Cover of June 2015 issue of LexpertHandout
Lexpert identifies and reports on emerging business issues and practice areas in the business of law. Whether online, in our magazine or in the DealsWire e-newsletter, we chronicle deals and lawsuits of interest, and cover issues of broad concern to the legal profession and those who purchase legal services. We hope you enjoy this sample of our latest content.
From the DealsWire: Crescent-Legacy merger, Cara IPO, Postmedia buys more content
The Lexpert DealsWire (subscribe here) documents facts, figures and key legal players behind recent deals. This week's announced deal spotlight features the key players and figures in the acquisition of Legacy Oil + Gas by Crescent Point Energy.
In our closed deals section, we look at gaming deal of Amaya selling Cadillac Jack to AGS, the combination of two healthcare REITs as well as Postmedia Network's acquisition of newspapers and digital assets from Sun Media.
We also look at the players behind the $200-million IPO of Cara Operations.
Will Ontario lose out on ABS?
The Manitoba government proposed legislative amendments that would make it the fourth province to allow for law firm regulation, widely regarded as a prerequisite for alternative business structures. Is Ontario is at risk of losing out on major capital infusions as potential investors flock to provinces that are out in front on the ABS curve?
Small companies to raise funds in Canada
Amendments effective June 19 will enable smaller U.S. and Canadian companies to sell up to $50-million (U.S.) in securities in both countries during a 12-month period with minimal red tape. Canadian lawyers, however, suggest that the new regs are more likely to be used by small American companies looking for Canadian cash.
Canada's patent system
The sophistication of Canada's patent system lags behind many other jurisdictions. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce calls Canada an international IP outlier. But courts and legislators are taking notice, and various initiatives are attempting to address Canada's shortcomings, including upcoming amendments to the Patent Act. Lexpert spoke with many top patent lawyers to find out whether they are optimistic about the future of our patent system.
Mining for dollars
Finding financing in the mining sector has become more challenging and industry players are increasingly taking a more creative and multilayered approach. Mining lawyers explain to Lexpert the extent to which creativity is key in the Darwinian world of mining finance today, and how Canada is stepping up and ensuring its role as a centre of mine finance has not been eroded even in a down market.
Erasing history: EU's 'right to be forgotten' case will have global ramifications
With all the stir about the European Court of Justice's enunciation of the "right to be forgotten" in its May 2014 decision in Google Spain v. Agencia Espanola de Proteccion de Datos (AEPD) and Mario Costeja Gonzalez, Canadian companies may justifiably be concerned as to how this controversial principle applies to them.
Special edition on corporate law in Report on Business Magazine
Lexpert published its special edition on Canada's Leading Corporate Lawyers in The Globe and Mail's Report on Business magazine on May 29. This special edition includes profiles of Lexpert ranked corporate lawyers. It also includes articles on the following topics:
Avoiding corruption and sanctions: Many Western governments are getting tough on both corruption and sanctions violations.
The rules of the game: The pace of change in corporate governance has never been faster in Canada.
Inbound investment: Foreign investment into Canada is likely to stay strong due to a number of factors, say Canadian corporate lawyers.
Oil is the new mmining: Energy has joined mining in its need for creative dealmaking in a challenging environment.
Legal game of drones
The hobbyist drone market is growing rapidly. And we all know how important large military drones are to the U.S. fighting effort in places like Iraq. But what might surprise you is that the commercial drone market is also exploding, and as McCarthy Tétrault's George Takach explains, the related legal and regulatory issues are fascinating.
Hooray for the Magna Carta!
In case you missed it, this year marks the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta — the law that underpins all laws in Western civilization. In his Last Word column, Paul Paton explores the Magna Carta's history, impact and continuing legacy — as well as its special importance for lawyers and our legal system.
The swashbuckling 'unlawyers'
With the relentless upheaval in the legal industry, marketing consultant Heather Suttie hails the rise of the "unlawyer" — a new breed of professional who thinks beyond the confines of the billable hour, relishes a work life without a traditional working structure, weighs commoditized work against specialized work and can see value in both, but chooses one.