Section Articles

For most employment lawyers, mediation will be a far more common experience than trial. For most disputes, mediation is not a step on the road to trial—it is the main event. As a result, it is critical that lawyers prepare properly for mediation and take advantage of the opportunity. Alex, a litigator with Rudner Law, composed some questions that lawyers/litigators would like to hear a mediator (Stuart) answer. Below is our Q&A (which did not actually take place in a bar).

One recent judicial review, Sloat v Grand Erie District School Board, 2024 ONSC 6209, offers a cautionary tale about the importance of protecting procedural rights and ensuring that decision-makers have a full understanding of the facts before rendering their decisions.

Nicole Bedford's documentary highlights the resilience of women facing tragedies like the École Polytechnique shooting and milestones in Canada’s gender equality, such as the 1929 Persons Case. Despite progress, violence against women is rising. The film stresses the impact on children and the need for trauma-informed legal practices. Breaking the cycle requires open conversations and lasting change.

I attended a program on Auer v. Auer, where experts discussed its impact on administrative law. The decision clarified how courts review regulations, building on previous cases like Vavilov and Katz. It helped me connect my coursework to real-world legal challenges, deepening my understanding of key concepts and their future applications.

The public has become increasingly aware of the potential dangers of widespread use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to human health and the environment. This has led to class actions in the United States and Canada as well as regulation of PFAS. However, Canada lags behind the US both in litigation and regulation. Developments in the US may foreshadow the future regulatory and litigation landscape for PFAS in Canada.

In October 2024, the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision for Mathur v. Ontario, 2024 ONCA 762. This article addresses some of the finer points in Mathur and discusses whether the remedies ultimately suggested by the Court of Appeal are appropriate in the face of climate emergencies.

With over 7 million Canadians aged 65 and older, and one in four identifying as part of a racialized group, the importance of cultural competence for lawyers is growing. This article examines how cultural competence intersects with the nuances of providing legal services to an aging population and offers practical tips to enhance your cultural competence.

Community benefits charges (“CBC”) are a new funding tool authorized under s. 37 of Ontario’s Planning Act (the “Act”) that allow municipalities to impose a charge against higher density development to pay for capital costs related to developments and redevelopments. CBCs can only be levied against mid- to high-density buildings that are five or more storeys and contain 10 or more residential units.

When it comes to suspected fraudulent conveyances, lawyers are often forced to become detectives, digging deep into where assets and funds may have been transferred and demonstrating a pattern of a payor spouse moving funds or selling assets, without a reasonable explanation, right around the time monies are coming due to the other spouse. Katherine Shadbolt shares the investigation techniques that should help you make your case.

At a recent OBA Elder Law Section program on representing elderly clients in litigation, participants learned about navigating the complexities of representing elderly clients with a focus in estates, personal injury and employment law. Key takeaways included indicators to watch for when assessing a client’s capacity, tips for addressing frequent concerns or difficulties that can arise and how to address them, and understanding the difference between section 3 counsel and litigation guardians.

We are pleased to share that through the Ontario Business Registry (OBR), the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement has made great strides to ensure there are a variety of convenient and secure service channel options available to Ontario businesses, Service Providers (1), and Intermediary Organizations (2). This notice is to inform you about our expanding service delivery options and the requirements of a Company Key to access the OBR system.

Franchise Law is a trap for the unwary lawyer. The consequences of getting it wrong can be significant, not only to the public, the client, and to various individuals related to the client, but also for the lawyer. According to LawPRO’s most recent statistics the average dollar value of a negligence claim against lawyers in franchise matters was approximately five times the claim value in almost every other area of law.

Ontario public school boards may be liable where they fail to reasonably investigate human rights complaints or where their investigations violate privacy rights. School boards can limit their liability by providing clear policies outlining their investigation processes, restricting the collection of information, limiting access to information, and adapting their processes as new information arises. This ensures that complaints are reasonably addressed and privacy rights are respected.

The Supreme Court of Canada recently held that Ontario public school boards are “inherently governmental” and thus subject to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (“Charter”). As a result, the Court overturned an arbitrator’s decision regarding discipline imposed on two teachers because the arbitrator failed to conduct a Charter analysis. This case summary provides a brief overview and analysis of the decision, including the implications for school boards.

