01 Plain Language for clients and counsel
Written to be used.
Complex legal topics explained clearly for clients, professionals, and the public, and precise enough to actually inform the decisions that follow.
Plain-language explainers, case commentaries, and practice notes across civil litigation, commercial litigation, business law, appeals, and select cross-border topics. Read, then get in touch if your situation calls for it. The Information Portal is a working archive, not marketing copy. Each post is written by counsel at the firm and drafted to the same standard of care we apply to the files we handle.
What you'll find
Each post is written by counsel at the firm and drafted to the same standard of care we apply to the files we handle. The aim is practical: explain the doctrine, note what has changed, and point to what matters next. Long-form articles, case commentary, and short practice notes on the mechanics of procedure.
Complex legal topics explained clearly for clients, professionals, and the public, and precise enough to actually inform the decisions that follow.
Recent developments, new case law, and procedural changes, written up as they happen with the practical consequences drawn out plainly.
Actionable takeaways so readers can move from reading to decision-making, whether that is on their own, with in-house counsel, or with us.
The information provided on this site is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Content may not be comprehensive or current at the time you read it. Consult a qualified lawyer on any specific legal question or matter. Grigoras Law is not responsible for any damage or loss arising from reliance upon this information.
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Cheques remain a popular payment method for many businesses and individuals today, but their use also brings with it the risk of fraud. This risk was at the heart of the legal battle between Austral Imports Inc. and the Bank of Montreal in a case that dealt with the effectiveness of contemporary account verification and related obligations.
If you’re struggling with debt and need a way out, you may be wondering what options are available to you. In Canada, one option is to file a consumer proposal. This legal process is designed to help insolvent individuals compromise their debts with their creditors and avoid the stigma of bankruptcy.
In Canada, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (the “PIPEDA”) is a federal law regulating the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by private organizations during commercial activities. The PIPEDA is key legislation that aims to safeguard the privacy of individuals by setting out clear rules for the management of personal information by private organizations.
Promissory estoppel is a legal doctrine that may be used to prevent a party from reneging on a promise or representation they have made. It is a principle of equity that can be invoked to prevent a party from relying on their strict legal rights where it would be unfair or unjust to do so. Although originally developed by the common law, it has been modified over time by equitable principles.
Amending the articles of a corporation is a common type of fundamental change to the constitution of a corporation. Active businesses often experience a fundamental change during their lifespan. In Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA) allows for almost any change to the corporation’s constitution.
The gambling industry is a prime target for those seeking to launder illegal funds. This includes physical casinos, online casinos, bars with poker machines, and both physical and online sports betting services. The global gambling industry generated record-breaking revenues in 2021, reaching $261 billion (USD) in the US and €87.2 billion (EUR) in Europe, making it an attractive option for criminals seeking to launder money. Relative to population size, Canada’s gambling industry made a proportional $2.64 billion (CAD) in revenue in 2021.
A contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties that outlines their respective rights and obligations. But what happens if one of the parties wants to get out of the contract? In some cases, a contract can be voided, which means that it is deemed to have never existed legally.
In law, promises matter, particularly regarding the protection of reliance. This post will be about the protection of reasonable reliance on statements made by a party to a contract or a potential contract. In a contract, the preservation of one party’s reliance may be equally as significant as the protection of both parties’ reasonable expectations.
Letters of credit (LC) and bank guarantees are financial tools used to secure payment obligations. However, they differ from regular guarantees in terms of the defences against payment demands. An LC is simply an agreement to pay under certain conditions, and the law governing LCs is determined by the national jurisdiction where the LC is issued.
In Ontario, under the Ontario Business Corporations Act, directors of a corporation have a legal responsibility to satisfy themselves that the corporation is financially stable before making certain transactions. This includes the payment of dividends, redemption or reacquisition of shares, reduction of stated capital, or provision of financial assistance to certain non-arm’s length persons.
As a director or officer of a public corporation in Ontario, you need to be aware of the legal implications of your actions. The Criminal Code of Canada includes a number of provisions that pertain to fraud, and these can apply to those in leadership positions within a company.
