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Gary S.A. Solway

Technology, Media & Corporate Lawyer | Governance

Partner

Matthew Flynn

Technology Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

<p>Artificial intelligence has entered a new phase: models can take actions&mdash;deploy code, interact with enterprise systems and operate through automated agents&mdash;with real-world consequences. AI is no longer just a technical capability; it is a core governance priority.</p>

Boards Must Oversee AI Risk

Stop Hallucinating - Boards Must Oversee AI Risk

Dom Sorbara

Banking & Financial Services Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Elizabeth K. Dylke

Corporate and Private Funds Lawyer

James G. Morand

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

This edition of the PE Briefing examines private equity developments in the third quarter of 2025, including trends in Canadian and global deal activity, the continued growth and complexity of private credit, Ontario&rsquo;s advantages as a jurisdiction for non-US flow-through vehicles, and practical considerations in the drafting of earnouts.

The Q3 2025 PE Briefing

Lisa Kakoske

Corporate and Securities Lawyer

Bruce A. Hibbard

Corporate & Securities Lawyer | M&A

Partner 

<p><em>Incorporation Forum Shopping in Canada: Considerations for Canadian Tech Startups</em>, is a comprehensive guide designed to help Canadian technology startups navigate the complexities of choosing the right jurisdiction for incorporation.</p>

Incorporation Forum Shopping in Canada Considerations for Canadian Tech Startups

Incorporation Forum Shopping in Canada: Considerations for Canadian Tech Startups

Adam Kalbfleisch

Competition & Regulatory Lawyer | Foreign Investment

Zirjan (Zee) J. Derwa

Competition and Foreign Investment Review Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

<p>Canada's new criminal prohibition on wage-fixing and no-poaching agreements will come into force on June 23, 2023. These new provisions under subsection 45(1.1) of the Competition Act (the Act) were enacted last year but did not immediately come into force.</p>
<p>The new laws will prohibit agreements between unaffiliated employers: to fix, maintain, decrease or control wages or other terms of employment; or to refrain from hiring or trying to hire one another’s employees.</p>

Wage Fixing and No Poaching Agreements Illegal on June 23 2023

Wage-Fixing and No-Poaching Agreements Illegal on June 23, 2023

Alison G. FitzGerald

International Arbitration Lawyer at Bennett Jones Ottawa

Quinn Scarlett

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

In Grace et al v. The United Mexican States, the Ontario Superior Court set aside a NAFTA arbitral award on both jurisdictional and arbitrator impartiality grounds, marking a significant development in Canada&rsquo;s international arbitration jurisprudence. The decision clarifies Ontario courts&rsquo; willingness to conduct rigorous review of jurisdictional determinations, scrutinize arbitrator disclosure obligations, and preserve meaningful protections for minority investors and dual nationals in investor-state disputes.<br />
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Ontario Court Sets Aside ICSID Award in NAFTA Arbitration

Ontario Court Sets Aside ICSID Award in NAFTA Arbitration: Key Lessons on Jurisdiction and Arbitrator Impartiality

Mark V. Lewis

Commercial Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Vanessa Kiraly

Commercial Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Jacob Mandrusiak

Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

This blog examines the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal&rsquo;s decision in Nova Fish Farms Inc. v. Cold Ocean Salmon Inc., holding that &ldquo;time is of the essence&rdquo; clauses do not apply to contractual obligations framed in indefinite terms such as &ldquo;commercially reasonable efforts.&rdquo; The case highlights the legal limits of TOE clauses absent fixed deadlines and underscores the importance of express outside or longstop dates in allocating timing and termination risk in commercial contracts. The forthcoming Supreme Court of Canada appeal may significantly shape future drafting practices for conditional transactions.

Time Of The Essence Clauses And Indefinite Obligations In Commercial Contracts

Nova Fish Farms Inc. v. Cold Ocean Salmon Inc (2025 NLCA 28)

Time of the Essence Clauses and Indefinite Obligations in Commercial Contracts

Ahmed Elmallah

Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

Counsel, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

Roseann Caldwell

Canadian and United States Patent Agent at Bennett Jones Calgary

Patent Agent

Stephen D. Burns

Energy & Infrastructure Technology Lawyer | IT/OT & Markets

Partner, Trademark Agent

This update analyzes recent Patent Appeal Board decisions to identify trends in the allowance of fintech and financial services patents in Canada. It shows that patentable claims typically frame innovations as technical solutions&mdash;such as improving computing efficiency or integrating specialized hardware&mdash;rather than purely business methods. These trends align with post-Dusome guidance and provide practical insight into how fintech inventions can meet patent eligibility requirements.

Fintech Patents Allowance Trends At The Canadian Patent Appeal Board

Part 2 Fintech Patents: Allowance Trends At The Canadian Patent Appeal Board

Brendan Sigalet

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Greg M. Johnson

Energy Tax & Corporate Lawyer | M&A, Reorganizations & PE

Luke Morrison

Energy Project Development, M&A, and Commercial Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

The federal government released the Spring Economic Update (SEU) on April 28, 2026, with the stated purpose of advancing its goal of building a stronger, more independent and resilient Canadian economy. Of particular interest to energy and clean-technology businesses, the SEU introduces several measures aimed at accelerating investment in low-carbon infrastructure.

Spring Economic Update Expands Canadas Carbon Capture Tax Credit Regime

Spring Economic Update Expands Canada's Carbon Capture Tax Credit Regime to Include Enhanced Oil Recovery

This update reviews the Federal Court&rsquo;s *Dusome* decision and CIPO&rsquo;s new guidance on patent eligibility for computer-implemented inventions in Canada. It highlights a shift toward purposive claim construction and clarifies that fintech innovations may be patentable where they demonstrate a practical application or improve computer functionality. The guidance offers greater predictability for applicants, particularly in financial technology contexts.<br />
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Third Annual CICMA - CIAA - CDL - Joint Seminar

From the Same Authors

Stop Hallucinating - Boards Must Oversee AI Risk

The Q3 2025 PE Briefing

Incorporation Forum Shopping in Canada: Considerations for Canadian Tech Startups

Latest Insights

Ontario Court Sets Aside ICSID Award in NAFTA Arbitration: Key Lessons on Jurisdiction and Arbitrator Impartiality

Time of the Essence Clauses and Indefinite Obligations in Commercial Contracts

Fintech Patents: Allowance Trends At The Canadian Patent Appeal Board

Spring Economic Update Expands Canada's Carbon Capture Tax Credit Regime to Include Enhanced Oil Recovery

Stay Informed. Stay Ahead.