In October 2024, the Ontario Court of Appeal allowed an appeal in Mathur v Ontario, an ongoing youth-led climate case. The Court found that the Province voluntarily assumed a positive statutory obligation to combat climate change, meaning its target and plan need to be Charter compliant. Although the Court allowed the appeal, it declined to decide the application and instead remitted the matter for a new hearing before the same or another justice of the Superior Court.

On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the OBA  Elder Law Section hosted its 2024 Elder Law Day which focused on addressing advanced issues in Elder Law. Participants came together to learn from experts in their field regarding the latest developments in the law and the current issues impacting our aging population.  

A quick tour of ways to celebrate National Child Day and World Children's Day on November 20. Child Day is an opportunity to learn more about children's rights and, in 2024, to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

On August 7th, 2024, the Divisional Court of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice released an important decision affirming the rights of children with capacity to make decisions about their own health care under Ontario’s Health Care Consent Act, 1996. This decision marks a pivotal moment in the province’s recognition of capable children’s indisputable right to consent to medical treatments.

On April 1, 2024, significant amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act (the “CA Act”) and a new regulation under the Act, came into effect. This new regulation, Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits, ( “O. Reg. 41/24”), revoked and replaced the 36 individual regulations that governed Conservation Authorities. The new regulation governs prohibited activities, exemptions and permits under the CA Act.

Canadian provinces have been taking steps to shift the responsibility and cost of recycling certain materials from municipalities to the producers of the materials. In Ontario, this shift has been pursued through the Blue Box Regulation, 391/21, while in Alberta it falls under the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation, 194/22.

An 849-paragraph testament to the grinding weight of our civil justice system, the decision in Walsh Construction v. Toronto Transit Commission et al., 2024 ONSC 2782, was arrived at after a trial stretching over 19 months. In spite of the achievement that the decision represents, its findings on flow-through claims of subcontractors represent a potentially troubling precedent for the industry, and are puzzling as a matter of law. They bear further scrutiny on the appeal currently underway.

Time is of the essence when it comes to the role of a delay expert in a construction dispute. With cases increasingly involving vast amounts of data, AI has become a formidable tool for delay experts. However, AI tools are not without their limitations. Human oversight is still crucial to ensure both reasonableness and accuracy in legal proceedings.  

This is the first article in the 2024-2025 Newsletter’s Reflections series, featuring reflections on extraordinary careers by senior counsel in the construction bar. We are grateful to Duncan Glaholt for inaugurating this series.

Practitioners must remain attentive to their disclosure obligations. Any settlement agreement (or partial settlement agreement) reached between some parties, but not others, that entirely changes the landscape of the litigation in a way that significantly alters the dynamics of the litigation must be disclosed to the non-settling parties.  The obligation to disclose is immediate and unequivocal. 

The key takeaways from the Westport decision are that sureties will be entitled to assert priority against a wide range of funds, including those awarded in construction adjudications, as long as their indemnity agreements are drafted broadly. While ensuring the flow of funds through adjudication is important, a competing and equally important consideration is not disturbing the construction bonding regime.

The Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in Live Nation Ontario Concerts GP, Inc. v. Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, 2024 ONCA 634 (CanLII) (“Live Nation v. Aviva”) demonstrates that the concepts of risk allocation and equitable contribution are different. Assuming the risk of a certain amount of defence costs via an SIR does not turn an insured into an insurer. The concept of equitable contribution is a remedy between insurers and ought not to be applied between an insurer and an insured. 

This short article provides an overview of discussions from the 23rd Annual Charter Conference, focusing on recent developments in Canadian Charter litigation. It covers court cases involving educational institutions on issues like free speech, property rights, and privacy. It also addresses the Federal Court's decision on the Emergencies Act concerning the 2022 convoy protests and highlights the need for public engagement by legal professionals to combat misinformation.

While many employers are already considering, or are in the process of, taking steps to address the growing adoption and use of generative AI among their employees, important legal regulatory frameworks are also in development at both the Provincial and Federal levels. For lawyers advising employer clients grappling with generative AI in the workplace, it is increasingly important to keep an eye on the regulatory developments ahead.

