║ Business Law & Litigation ║
Strong Roster
William E. Demers, Principal
A. David Demers, Of Counsel
W. Jacques Demers, Of Counsel
Reuben Fleming, Associate
Forbes E. Frick, Associate
Proven Record
Decades of combined legal, investment and commercial experience. Results oriented. Top-tier experience.
║ Business Law
Demers provides comprehensive business law services to his clients, which include both private and public companies, those starting a business for the first time, and those well versed in commerce.
He is especially active in the areas of business formation, shareholder governance, capital raising, private M&A, and commercial transactions. This work extends to employment and tax matters, securities compliance, and requisite corporate formalities.
Demers provides practical strategies and transaction structures to properly define commercial boundaries, isolate business purposes and assets, mitigate against risks and reduce liability where possible. This is achieved by use of different legal instruments and vehicles, and through carefully defined legal relationships.
While transaction values have been up to $20M and multiple clients’ assets exceed $100M, Demers works closely with first time business owners, startups, family businesses and small enterprises, delivering top quality work at the appropriate scale.
║ Litigation; Arbitration
Conflicts arise between shareholders in the same business, hostile or uncooperative would-be participants, and contractual obligors. Where negotiated settlement is possible, Demers pushes hard to obtain a positive and practical outcome. Where it is not, adjudication of the issue by the appropriate forum is often the best course of action.
Demers was trained at a top-tier business law firm on complex large-scale commercial litigation and arbitration. He has successfully negotiated the recovery of significant debts, compliance with contractual terms, and obtained favourable judgments for many of his clients.
He is the lawyer of record on a number of litigation files before the courts in Ontario and also represents clients in private forums, e.g. in commercial arbitration.
Learn more about
Investment Due Diligence (Part I)
Due diligence is a fundamental part of any investment. Surprisingly, many individuals and businesses routinely skim over this part of the transaction. Proper due diligence is generally less expensive than a failed investment.
Securities Law (Part I)
Many businesses routinely engage in securities transactions, often unbeknownst to themselves, which must be compliant at law otherwise giving rise to potentially significant liability. It is not merely in the realms of publicly listed entities, investment funds and retailers of financial products that such rules apply.
Business Formation
When forming a new business, entrepreneurs may do so in their own names, under trading or registered business names, in partnership or joint venture with others, or through a corporation. The costs, complexities, liabilities, and efficiencies vary.
Business Corporations
(Part I)
As a business owner who has decided to incorporate it is critical to understand the nature of a corporation and its constituents (i.e. its shareholders, directors, management, employees, etc.), and its attributes as a vehicle for profit, tax planning and limitation of liability.
Dispute Resolution
Commercial disputes are an unwanted part of doing business, to say the least. They are sapping in time and resources, often causing considerable mental and emotional anguish to the parties involved (and those indirectly involved, such as family). Obtaining a favourable award or successfully thwarting an action comes at a cost.
Toronto Office
181 University Avenue, Suite 2200
Toronto, ON M5H 3M7
416-224-1444
By appointment only.
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