Articles 2024

Today
Today

Value of Employment Contracts for Solo and Small Firm Lawyers

  • January 22, 2021
  • Stuart Rudner, principal lawyer

Perhaps you are looking to hire your first associate or staff member, or perhaps you already have a team. Either way, contracts and policies are your best opportunity to improve your legal position, and the simple reality is that the vast majority of employment contracts are ineffective. As a fellow OBA member, we will gladly review your current employment agreement template, at no cost, and let you know if it needs to be updated.

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum

Starting Out Solo

  • January 22, 2021
  • Erin O’Rourke, principal lawyer

The author talks about the challenges she faced in opening her practice straight out of articling and into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum

2020 - What a Year to Start a Practice

  • January 22, 2021
  • Ben Fulton, principal lawyer

This article takes a look at some of the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes being made, through the lens of a first year call grappling with issues of access to justice. What changes are being made? How can we make sure that these changes are promoting access to justice? What are the challenges involved in ensuring accommodation of disabilities at this time and in the future? Finally, how do we ensure that the changes we make now are both sustainable and accessible?

Sole, Small Firm and General Practice, Student Forum

Court of Appeal Summaries (January 11 – 15, 2021)

  • January 22, 2021
  • John Polyzogopoulos

Please find below our summaries of the civil decisions of the Court of Appeal for Ontario for the week of January 11. There were only three substantive civil decisions released this past week.

Civil Litigation, Student Forum
Jason E. Bogle

Riding Solo: A Roadmap to a Rewarding Career

  • January 21, 2021
  • Jason E. Bogle

The practice of law is much different than it was ten years ago. It demands more specialization and discipline in order to be successful in today's marketplace. However, as a sole practitioner, your future can be molded to your desire and your ability to pivot and adjust to your external circumstances are within your control. 

Student Forum, Young Lawyers' Division

Women in Tax - Q&A with Jenny Mboutsiadis

  • January 18, 2021
  • Jenny Mboutsiadis & Kathryn Walker

Jenny Mboutsiadis is a tax partner at Fasken.  Prior to joining Fasken Jenny spent 11 years at the Department of Justice. 

Student Forum, Taxation Law

Significant GST/HST Changes for the Digital Economy

  • January 17, 2021
  • Paul Casuccio and Devon LaBuik

On November 30, 2020, the Government released its Fall Economic Statement 2020 titled: Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19. The Statement includes proposals that will impose significant obligations on e-commerce businesses and businesses that import goods into Canada.

Student Forum, Taxation Law

Income Tax Issues in Matrimonial Settlements

  • January 17, 2021
  • Shama Zahra Rafiq

When parties decide to separate, there are a number of decisions that need to be made. Often, the parties are focused on making life-changing decisions such as making new living arrangements, settling on custody and access rights, figuring out what their new lives will look like, taking into account support payments and the division of marital assets. However, the same decisions and agreements made following a separation can affect their tax and financial well being for years to come.

Student Forum, Taxation Law

CRA Releases Details on Work from Home Expense Deductions and Benefits

  • January 17, 2021
  • Kevin Yip, Devon LaBuik, and Kathryn Walker

On December 15, the Canada Revenue Agency (the “CRA”) released additional details regarding the availability of employee deductions for work from home expenses and the taxation of certain employer provided employee benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Student Forum, Taxation Law