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Andrew Bozzato

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

Partner

Simon Grant

Banking & Finance Lawyer, Fintech Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner 

Doug Fenton

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

New amendments and changes to National Instrument 81-102 Investment Funds (NI 81-102) and its Companion Policy 81-102CP took effect on July 16, 2025, regulating public investment funds that invest in crypto assets.

New CSA Amendments Regarding Investments in Crypto Assets Come Into Force

New CSA Amendments Regarding Investments in Crypto Assets Come into Force

Mia Bacic

Corporate and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Laura James

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Associate

David W. Little

Construction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) has acquired 100 percent of the issued shares of BBGI Global Infrastructure SA in an all-cash £1 billion take-private deal. 

BCI Acquires BBGI Global Infrastructure SA in 1 Billion Take Private

BCI Acquires BBGI Global Infrastructure SA in £1 Billion Take-Private

Samantha Weng

Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Jane C. Helmstadter

Samantha Weng, Simon Grant, Jane Helmstadter and Ali Naushahi write on how best to protect royalty interests from potential downsides in the June/July issue of Canadian Mining Journal.

Canadian Mining Journal Strategies to Safeguard Your Royalty Interest

Canadian Mining Journal: Strategies to Safeguard Your Royalty Interest

Matthew Flynn

Technology Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Kwang Lim

Vancouver Managing Partner

In order to carry on business in Canada as a payment service provider (PSP) in September 2025, PSPs are required by the Retail Payment Activities Act to register with the Bank of Canada through PSP Connect on the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bankofcanada.ca/core-functions/retail-payments-supervision/supervisory-framework-registration/" target="_blank">Bank of Canada website</a>. We discussed this new requirement in more detail in our <a href="/sitecore/service/notfound.aspx?item=core%3a%7b99289527-D17C-41C1-BF3F-B34648623F45%7d%40en">Q3 2024 edition</a> of Fintech in Canada.

Fintech in Canada Q1 2025

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

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

2017 Celero FinTech Conference

Authors


Bennett Jones Speaking Engagement 2017 Celero FinTech Conference October 3, 2017 Authors Simon GrantPartner Simon Grant and Michael Whitt are keynote speakers at the 2017 Celero FinTech Conference at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna, BC. Presenting on Fintech Disruption - a Legal Counsel View, the duo discuss how Fintech is changing the game for financial services in Canada and around the world, including OSFI crackdown on use of "bank words" by credit unions and fintech companies, the API Economy, middleware and its effects on core banking systems, and dis-aggregation or unbundling of conventional banking services. 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 Simon Grant, Partner • Co-Head of Banking & Secured Transactions Practice Toronto • 416.777.6246 • grants@bennettjones.com