restructuring. Our dedicated team of professionals works with you to select a business reorganization strategy that works for you, and then implements that change in the most seamless way possible. Regardless of what form your particular restructuring situation takes, you can rest assured that Lerners has helped others in your situation with great success.
Have you followed all of the regulations outlined in PIPEDA? Does your corporate governance meet all regulatory requirements?
Privacy has become an important issue since implementation of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in January 2004. Businesses now have a greater responsibility than ever before to protect the privacy of their customers. They are required to comply with government regulations outlined in the act or face stiff penalties. That's why it's critical to have a legal team that not only understands the law, but also how it applies to your situation.
At Lerners, we have a team of professionals that specializes in compliance. We've lectured on it, written about it and argued in the courts on it. We help you avoid litigation and protect the reputation of your business with these key service areas:
• privacy audits
• privacy policy development and review
• chief privacy officer appointment
• legal risk reviews
• directors and officers risk compliance assessments
At Lerners, we represent many different lenders in a wide range of credit transactions. We map the changing legal landscape for our banking and financial services clients, and we help them negotiate their way through all phases of lending, from initial commitment to the advancement of funds.
Lerners provides the expertise required to complete transactions quickly and efficiently. Our broad knowledge includes but is not limited to all types of security agreements, priority arrangements, mortgage law and e-registration, enabling us to remain a leader in the field of lending.
Not-for-profit and charitable organizations have unique and evolving legal challenges. Depending on the type of organization, the community served, and how the operation is run, these challenges call for specialized legal service. At Lerners, we know how not-for-profit organizations and charities operate, and we understand their issues firsthand because many of our lawyers and staff members work as volunteers with them and serve on their boards of directors.
Our services go beyond drafting agreements and preparing documents. We oversee the start-up of many of these organizations, and take our contribution one step further. Having Lerners represent you means having someone helping you every step of the way. Our clients include grassroots charities and not-for-profits, public foundations, hospitals, professional associations and community foundations which all count on us for legal guidance in these areas:
• incorporation and organization
• communications with the Canada Revenue Agency, including obtaining charitable status
• amalgamations and joint ventures
• corporate by-laws
• charitable review to ensure compliance with legislation
• policy development
• planned giving programs
Through every part of the journey, Lerners is there, serving not-for-profit and charitable organizations so that they may continue their valuable work in serving our communities.
Ontario legislation now permits many professionals to incorporate, including physicians, veterinarians, dentists, physiotherapists and a number of others. While operating through a corporation will not protect you against most liabilities, there can be significant tax and operating benefits. Lerners can help professionals decide whether or not incorporation makes sense for them. If the decision is to incorporate, Lerners can prepare the incorporation documents and necessary bylaws and resolutions, and also deal with the appropriate governing bodies to create the corporation.
To hire a legal specialist in any of these areas of law, find a business lawyer or contact us, and we'll be happy to refer you to one.
