Business Law Practice Group

You’ve worked hard to help your business become successful and you shouldn’t be hampered by legal issues. With our approach we’ll get to know your business and find the solutions that work best for you. Our goal is to ensure your business runs more smoothly for you.

Low Murchison Radnoff is based in Ottawa, Canada. Our Business Law Group is committed to understanding your business and being your trusted legal advisor. We care about our clients and enjoy long-term relationships. Our advice is practical, timely and is delivered in a cost-effective manner. We work hard to help our clients achieve their desired results and continued business success. Our clients range from entrepreneurial start-ups to mature technology enterprises; small and mid-size owner-managed companies in the manufacturing, retail and service sectors; non-profit entities, charities, associations as well as large U.S. and European multi-national corporations with operations in Canada.

Our skilled corporate lawyers offer a broad range of business law expertise, including:

  • Incorporation, organization and reorganization of federal and provincial companies;
  • Contract review, negotiation and preparation;
  • Corporate governance and fiduciary obligations for directors and officers;
  • Trademarks, protection of confidential information, trade secrets, and advice on the creation and enforcement of restrictive covenants for confidentiality, competition and solicitation;
  • Structuring, negotiating, documenting and completing both share and asset purchase and sale transactions and conducting due diligence reviews of target companies for acquiring clients;
  • Review, negotiation and finalization of institutional loan and security documents for lenders or borrowers;
  • Assisting franchisors with the development and preparation of franchise agreements and related documentation to ensure compliance with provincial franchise legislation in Canada, and advising franchisees on franchise documentation;
  • Preparation of private placement documentation for both seed and institutional venture capital financings and advice to issuer clients on securities law compliance and reporting obligations;
  • Advice and guidance to corporate clients on government relations and public advocacy.

Lawyers Practicing in Business Law
Craig McFarlane
Harry A. Gregoropoulos
William Honeywell
James Jeffcott
John N. McFarlane
Angela McLaughlin
Ron Petersen
Stephanie Ruta
Douglas Smyth

Questions?

I have identified a company that I would like to purchase. What are the preliminary matters to consider?

One of the first considerations is whether to purchase all the assets or shares, which is typically the subject of negotiation between buyer and seller. A buyer will also want to conduct thorough due diligence on the company to be purchased and the skeletal terms of the deal are often set out in a non-binding letter of intent.

If you need further information or assistance, please contact one of the business law lawyers at Low Murchison Radnoff, LLP.

I wish to incorporate a company – what is the process?

Once you have decided on where to incorporate (generally under Ontario or federal jurisdiction), you may want to have a name for the incorporation which will require a name search. Having identified the first directors and registered office, you will need to set out the share capital provisions and share transfer restrictions in the application for incorporation. The process normally takes a day or two and the total cost for legal fees and disbursements (name search, government filing fees and minute book) is generally in the range of $1,200 to $1,400.

If you need further information or assistance, please contact one of the business law lawyers at Low Murchison Radnoff, LLP.

What is a Shareholders’ Agreement?

A Shareholders’ Agreement is a complex but essential contract governing the relationship among the shareholders of a corporation. The corporation is usually a party to the agreement.

The Shareholders’ Agreement can contain provisions relating to, among other things, governance and management, shareholder powers and duties, pre-emptive rights on the issuance of additional shares in the corporation, financing and capital requirements, indemnity obligations, obligations to guarantee corporate obligations, restrictions/rights on the sale, transfer or encumbrance of the shares of the corporation, buy-sell provisions, confidential information, Non-competition / non-solicitation, Employment, Dispute resolution, and Family law issues.

If you need further information or assistance, please contact one of the business law lawyers at Low Murchison Radnoff, LLP.

Other Services