Best Corporate Commercial Lawyers in Canada as Ranked by LexpertThe practice area of corporate commercial lawyers is difficult to define since it means different things to different people and necessarily incorporates practice areas which, in some firms, are distinct areas of specialization (e.g., corporate finance, insolvency). With this being the case, the corporate commercial lawyers below can be thought of as specialists in a wide variety of areas of the law around corporations, finances, and insolvency.
Please note the Lexpert Directory has separate sections for:
Corporate law deals with laws and regulations governing corporations, its officers and workers, and its relationship with the public, starting from the creation of a corporation until its liquidation or dissolution. Commercial law deals with the legal services for the income-generating activities of businesses. In general, corporate law and commercial law are broad practice areas, and one sub-area out of these two is corporate commercial law.
Corporate commercial law, which may also be referred to as business law, includes all activities related to the financial success of a corporation. It governs all stages of a corporate “life” — from starting a small business or venture until its eventual growth through business and operational expansions. It also includes day-to-day operations and the legal issues that arise from them.
As with corporate law, the corporate commercial law in Canada is governed by the Canada Business Corporations Act. The Act governs federal for-profit corporations which are formed under the Act. Significant provisions include:
When an entity is to be incorporated, corporate commercial lawyers ensure compliance with government regulations, including securities and taxation laws. They also ensure compliance with the Canada Business Corporations Act in addition to any provincial or territorial business corporations law.
Corporate organisational structuring may also be a responsibility of corporate commercial lawyers, including defining roles and responsibilities and the relationship between the corporation and its employees.
Contracts are central to corporate commercial law: sales and distribution agreements, capital investments, employment agreements, and any other contracts needed for corporate growth. These must comply with federal, provincial, and territorial laws.
When a corporation enters into a partnership, lawyers ensure the agreement protects the corporation’s interests and complies with applicable Partnership Acts.
Lawyers ensure compliance with relevant laws during mergers or acquisitions, including corporate, tax, property, banking, investment, and applicable international law.
Corporate commercial lawyers ensure franchise agreements comply with regulations, including disclosure requirements and tax obligations.
Lawyers manage legal aspects of financing, such as capital acquisition from investors or banks, ensuring compliance with banking, securities, and investment laws.
Service agreements fall under contracts law and are governed by common law and contract principles.
Corporate commercial lawyers handle negotiations, litigation, mediation, and arbitration when contracts fail or disputes arise.
