Corporate & Commercial
About This Practice
Corporate and commercial law is the legal side of running a business in Ontario. It covers how you set the company up, who owns what, how owners make decisions together, and the contracts that keep day-to-day operations running. In Ontario, most small businesses incorporate under the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA) by filing Articles of Incorporation, which creates the company as its own legal entity.
Common matters include incorporating a business, drafting a shareholders' agreement when two or more people go into business together, reviewing commercial leases and supplier contracts, and handling the purchase or sale of a business. When you sell or buy a company in Ontario, one early decision is whether to structure it as an asset sale (the buyer picks specific assets) or a share sale (the buyer takes the whole corporation). Each has different tax and liability consequences, so it is worth getting right.
People usually call a lawyer at a few key moments: when starting up and choosing how to structure ownership, when a partnership relationship needs clear rules in writing, when signing a long-term lease or major contract, or when buying or exiting a business.
How We Work
We keep business law plain and practical. We explain your options in everyday language, point out the real risks before you sign, and put the right agreements in place so partnerships and deals hold up later. We work the way owner-operators in Brampton and across the GTA actually work: clear advice, sensible documents, and no surprises.
Contact the firm to speak with a lawyer in this practice area.
Frequently Asked
It is strongly recommended. Under Ontario law, the Business Corporations Act sets default rules but does not cover key issues like how decisions get made, how profits are shared, or what happens if one partner wants to leave. A shareholders’ agreement records those terms while everyone is still on good terms, which can prevent costly disputes down the road.
It depends on the deal, and both are common in Ontario. An asset purchase lets the buyer choose specific assets and often leave behind unknown liabilities, while a share purchase transfers the whole corporation, including its contracts and obligations. The right structure affects tax and risk for both sides, so it is a decision worth reviewing with a lawyer before signing.
You can operate as a sole proprietorship in Ontario, but incorporating under the Ontario Business Corporations Act creates a separate legal entity that can offer liability protection and potential tax planning options. The right choice depends on your goals, income, and risk. A short conversation with a lawyer or accountant can help you decide.