The question of how cryptocurrencies are classified under Canadian bankruptcy law has again been brought to the forefront with the collapse of Bahamas-based cryptocurrency exchange FTX . . . While there is broad acceptance that cryptocurrencies are likely assets, there is no widespread agreement on how to classify them – are they financial assets, intangible assets, inventory, investment property or something else?
When it comes to court-appointed receiverships, there can be much confusion surrounding the issue of rent obligations. The main tension arises from the fact that existing legal principles don’t always align with what a receiver would like to do in practice.
Effective January 1, 2023, Ontario corporations governed by the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) will be required to maintain a register of individuals with significant control. This change is the result of Bill 43, which the government of Ontario approved in 2021.
The Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (“CPA”) is a piece of legislation in Ontario that was put in place to safeguard customers’ interests in their interactions with various commercial enterprises. If a consumer’s rights are infringed upon, it details the legal recourses available to them as well as the rights and responsibilities of both businesses and customers.
There is a federal law in Canada called the Investment Canada Act, and it is used to govern the flow of foreign investment into the country. At the federal level, this legislation is the only one regulating foreign investment in the country.
The GST/HST Section 167 Election is a clause that can be used in an asset purchase agreement to address the tax implications of purchasing a business. It grants the parties the ability to make a joint election for an exemption from the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) on the purchase of all or substantially all of a company’s assets, provided that certain conditions are satisfied.
The Hague Convention on Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, 1965 (also known as the Hague Service Convention) is an international treaty that sets out the rules for serving judicial and extrajudicial documents abroad in civil or commercial matters.
The National Instruments are a detailed set of rules and regulations that apply to the securities industry in Canada. They are issued by the Canadian Securities Administrators, an umbrella body representing each province and territory’s securities regulators. The National Instruments are intended to strengthen investor protection and promote efficient capital markets.
An order of discharge under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act releases a bankrupt individual from the majority of their debts and responsibilities. This signifies that the bankrupt is no longer legally obligated to repay their debts, and creditors can no longer pursue legal action against the bankrupt to recover the debts.
The oppression remedy is intended to offer shareholders, directors, and officers with a method to seek redress where they have been subjected to oppressive treatment by the corporation. This may include instances in which the corporation has operated in a manner that is unfairly prejudicial to the interests of specific shareholders or has disregarded the rights of its directors or officers.
Asset protection planning is a process that involves organizing one’s affairs to prevent the loss of wealth due to legal actions, divorce, and taxes. To achieve this goal, many people have created asset protection trusts, which are legal arrangements that allow individuals to safeguard their assets, such as their home or other property, business, retirement funds, and children’s education savings. One type of asset protection trust that is available is the Nevada Asset Protection Trust.
Law Bytes: Commercial Tenancies – Termination or Distraint?
An incorporated company is one of the most common ways of conducting a business. The corporation is a separate person in the eyes of the law – it’s a separate legal entity. It’s “separate” because it’s a separate legal entity from the people who own the corporation (who are called shareholders). It’s a “person” because it has the capacity, rights, powers, and privileges of a natural person.
The Canadian Encyclopedic Digest defines a contract as “an agreement free from vitiating factors such as mistake or misrepresentation, and constituted by the unconditional acceptance of an outstanding offer involving a reasonably precise and complete set of terms between two or more contractually competent parties, who intend to create mutual and reciprocal rights and duties that may be the subject of judicial sanction, if they are expressed in any required form, and are free from the taint of illegality or immorality, and are not subsequently discharged by law, by agreement, by breach, or by sufficient supervening circumstances.”
When it is time to move from reading to resolving, Grigoras Law handles civil, commercial, and appellate matters across Ontario, and select cross-border files. The right counsel changes the calculation. For plaintiffs, that means a practical assessment of viable causes of action, a realistic view of recovery prospects, and a clear read on urgent interim relief if the facts support it. For defendants, it means pleadings assessed, defences triaged, and a strategy that keeps the file from consuming your business while it runs.
A contract has been breached, a partner has acted against your interests, a director has crossed a line, or money is at risk of disappearing. You want to understand what can be recovered, what urgent relief is available before trial, and whether the case is worth running.
Start plaintiff intake → Defendant intakeYou have been served with a statement of claim, an oppression application, or a demand that threatens proceedings. You need the pleadings assessed, the defences triaged, and a strategy that keeps the file from consuming your business while it runs.
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