In May, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) announced a set of initiatives it is testing to support early-stage capital raising for Ontario businesses. The initiatives include an extension of Ontario Instrument 45-507 Self-Certified Investor Prospectus Exemption (Interim Class Order), which permits Ontario investors who may not meet the accredited investor financial criteria, but have qualifying education or work experience, to invest in private Ontario businesses.

One of the most vexing issues in family law is determining what is a person's income for the purposes of paying support. This article provides an overview of some of the most common concepts related to calculating income for support purposes. 

Business owners can now access significant tax benefits when selling a qualifying business to an employee ownership trust pursuant to a transaction that constitutes a qualifying business transfer. Among other benefits, eligible vendors are entitled to receive a shared pool of up to $10 million in capital gains deductions. This article will provide an overview of the eligibility requirements and an outline of the various benefits of EOT Transactions.

On August 20, 2024, the province of Ontario published the new Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, a province-wide policy instrument that, once in force, will replace both the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 and A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It will come into force on October 20, 2024.

Two recent BC Court of Appeal decisions revive support for Canadian data breach class actions after the viability of such proceedings was recently stifled by a trio of decisions by the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Last month, the OBA Construction and Infrastructure Law Section hosted its 19th Annual Golf Day & Lunch Program at Eagles Nest Golf Club in Maple, Ontario. The sold-out event was a huge success thanks to our co-chairs, organizers, core sponsors and speakers.

As the Canadian population continues to age, elder financial abuse remains a growing concern. Financial elder abuse cases may seem clear cut, but they can present numerous challenges that make the road to resolution difficult for litigators. This article summarizes the key challenges that present themselves when lawyers take on elder financial abuse cases and highlights the strategies that they can employ to combat these challenges, even before the case begins. 

In Sjostrom Sheet Metal Ltd. v. Geo A. Kelson Company Limited, 2023 ONSC 4959, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice affirmed several key legal principles, including the importance of carefully drafted pleadings, the validity of oral contracts, the significance of good record-keeping in quantifying damages, adherence to contractual default notice provisions, and the consequences that may flow from ambiguous or incomplete change orders.

In response to Walsh Construction v. Toronto Transit Commission et al., 2024 ONSC 2782, the Superior Court has a offered a number of valuable takeaways for the construction industry and construction law practitioners, including counsel and arbitrators, regarding what can be expected in the resolution of a complex construction claim.

Privacy regulators across Canada are signalling an increased focus on a particular risk area: namely, reliance on service providers. This article explores various key developments. 

Effective January 22, 2024, private corporations governed by the <em>Canada Business Corporations Act</em> are required to publicly disclose their individuals with “significant control” (“ISCs”); however, the ISC identification rules remain murky in their application to shareholders that are trusts. Government guidance is urgently required to ensure corporations and shareholders can properly meet these new obligations.

Canadian organizations implementing artificial intelligence products to process personal information are currently working in a vacuum, with no definitive standards or frameworks to guide them. However, a recent report by Ontario's IPC provided recommendations for ensuring the privacy-protective adoption of such technologies.

After experiencing a cyber attack, organizations tend to keep a tight grip on incident-related information, often by asserting some sort of legal privilege. In LifeLabs LP v. Information and Privacy Commr. (Ontario), a panel of the Divisional Court of Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice found that legal privileges asserted by LifeLabs did not apply to, among other things the forensic investigation report prepared by a third-party cybersecurity consultant.

The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act in Ontario and the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act in Australia aim to bolster labour standards and safeguard workers. Australia's amendment strengthens flexible work rights and dispute resolution, addressing work-life balance, gender equity and legal protection. Ontario can learn from Australia's reforms to improve its own labour laws.

In R v. Bykovets, the Supreme Court found that there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in IP addresses and, as such, law enforcement need judicial pre-authorization to obtain access to them. This article provides a brief overview of the SCC’s decision and discusses important considerations under Canadian privacy law when determining the extent to which a business may disclose personal information to law enforcement without consent.

On February 2, 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s mandate letters issued to his cabinet ministers in 2018 are exempt from public disclosure.

This article examines how existing law and upcoming legal reforms can be applied to address AI revenge porn. So far, the law has been slow to respond, though federal AI legislation on the horizon aims to regulate organizations that develop AI systems and make them available for use.

