We handle all types of real estate purchases, sales, refinances, severances, first applications, and subdivision creation. For most people, the purchase of a home is the biggest transaction of their lives. The work must be handled properly and skillfully so that you can relax, secure in the knowledge that your ownership and financing are sound. No matter where your home is located, we will treat you like our new neighbours.
Real estate law has so many traps for the unwary that it routinely causes the highest number of annual negligence claims against the Law Society's insurance company. It cannot be done safely on an assembly line or cut-rate basis. Title insurance is definitely not a replacement for quality legal work. Relying on title insurance is like relying on a band-aid to prevent osteoporosis. An excellent real estate lawyer is by far your best protection. Our fees are fair and competitive with lawyers who know that real estate law demands excellence. Thankfully, such lawyers comprise the majority of the Bar. If you are interested in reading about the many kinds of residential and commercial real estate transactions that we handle, and a sample of some of the problems that we watch out for and solve, please see the More Information page.
Wills and Estates
Would you like to impoverish the legal profession? Then hire a lawyer to prepare well-drafted Wills, Powers of Attorney for Property, and Powers of Attorney for Personal Care. Well-drafted Wills and Powers of Attorney can save you and your heirs legal fees, delays, frustrations, and family disputes. The most lucrative estate files that lawyers open are the ones with home-made or kit Wills. Next are estate files with no Will at all. In other words, having no Will can be better than having a poorly done Will. The estate files that generate the least revenue for lawyers are the ones featuring Wills drafted properly by lawyers who are skilled in estates law and syntax. The words have to be precise. Grammar and punctuation matter.
We can assist you with standard Wills, primary and secondary Wills, spousal and children's trusts, estate planning, probate applications, estate administration, and Powers of Attorney. We can handle as much of the administration work as the trustees wish to to delegate, or we can be a resource for trustees who prefer to handle most of the work themselves.
Business Law (Corporate & Commercial Law)
Small businesses are the backbone of the economy. We ensure that your sole proprietorship, partnership or incorporation is set up properly to enhance your ability to run the business successfully, and we ensure that your business purchases and sales are completed without post-closing legal surprises. Here are some of the services we provide:
Helping you decide which form of business is best for you, and helping you choose the name
Federal incorporations, provincial incorporations, and not-for-profit incorporations
Setting up the minute book, explaining your responsibilities, and maintaining your corporate records
Shareholder or partnership agreements (cost-effective in the event of disputes, deaths, disabilities, and so on)
Share or Asset purchases and sales
Winding up of businesses, and succession planning
Drafting employment and many other types of contracts
Commercial leases (never sign even an Offer to Lease without legal advice)
Our clients include medical and dental practices, restaurants, high tech companies, transport and fuel companies, holding and investment companies, landscaping and renovation businesses, opticians, daycares, and many others.
Family Law
Sometimes family law involves new beginnings. We can help with marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements. Such agreements put in writing the understandings the parties have with each other, eliminating or minimizing future controversies.
Sometimes family law involves pauses in relationships. We can help negotiate terms with a view toward reconciliation or toward peaceful withdrawal.
Sometimes family law involves endings. We can help with separation agreements and divorces. We do our best to make the process as painless and as efficient as possible.
Regardless of the type of family law advice you need, our top priorities are (1) your well-being and (2) fair and reasonable outcomes.
We also offer independent legal advice.
Other Services
We prepare and commission affidavits, statutory declarations, and notarial copies of original documents.
We are available for learning and laughter lectures at schools, colleges, universities, real estate agencies, and seminars.
With extensive experience in regulatory governance, Brad also provides policy and governance analysis.