BARE BONES BRIEFS: Norton Rose bigwig leaves for Torys | LSO liable for costs of “unarguable” prosecution | Complaints against lawyers at record high | Study: Legal Aid is essential poverty relief | Rotfleisch releases new edition of Canadian Tax Facts
By Julius Melnitzer | June 23, 2026 NORTON ROSE ENERGY CHIEF JOINS TORYS Robert Froehlich, who led Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP’s energy practice and was chair of the firm’s business law group from 2019 to 2025, has joined Torys LLP’s Calgary office as a partner. His experience embraces some of Canada’s most significant and […]
How do OECD remote-working guidelines impact Canadian employers?
By: Julius Melnitzer | April 2, 2026 The Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development has introduced new guidelines for determining whether a remote employee’s home office amounts to a permanent establishment that attracts tax for a foreign employer. The guidelines formulate a two-part test for use in determining whether a permanent establishment exists. The tests consist […]
When Patent Law Meets Competition Law
By Julius Melnitzer | February 6, 2026 “Competition issues can arise at various points in the patent life cycle, including the filing stage, during licensing or commercialisation, litigation, and with respect to distribution practices.” – Chen Li Patent law confers exclusivity. Competition law shuns monopolies. The two are bound to clash. “Competition issues can arise at […]
Top 10 business decisions of 2025, part two
Bedrin-Alexander: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM By Julius Melnitzer | February 4, 2026 Here is part two of my annual list of the top 10 business decisions in Canada for the year just ended. This two-part series began with the cases ranked sixth through tenth. Part two herein covers the top five cases, in ascending order. 5. Heritage Property Corporation v. […]
Top 10 business decisions of 2025, part one
Bedrin-Alexander: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM By Julius Melnitzer | February 1, 2026 Here is my annual list of the top 10 business decisions in Canada for the year just ended. This two-part series begins with the cases ranked sixth through tenth, in ascending order. Part two will cover the top five cases. Top 10 business decisions of 2025, […]
Be it resolved: Finders keepers
By Marcel Strigberger | January 14, 2026 Ever hear of a place in Russia called Khanty-Mansiysk? Didn’t think so. Vladimir Rychagov was a factory worker there, until he hit the jackpot, or rather helped himself to it. Through a software glitch, his employer deposited the salaries of 34 of its employees into his bank account, being over […]
Three certainties: bureaucracy, taxes and bagels
By Marcel Strigberger | November 13, 2025 A sudden impulse struck me recently at my nearby Sobey’s supermarket, causing me to buy a package of bagel chips. For the uninitiated, this product consists of about one bagel or so, toasted, thinly sliced, and packaged. Unlike its one-piece version, which sells for about a dollar, this […]
China’s New Draft Trademark Law Strengthens Brand Protection
“To navigate the new regime effectively, registered trademark owners must proactively maintain evidence of use, monitor third-party filings, and act swiftly against infringements.” – Amy Chan By Julius Melnitzer | November 7, 2025 China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has proposed a new law aimed at strengthening trademark protection. From the perspective of foreign businesses and […]
Duping the Dupes: An IP Rights Holder’s Combat Strategy
“Fast fashion, fast beauty, and the like have combined with the rise of social media influencers who can quickly promote low-cost goods in ways never seen before to create a perfect competitive storm for rights holders.” – Thomas Huthwaite By Julius Melnitzer | November 6, 2025 Monitoring “dupes”—products that mimic the look, feel and function of […]
The Corporation—Neither a Soul to Be Damned nor an Ass to Be Kicked
By Marcel Strigberger | November 4. 2025 Just one more thing … There’s something that bothers me – – – Columbo I shall start off by quoting Shakespeare: “Fie on the company!” Well, to be accurate, the bard did say the fie part. Now retired from practice, I am reflecting on what it is about […]