ESA plays a crucial role as the minimum safeguard for employees in Ontario, such as the minimum wage (Part IX) and notice of reasonable period (Part XV). Despite being the “floor” of employee protection, many ESA provisions fail to offer sufficient safeguards for their working arrangements.

Once back in Canada (after graduating with a Bachelor of Law from the University of Liverpool and spending a summer basking in the warm English sunshine and reveling in the World Cup celebrations), reality set in, and the need to chart a course became apparent. The first step was to understand the National Accreditation Committee (NCA) and navigate the process of successfully passing the NCA exams. Regrettably, my initial plan was met with unexpected obstacles.

Last year, I was that ‘swamped’ law-school student – exhausted, perplexed about my desires, identity, and the secrets to navigating the unfamiliar terrain of the 1L recruitment. Yet, I emerged successfully, and through this article, I aim to divulge the insights gained, the retrospective wisdom I've acquired, and the mindset I would embrace if I were to do it all over again.

Are you looking for law school experiences that could influence the rest of your life, or trying to find those that could lead to lifelong memories? Well, if you are debating between what opportunities to participate in during your law school journey, I would strongly urge you consider signing up for an exchange.

Olivia passionately calls for a legal education revolution, urging practical training to break access to justice barriers. She champions students' role, emphasizing competent graduates as cost-cutting justice advocates.

Through informed advocacy and collaboration with technologists and policymakers, lawyers must be ready to navigate the complex realm of AI, ensuring that as technology advances across sectors, so does justice.

As another year has come to an end and we have already embarked on a new year, we take this opportunity to reflect on a number of significant changes to Canadian privacy law. From promising developments to proposed legislation to a groundbreaking investigation, there is much to review as we head into 2024. This article reviews the top five recent developments we encountered this year.

On December 7, 2023, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada released an article with nine principles intended to guide developers, providers and organizations to properly navigate the development and use of generative artificial intelligence. Privacy concerns arise where the AI is trained on data sets that include personal information.

This article reviews a recent BC Supreme Court case that revisited the principles to be considered when the court determines whether or not to order a capacity assessment in a guardianship proceeding; further, the article provides guidance for requesting and/or conducting effective capacity assessments. 

A shareholders' Agreement is often overlooked by business owners. This shareholders' Agreement can assist the owners of the business entity to understand their rights, obligations, and expectations when it comes to their business dealings especially where there is conflict. It is important to assist clients to recognize why they require a shareholders' agreement where there is more than one shareholder in a business.

There is a popular saying that goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In recent years, a group of engineers in California have revolutionized this expression with their innovation of DALL-E and its successor, DALLE-2. This article describes DALL-E and some core contracting considerations for lawyers advising clients who leverage the technology.

Going from law school to articling is a big, but important, step in most new lawyers' careers. In this article, Nehmet Bedar sets out small ways that can help you go from the classroom to practice with ease.

In this article, Vanessa Carment sets out the basic terms and conditions that must be included in every commercial lease for the agreement to be enforceable.

Understanding severance packages is not only beneficial for those lawyers practicing specifically in employment and labour law, but to all litigators. In this article, Jill Lewis breaks down what to look out for when a severance package comes across your desk.

On Remembrance Day, I attended the second day of the Council of Nigerian Professionals' 2022 Power of Inclusion virtual event, which focused on inclusive leadership. The panel consisted of a diverse group of corporate and community leaders who shared their professional insights and personal experiences. This is a summary of their insights.

The purchase and sale of a business mirrors the laws of contract in terms of its elements, however, there are more aspects to be considered. The purpose of this article is to give the reader a general overview of the process involved in buying and selling a business, and it is in no way exhaustive of the intricacies involved in buying and selling a business. 

Your committee participation gives you a chance to play an important role in shaping and amplifying the impact of this dynamic practice area.

In this article, Matthew Gardner, Anand Srivastava, and Madiha Vallani provide an overview of the key provisions of Ontario's Excess Soil Laws. The article also includes a summary of the three phases of the roll out of the excess soil regime and important considerations for project leaders.

A recent decision of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice will likely embolden creditors and trigger more aggressive litigation over set-off claims in insolvency files.

On August 31, 2022, the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned a trial decision in First National Financial GP Corporation v. