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Jesslyn G. Maurier

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

Partner

Bennett Jones congratulates Jesslyn Maurier on her appointment to the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://occ.ca/mediareleases/ontario-chamber-of-commerce-welcomes-new-board/" target="_blank">board of directors</a> of the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://occ.ca/" target="_blank">Ontario Chamber of Commerce</a> (OCC). The OCC is an independent, non-profit advocacy and member services organization representing a diverse network of over 60,000 members. It brings businesses and local chambers together to advance inclusive and sustainable prosperity for Ontario’s businesses, workers and communities.

Jesslyn Maurier Appointed to Ontario Chamber of Commerces Board of Directors

Jesslyn Maurier Appointed to Ontario Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors

Joseph N. Blinick

Commercial Litigation, Securities, Class Actions and Insolvency Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Andrew Bozzato

Corporate, M&A, Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

Bennett Jones has once again been recognized as a leading Canadian law firm in fintech in the 2025 edition of the Chambers <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chambers.com/legal-rankings/fintech-legal-canada-49:2744:50:1?l=en-GB" target="_blank" style="color: #258481; background-color: transparent;">FinTech Legal in Canada Rankings</a>. The guide highlights our team's extensive expertise in key areas of the fintech sector, including payments, blockchain, cybersecurity and data protection.

Bennett Jones Ranked in Chambers Canadian Fintech Guide 2025

James D. Beeby

Corporate Finance, M&A, Private Equity and Venture Capital Lawyer

Bennett Jones is acting for MaRS Discovery District as it seeks to unlock new value from MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (MaRS IAF), a seed fund supported by the Ontario government that has made over 175 investments in startups over the past 14 years.

MaRS Supports Launch of New 100 Million Private Sector Venture Fund

MaRS Supports Launch of New $100-million Private Sector Venture Fund

Curtis A. Cusinato

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

Vice Chair and Partner

Bennett Jones advised Figment Inc. in its $110-million Series C <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ninabambysheva/2021/12/20/crypto-staking-firm-figment-becomes-unicorn-with-fresh-110-million-funding/?sh=62dbbc1f3339" target="_blank">funding round</a>, led by private equity firm Thoma Bravo. Figment is a Toronto-based blockchain infrastructure and services provider that enables cryptocurrency investors to stake their tokens, earn yield and participate in blockchain governance across more than 50 networks. The funding values Figment at $1.4 billion.

Bennett Jones Acts as Lead Counsel in Major Canadian Cryptocurrency Financing Deal

Lorelei Graham

Food and Agribusiness Lawyer, IP Lawyer, Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Across the Atlantic, the European Union (EU) and its member states have also been encouraging climate-resilient agri-tech innovation, but their approach to intellectual property incentives has been a bit different. The European Union has set ambitious climate goals (like achieving climate neutrality by 2050) and launched the European Green Deal, a broad policy agenda to support sustainable technologies. While funding and regulations (such as support for sustainable farming practices) are big parts of the EU strategy, there is also recognition that IP rights play an important role in fostering innovation. However, unlike Canada or the recent US pilot program, Europe has not implemented a unified “green channel” for patent examination at the European Patent Office.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part III

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part III: Green Without the Label: Europe's Pragmatic IP Approach to Agri-Tech Innovation

Steven L. Major KC

Commercial Dispute, Construction, Fraud, Police and Personal Injury Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Drew C. Broughton

Corporate Commercial and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Kevin Myson

Corporate, Commercial Transaction, Energy, Natural Resource and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Canada is navigating a "wild frontier" in the energy industry, with a unique opportunity to forge successful and sustainable partnerships both domestically and internationally. This was the rallying call at the Energy Business Forum during the 74th Canadian Energy Executive Association (CEEA) conference in Banff, Alberta, where industry leaders gathered to share visions for the future of Canada's energy landscape.

Key Takeaways From the Wild Frontier Energy Business Forum CEEA 74

Key Takeaways From the "Wild Frontier" Energy Business Forum at CEEA '74

Melanie Teetaert

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Jennifer (Jenn) K. Choi

Associate

Maruska Giacchetto

This article examines the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision in J.P. Thomson Architects Ltd. v Greater Essex County District School Board, 2025 ONCA 378, which provides critical clarification on the interpretation of multi-step dispute resolution (MSDR) clauses. MSDR clauses, commonly used in commercial contracts, outline escalating steps such as negotiation, mediation, and arbitration to resolve disputes. The Court addressed ambiguities in the drafting of MSDR timelines, emphasizing that specified timeframes should be interpreted as minimum waiting periods rather than strict deadlines. The decision overturned a lower court ruling that barred a party from arbitration due to a perceived failure to meet a 30-day mediation request deadline. This article highlights the importance of precise drafting in MSDR clauses, discusses the implications of the Court's decision, and provides practical guidance for parties drafting or negotiating dispute resolution provisions in commercial agreements.

Do you need to rush to mediate - Ontario Court of Appeal

Do You Need to Rush to Mediate? Ontario Court of Appeal Clarifies Interpretation of Multi-Step Dispute Resolution Clause

The United States has long been a major player in both agri-tech innovation and the intellectual property (IP) landscape. In the past, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offered its own version of a green patent fast-track to encourage climate-friendly inventions. Notably, in 2009 to 2011 the USPTO ran a Green Technology Pilot Program that prioritized examination for certain eco-friendly patents. The pilot ended in 2012, but more recently the USPTO brought back the idea in June 2022, with the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program, which was essentially an accelerated examination program for patent applications directed to fight climate change. Under this program, inventions designed to reduce or monitor greenhouse gas emissions, including many clean energy, sustainability or climate-smart agriculture innovations, could be examined out of turn. Importantly, like Canada’s program, the US pilot did not charge the usual petition fee for expediting. The goal was to spur green tech by making it faster and cheaper to secure IP rights.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part II

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part II: Innovation Interrupted: What the End of the USPTO's Green Program Means for Agri-Tech

Climate change is driving a surge in agricultural technology (agri-tech) innovations aimed at making farming more resilient and sustainable. From drought-resistant crops to carbon-capturing soil techniques, these climate-focused agri-tech solutions are crucial for global food security. An often-overlooked piece of this puzzle is intellectual property (IP) strategy, namely how patents and other IP rights are used to protect and incentivize innovation.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part I

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part I: Planting the Future: Why Canada's IP System May Be the Climate Innovation Sleeper Hit

Jesslyn Maurier on Women in Dealmaking

Authors


Bennett Jones Announcement Jesslyn Maurier on Women in Dealmaking November 29, 2018 Authors Jesslyn G. MaurierPartner Jesslyn Maurier is profiled in The Deal Room’s interview series on trailblazing women working in M&A, private capital, finance, and business law who are driving deals. In her Q&A, Jesslyn shares her experiences, achievements and insights on what the legal industry can do to ensure that we see more women on deal teams and at the dealmaking table. Share by Email Social Media Download Download Subscribe Republishing Requests For permission to republish this or any other publication, contact Amrita Kochhar at kochhara@bennettjones.com. For informational purposes only This publication provides an overview of legal trends and updates for informational purposes only. For personalized legal advice, please contact the authors. Authors Jesslyn G. Maurier, Partner Toronto • 416.777.4899 • maurierj@bennettjones.com