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Leah Tolton KC, FEA

Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Partner

A lack of communication is the most common—and most costly—mistake family enterprise owners make when planning for the future. Values-based conversations, proactive planning and collaborative advisory teams can prevent disaster and preserve both wealth and relationships across generations.  I spoke about the critical role of communication in successful family business transitions with Sandra Pollack in a recent Beyond Succession podcast. Sandra is a family enterprise advisor and author of "Don't Leave a Mess! How to Disaster-Proof Your Family Legacy."

QandA How to Disaster Proof the Legacy of a Family Enterprise

Q&A on How to Disaster-Proof the Legacy of a Family Enterprise

Canadian agricultural family enterprises are living legacies that anchor our local economies. From household names to community-driven farms, these businesses have deep roots in the land and the hearts of their communities.
My Bennett Jones colleague, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bennettjones.com/GrahamLorelei" target="_blank">Lorelei Graham</a>, recently joined me as a guest on the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bennettjones.com/Podcasts-Section/Agribusiness-in-Canada-How-Family-Enterprises-in-Agriculture-Manage-Business-Growth" target="_blank">Beyond Succession</a> podcast. Lorelei practises intellectual property law with a significant focus on clients in the food and agribusiness sector. She joined me to discuss how family-owned agribusinesses grow, transition, innovate, build a lasting legacy and give back across Canada.

QandA on Managing Intergenerational Growth in Canadian Agribusiness

Q&A on Managing Intergenerational Growth in Canadian Agribusiness

In an era where digital threats are more sophisticated than ever, cybersecurity has become a pressing concern for family enterprises. These businesses are attractive targets for cyberattacks and need to balance the critical goals of protecting themselves while maintaining operational efficiency.

Q and A on Cybersecurity and Family Enterprises How to Navigate the Digital Frontier

Q&A on Cybersecurity and Family Enterprises: How to Navigate the Digital Frontier

When family relationships break down, the impact can extend well beyond personal matters, putting the future of a family enterprise at risk. I recently spoke with Patricia Hebert, a collaborative family lawyer, mediator and child advocate, to explore how collaborative family law can protect business continuity, preserve family wealth and sustain long-term legacy during separation or divorce.
Patricia is a Barrister & Solicitor and Registered Mediator at Bruyer & Mackay in Edmonton and she joined me as a guest on Bennett Jones’ Beyond Succession podcast. These are some of the highlights of our discussion.

QandA on Protecting Family Enterprises Through Collaborative Family Law

Q&A on Protecting Family Enterprises Through Collaborative Family Law

Serge Dupont

Senior Advisor at Bennett Jones Ottawa

Senior Advisor

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.

Economic Outlook 2026

Adapting to a New World: From Ambition to Investment

Ahmed Elmallah

Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Counsel, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

Benjamin K. Reingold

Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

Stephen Thaler has appealed the Commissioner of Patents&rsquo; refusal to recognize his AI system, DABUS, as an inventor under the Patent Act. The case raises legal and practical questions as AI systems play a growing role in generating novel inventions. The outcome could influence how Canadian innovators protect AI-driven discoveries, particularly in pharmaceutical R&amp;D.

Appeal Filed Thaler Challenges Refusal to Recognize AI

Appeal Filed: Thaler Challenges Refusal to Recognize AI as an Inventor on a Patent—Implications Beyond Inventorship

Curtis A. Cusinato

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

Vice Chair and Partner

Spencer Daniel

Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

Nadia Plawiuk

In recent years, private equity investment in sports has surged globally, marking a transformative shift in the financial and operational landscape of professional athletics. The global sports market was valued at nearly US$516 billion in 2024, with forecasts projecting it will surpass US$893 billion by 2034. Major North American leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS have responded to this momentum by easing ownership restrictions since 2020, allowing private equity firms to acquire minority stakes and fueling increased deal activity. In 2024, minority investments accounted for 48% of deal volume, reflecting a growing trend in passive investment structures. Today, over 74 North American sports teams are backed or affiliated with private equity, with many more viewing private equity as a strategic growth partner amid rising team valuations and evolving monetization models.

How Private Equity is Changing the Game for North American Sports and Beyond

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

The Role of the Financial Executive in Corporate and Family Enterprises

Authors


Bennett Jones Speaking Engagement The Role of the Financial Executive in Corporate and Family Enterprises January 15, 2024 Authors Leah Tolton KC, FEAPartner Leah Tolton spoke at a Joint FEI and ACG event focused on "The Role of the Financial Executive in Corporate & Family Enterprises". She provided attendees with valuable insights into the intricacies of financial management within the corporate and family enterprise sectors. 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 Leah Tolton KC, FEA, Partner Edmonton • 780.917.4272 • toltonl@bennettjones.com