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Gordon N. Cameron

Canadian Corporate and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones New York

Principal, Head of New York Office

Julia Qian Wang

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Montreal

Partner

Xenia Wong

Equity and Debt Securities New York Lawyer at Bennett Jones

Counsel

Global consulting firm J.S. Held has announced the acquisition of Vancouver-based GHL Consultants, a fire engineering and building code consulting firm known for innovative solutions that bridge the gap between safety and design.

JS Held Acquires GHL Consultants Ltd

J.S. Held Acquires GHL Consultants, Further Expanding in Canada

Jie (Kevin) Zhou

M&A, Private Equity and Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Data centers and the digital infrastructure that supports them have become the modern-day picks-and-shovels of the AI revolution. Private equity is capitalizing on the opportunities this creates with massive investments.

PE Investment in the Picks and Shovels

Private Equity Investment in the Picks-and-Shovels of the AI Infrastructure Boom

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

Ruth E. Promislow

 Data Security and Privacy, Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

J. Sébastien A. Gittens

Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

On June 17, 2025, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) released a summary of its investigation findings regarding a data breach at 23andMe, which affected nearly 7 million customers, including approximately 320,000 Canadians.

23andMes Data Breach

23andMe's Data Breach: Key Takeaways

Kees de Ridder

Intellectual Property Lawyer, Patent Agent and Trademark Agent at Bennett Jones Calgary

Associate, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

Organizations are increasingly embedding artificial intelligence (AI) in operations in order to drive efficiency; however, the risks of hallucinated output are being progressively considered by regulators, government bodies, and courts in Canada. In order to protect their integrity and minimize the potential risk in relying on AI, organizations should ensure they are complaint with applicable regulatory guidance as it relate to the use of AI.

Requirements and Guidelines from Canadian Regulators

Requirements and Guidelines From Canadian Regulators, Public Bodies and Courts for the Use of Artificial Intelligence

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

TriWest Partnership With Northern Lite and Off Grid Trailers

Authors


Bennett Jones Client Work TriWest Partnership With Northern Lite and Off Grid Trailers October 13, 2022 Authors Jie (Kevin) ZhouPartner Jeremy A.J. RussellPartner Michael H. VanderMeerAssociate Kees de RidderAssociate, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent Marshall R. HaugheyPartner TriWest Capital Partners announced it has partnered with Northern Lite Truck Campers and Off Grid Trailers, forming Outdoor Adventure Group, a leading recreational vehicle manufacturer and distributor. TriWest is one of Canada’s leading private equity firms. Kelowna-based Northern Lite is Canada’s leading manufacturer of fiberglass truck campers built for all four seasons. Edmonton's Off Grid designs and distributes highly innovative, superior quality, off-road trailers aimed at outdoor enthusiasts. TriWest partnered with Roynat Equity Partners and Export Development Canada as part of this investment. Bennett Jones represented TriWest, with a team led by James McClary (Corporate) and including: Kevin Zhou, Jon McKay and Tamara Mitterer (Corporate); Jeremy Russell (Banking), John Gilmore and Michael VanderMeer (Employment); and Kees de Ridder (IP) and Marshall Haughey (Tax). 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 Jie (Kevin) Zhou, Partner Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver • 403.298.3012 • zhouk@bennettjones.com Jeremy A.J. Russell, Partner Calgary • 403.298.3151 • russellj@bennettjones.com Michael H. VanderMeer, Associate Calgary • 403.298.4478 • vandermeerm@bennettjones.com Kees de Ridder, Associate, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent Calgary • 403.298.3122 • deridderk@bennettjones.com Marshall R. Haughey, Partner Calgary, Edmonton • 403.298.3461 • haugheym@bennettjones.com