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Choice of Business Entity for Startup
In Canada business entities considered by entrepreneurs include: (1) sole proprietorships, (2) partnerships and limited partnerships and (3) corporations. Each of these entities has advantages as well as disadvantages. Choice of the entity is usually not irrevocable, and often an initial decision will be made with the understanding that, at the appropriate time, a different form of organization will be used.
Protection of Intellectual Property in Startup
Aside from competence of management team, control of intellectual property is a major focus of investor scrutiny. The ability to identify and protect intellectual property directly reflects on investor confidence and the resulting access to capital available to technology start-up. Protection of intellectual property assets is available through the law of copyright, trade secrets, patents and trademarks.
Banking & Finance
Virtually every day brings with it news of yet another application of technology to traditional means of commerce. On-line banking is now commonplace, as all of Canada's largest banks offer a full range of services over the Internet. Although the virtual marketplace is still in its nascent stages, the speed with which technology changes suggest that we are now witnessing a fundamental change of banking business. To participate and prosper in this developing virtual marketplace, banks must become conversant not only with the technology that affords access to the Internet but also the legal issues relating to such participation.
The challenge is to adapt and expand existing laws, regulations and private contract rules to adequately cover the new medium of the Internet banking. In evaluating the merits and legal pitfalls of Internet banking, it is important to remember that Internet payment systems use different payment instruments and have distinct system designs. Because of these differences, generalizations about the legal rules applicable to Internet payments are difficult to make. Before using any of Internet payment instruments, banks and other financial institutions should consider the different sets of legal issues relating the particular type of payment system.
Our work in the area of electronic banking includes advice on the creation of joint ventures and other organizational structures designed to offer electronic services; advice relating to the applicability of bank regulatory, commercial law and other legal regimes affecting electronic financial services and electronic commerce; advice on intellectual property issues affecting electronic services; advice on contractual and liability issues arising in connection with electronic banking and commerce; and assistance on legislative and regulatory initiatives affecting the offering of electronic services.
A niche status and use of technology enable us to provide high quality, cost effective legal services for emerging and existing businesses, technology start-ups, entrepreneurs and inventors in a variety sectors of economy. We continue to develop relationships with other law practitioners with experience in technology litigation, patent law, corporate financing and leasing as well as full service corporate law firms, all of whom will work in conjunction with the Firm on specific matters.
What distinguishes us from many other law firms is our businesslike approach to solving our clients' problems. We recognize that the most aggressive (and expensive) strategy may not always be the best solution to a client's problem. We also recognize that most clients would prefer to spend less money to alleviate their problems than spend more. The Firm’s unique understanding of such issues allows to communicate with business and technical personnel on a more meaningful level, and allows the Firm to avoid solutions that although theoretically sound, are impractical and unworkable.