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Richard B. Swan

Commercial Litigation, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner 

Shaan P. Tolani

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

In September 2023, Chief Justice Morawetz of the Superior Court of Justice and Attorney General Doug Downey announced an initiative to undertake a comprehensive review of the Ontario <em>Rules of Civil Procedure</em>, with a view to reducing delay in the Ontario judicial system and fostering greater access to justice.

Proposed Major Overhaul of Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure

Upending the Ground Rules: Proposed Major Overhaul of the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure

Preet K. Gill

Restructuring, Insolvency and Complex Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Toronto Managing Partner

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses began to scrutinize force majeure clauses in their commercial contracts and leases. The significant commercial impact brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic—and resultant government shutdowns and restrictions—appeared ripe to trigger these clauses and spawn significant litigation.

Force Majeure Clauses and COVID Pandemic Impacts An Assessment of Ontario Judgments

Force Majeure Clauses and COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts—An Assessment of Ontario Judgments Three Years On

Gannon Beaulne

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner

Richard Swan and Gannon Beaulne in Canadian Mining Journal

The novel Coronavirus (which causes COVID-19) was first reported from Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019, and has been rapidly spreading since, with the outbreak now declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). A consideration that arises in the commercial sphere is whether a party whose performance of contractual or commercial obligations is affected by COVID-19 can utilize a "force majeure" clause within a contract to excuse its non-performance. Such clauses, when engaged, either permanently or temporarily relieve the affected party from the performance of contractual obligations, and from the consequences of a failure to perform those obligations, where performance is rendered effectively impossible by unforeseen, extraordinary events or circumstances beyond that party's control.

Force Majeure Clauses and Risk Management in the Face of COVID19

Force Majeure Clauses and Risk Management in the Face of COVID-19

<p>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.</p>

Economic Outlook 2026

Adapting to a New World: From Ambition to Investment

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

Benjamin K. Reingold

Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

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.

Canadas AI Efforts in 2025 A Year in Review

Canada's AI Efforts in 2025: A Year in Review

Laura Inglis

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Christine Plante

Civil Fraud Recovery, Employment and Shareholder Disputes Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

David M. Price

Employment Services Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Effective January 1, 2026, Alberta will increase job-protected long-term illness and injury leave from 16 to 27 weeks. This update aligns Alberta with other leading Canadian jurisdictions that recently implemented similar extended leaves. Employers will need to revisit their workplace policies to ensure compliance with the new requirements. The blog explains the legislative amendments and their implications for employers.

Alberta Aligns with Other Provinces in Extending Long Term Illness and Injury Leave

Ashley L. Paterson

Morgan Sutherland

Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate 

Health Canada has proposed amendments to the Medical Devices Regulations focused on modernizing the MDEL framework. The changes would affect importer&ndash;distributor relationships, mandatory supplier disclosures, and safety documentation requirements. This update summarizes the key proposals and their potential impacts on MDEL holders and applicants.

Health Canada Proposes Amendments to MDEL Holders and Applicants

Cameron Penn

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Tami Oguntona

Articling Student at Bennett Jones in Calgary 

Articling Student 

British Columbia has introduced new limits on when employers may request sick notes and created a 27-week unpaid leave for serious personal illness or injury. This update outlines the key legislative changes and their practical impact on employer policies.

What the Doctor Ordered British Columbia

What the Doctor Ordered: British Columbia Updates Rules on Employee Sick Notes and Introduces Serious Personal Illness and Injury Leave

Bennett Jones Acts in Lexpert Top 10 Business Decision of 2016

Authors


Bennett Jones In The News Bennett Jones Acts in Lexpert Top 10 Business Decision of 2016 February 14, 2017 Authors Richard B. SwanPartner Richard Swan, Richard Orzy and Gavin Finlayson acted for the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders in Nortel Networks Corp. (Re) (OCA), one of Lexpert's Top 10 Business Decisions of 2016. The cross-border insolvency proceedings relating to Nortel Networks Corp. are described as “one of the most complex trans-national legal proceedings in history” and "truly precedential" because the case went to appellate courts in Canada and the United States, whose individual decision had an impact on the other. Share by Email Social Media Download Download Subscribe Republishing Requests For permission to republish this or any other publication, contact Peter Zvanitajs at ZvanitajsP@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 Richard B. Swan, Partner • Co-Head of Commercial Litigation Practice Toronto • 416.777.7479 • swanr@bennettjones.com