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Dom Sorbara

Banking & Financial Services Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner

Elizabeth K. Dylke

Corporate and Private Funds Lawyer

James G. Morand

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

This edition of the PE Briefing examines private equity developments in the third quarter of 2025, including trends in Canadian and global deal activity, the continued growth and complexity of private credit, Ontario&rsquo;s advantages as a jurisdiction for non-US flow-through vehicles, and practical considerations in the drafting of earnouts.

The Q3 2025 PE Briefing

Gary S.A. Solway

Technology, Media and Entertainment, Corporate Commercial and Governance Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Lisa Kakoske

Corporate and Securities Lawyer

Bruce A. Hibbard

Public and Private Capital Markets, Investment Fund and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner 

Incorporation Forum Shopping in Canada: Considerations for Canadian Tech Startups, is a comprehensive guide designed to help Canadian technology startups navigate the complexities of choosing the right jurisdiction for incorporation.

Incorporation Forum Shopping in Canada Considerations for Canadian Tech Startups

Incorporation Forum Shopping in Canada: Considerations for Canadian Tech Startups

Adam Kalbfleisch

Competition, Foreign Investment Review and Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Zirjan (Zee) J. Derwa

Competition and Foreign Investment Review Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Canada's new criminal prohibition on wage-fixing and no-poaching agreements will come into force on June 23, 2023. These new provisions under subsection 45(1.1) of the Competition Act (the Act) were enacted last year but did not immediately come into force.
The new laws will prohibit agreements between unaffiliated employers: to fix, maintain, decrease or control wages or other terms of employment; or to refrain from hiring or trying to hire one another’s employees.

Wage Fixing and No Poaching Agreements Illegal on June 23 2023

Wage-Fixing and No-Poaching Agreements Illegal on June 23, 2023

Katelyn Weller

Counsel at Bennett Jones Toronto

Counsel

Last year, the Competition Act was amended to make it a criminal offence for two or more unrelated employers to enter into wage-fixing or no-poaching agreements. <a href="/Insights/Blogs/First-Round-of-Competition-Act-Amendments-Now-in-Force"></a>These new provisions come into force on June 23, 2023, with the aim of allowing employers adequate time to assess and adjust their practices to avoid potential criminal repercussions under these new regulations.

Competition Bureau Seeks Feedback on Enforcement Guidance for Wage Fixing and No Poaching Agreements

Competition Bureau Seeks Feedback on Enforcement Guidance for Wage-Fixing and No-Poaching Agreements

Daron K. Naffin

Energy, Environmental/Regulatory and Expropriation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Tim Myers

Regulatory, Environmental, Aboriginal and Expropriation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Thomas Machell

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Associate

The Alberta Energy Regulator has released new editions of Directive 071 and Manual 026, significantly expanding emergency preparedness and response requirements. This post outlines the key changes, including mandatory Emergency Management Programs, expanded scope across resource sectors, enhanced hazard analysis standards, and what approval holders should do ahead of the February 2, 2026 effective date.

Alberta Energy Regulator Announces New Editions of Directive 071 and Manual 026

Serge Dupont

Senior Advisor at Bennett Jones Ottawa

Senior Advisor

The U.S. and global economies proved resilient in 2025. There were reasons, particularly around U.S. President Donald Trump&rsquo;s April 1 &ldquo;Liberation Day,&rdquo; to fear a global trade war or corrections in financial markets that would cause a recession in the United States and a sharp slowing of the global economy. In fact, while growth in the United States and most major economies slowed in 2025, other policy and market factors offset at least in part the early effect of disruptive policies by the U.S. administration. The United States&rsquo;s trading partners chose to avoid an all-out trade war, and most negotiated some form of accommodation with President Trump.

Economic Outlook 2026

Adapting to a New World: From Ambition to Investment

Ahmed Elmallah

Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Counsel, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

Benjamin K. Reingold

Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

Stephen Thaler has appealed the Commissioner of Patents&rsquo; refusal to recognize his AI system, DABUS, as an inventor under the Patent Act. The case raises legal and practical questions as AI systems play a growing role in generating novel inventions. The outcome could influence how Canadian innovators protect AI-driven discoveries, particularly in pharmaceutical R&amp;D.

Appeal Filed Thaler Challenges Refusal to Recognize AI

Appeal Filed: Thaler Challenges Refusal to Recognize AI as an Inventor on a Patent—Implications Beyond Inventorship

Curtis A. Cusinato

Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Vice Chair and Partner

Spencer Daniel

Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Nadia Plawiuk

In recent years, private equity investment in sports has surged globally, marking a transformative shift in the financial and operational landscape of professional athletics. The global sports market was valued at nearly US$516 billion in 2024, with forecasts projecting it will surpass US$893 billion by 2034. Major North American leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS have responded to this momentum by easing ownership restrictions since 2020, allowing private equity firms to acquire minority stakes and fueling increased deal activity. In 2024, minority investments accounted for 48% of deal volume, reflecting a growing trend in passive investment structures. Today, over 74 North American sports teams are backed or affiliated with private equity, with many more viewing private equity as a strategic growth partner amid rising team valuations and evolving monetization models.

How Private Equity is Changing the Game for North American Sports and Beyond

David Wainer

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

This end-of-year overview examines the Federal Government&rsquo;s rapid expansion of AI-related funding in 2025, from large-scale investments in data centres and public compute infrastructure to programs supporting AI access, adoption and domestic research. It also explores the new commitments announced in Budget 2025 and signals key trends to watch in 2026 as Canada strengthens its AI ecosystem.

Technology Transactions: Recent Developments of Importance

From the Same Authors