Corporate and commercial law

Commercial contracts and shareholder agreements form the foundation of your business relationships.

Our expertise covers:

• Drafting and review of commercial contracts;
• Negotiation of business agreements;
• Tailor-made shareholder agreements;
• Protective clauses (shotgun, drag-along, tag-along, right of first refusal);
• Franchise and distribution agreements;
• Partnership, service, distribution, and joint venture agreements;
• Employment contracts with your employees;
• Human resources policies and other agreements;
• Drafting and analysis of commercial leases;
• Corporate governance advice.

We structure your agreements to protect your interests and prevent future disputes, while fostering healthy and lasting business relationships.

Creating or restructuring your business is a major strategic decision for your business project.

Our lawyers’ services include:

• Incorporating businesses (Inc. or Ltd., for example) or forming partnerships (such as a general partnership or a limited liability partnership);
• Analysis and selection of the optimal legal structure;
• Ongoing corporate services and updating the minute book;
• Business reorganizations and corporate restructuring;
• Business succession and estate planning;
• Protection of personal assets and separation of assets;
• Commercial litigation and dispute resolution.

We support you in establishing a solid legal structure that promotes your company’s growth while minimizing your risks.

Mergers and acquisitions require specialized legal expertise and a strategic approach.

Our services include:

• Comprehensive legal due diligence;
• Transaction structuring (share purchase vs. asset purchase);
• Negotiation of terms and pricing;
• Drafting of purchase and sale agreements and resolutions;
• Business sales and asset transfers;
• Support from initiation to closing of the transaction;
• Management of tax and corporate matters.

We guide you through every step of your business transactions to ensure their success.

In the event of a commercial dispute, you may resort to negotiation, a formal notice, mediation, or arbitration, as well as the courts, to obtain contract enforcement, damages, or an appropriate injunction, depending on your specific situation.

Business law is multidisciplinary, drawing upon contract, corporate, commercial, tax, consumer, and criminal law to govern businesses, their operations, business relationships, and challenges.

A corporate lawyer supports a company throughout its lifecycle: choosing a legal structure, drafting bylaws and shareholder agreements, capital transactions, governance, contracts, and compliance, to secure your decisions and mitigate risks.

A legal audit is a thorough examination of a company’s situation regarding its legal, contractual, and regulatory obligations. This review is essential, particularly for SMEs, to prevent litigation and financial penalties. It is an exercise that identifies risks and non-compliance issues while proposing necessary improvements.

Risks that organizations may encounter include:

• Incomplete or poorly adapted contracts, which can lead to financial loss, disputes, or penalties;
• Poor employee management, resulting in concerns regarding the CNESST, workplace harassment, and wrongful dismissals;
• Protection of personal information in compliance with Law 25;
• Absence of a shareholders’ agreement;
• Non-existent internal policies, leading to operational and legal risks.

It is recommended to choose a business and corporate law attorney with practical experience in corporate litigation. Such a professional does not merely draft contracts or structure the company; they understand potential business disputes, know where businesses are vulnerable, and can anticipate, avoid, and mitigate legal risks. This dual expertise enables effective business protection and prevents costly conflicts.