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Simon P. Crawford

Leading Commercial Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner

Vanessa Kiraly

Commercial Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

In Oliva v. Dickson (2025 ONSC 6666), the Ontario Superior Court confirmed that Building Code compliance can be an implied term of an Agreement of Purchase and Sale and a basis for vendor-builder liability in negligence. Even without structural failure or express contractual representations, failing to obtain required permits may breach both contractual and tort duties. The decision is a cautionary reminder that regulatory compliance defines both legal risk and commercial expectations in real estate transactions.

No Permit Big Problems

No Permit, Big Problems: Building Code Compliance,  Implied Terms and Vendor-Builder Liability in Ontario

Dana Talucci

Corporate Commercial Practice at Bennett Jones Toronto

Hennadiy Kutsenko

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Counsel

A court decision on the sale of mixed-use property highlights the risks of failing to allocate purchase price between residential and commercial portions for HST purposes. The ruling underscores the importance of precise drafting and obtaining representations to avoid uncertainty and tax disputes.

Mixed-Use Mixed Signals Why Purchase Price Allocations Matter

Mixed-Use, Mixed Signals: Why Purchase Price Allocations Matter

Samantha Weng

Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Once again, cottage season is upon us—and like the return of the season, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Court) has returned to the well-settled law of adverse possession, which continues to surface in modern property disputes where long-term use of a property by an adjoining owner can sometimes erode the ownership rights of the legal owner.

Lines in the Sand A Case of Adverse Possession from Cottage Country

Lines in the Sand: A Case of Adverse Possession from Cottage Country

Adam Kalbfleisch

Competition & Regulatory Lawyer | Foreign Investment

Alixe A.L. Cameron

Commercial Real Estate Lawyer

Jane C. Helmstadter

The Competition Bureau (Bureau) has released its <a href="https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/how-we-foster-competition/education-and-outreach/publications/competitor-property-controls-and-competition-act">finalized property control guidelines</a> (Guidelines) outlining the Bureau's ongoing approach to enforcing competition property controls under the Competition Act (Act). These replace the preliminary guidelines published on August 7, 2024, which were subject to a public consultation process last summer/fall

Breaking Ground The Competition Bureau Weighs in with Final Property Control Guidelines

The Competition Bureau Weighs in with Final Property Control Guidelines

Gary S.A. Solway

Technology, Media & Corporate Lawyer | Governance

Matthew Flynn

Technology Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Artificial intelligence has entered a new phase: models can take actions&mdash;deploy code, interact with enterprise systems and operate through automated agents&mdash;with real-world consequences. AI is no longer just a technical capability; it is a core governance priority.

Boards Must Oversee AI Risk

Stop Hallucinating - Boards Must Oversee AI Risk

Christine A. Viney

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Kristos J. Iatridis

Corporate & Private Equity Lawyer | Oil Sands Projects

Captive insurance is gaining traction as organizations look for smarter, more resilient ways to finance risk. This overview explores how Alberta captives work, their benefits, and whether they may be a fit for your business.

Curious about Captives Youre Not Alone

Curious about Captives? You're Not Alone!

Christopher J. Doucet

Corporate & Mining Lawyer | M&A & Corporate Finance

Doug Fenton

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Kanwar Brar

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

In a recent enforcement decision, CIRO imposed substantial sanctions on a securities dealer and its Ultimate Designated Person (UDP) for improper trading practices and significant compliance failures. The case underscores CIRO&rsquo;s strict approach to &ldquo;tone from the top,&rdquo; particularly where senior executives fail to uphold or promote firm-wide compliance standards. It also highlights that sanctions are assessed independently of liability findings and can include severe financial penalties, bans, and ongoing regulatory oversight of governance structures.

CIRO Issues Stiff Penalties for Dealer Conduct

Benjamin K. Reingold

Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Melissa M. Dimilta

Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner, Trademark Agent

Lorelei Graham

IP Lawyer | Food & Agribusiness

This blog examines why Canada&rsquo;s Federal Court is the preferred venue for pharmaceutical patent litigation. It highlights its specialized expertise, efficient procedures and consistent, precedent-driven decisions.

Northern Advantage Canadas Federal Court as a Venue for Pharmaceutical Patent Litigation

Northern Advantage: Canada's Federal Court as a Venue for Pharmaceutical Patent Litigation

Ahmed Elmallah

Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Counsel, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

This four-part AI Insights Quick Read series explores how routine generative AI use can expose confidential information, weaken privilege and erode intellectual property value. Using US v. Heppner as a starting point, it examines disclosure risk, shadow AI, content dilution and key implications for Canadian organizations.

The Lease for Atlantis and the Doctrine of Frustration

From the Same Authors

No Permit, Big Problems: Building Code Compliance, Implied Terms and Vendor-Builder Liability in Ontario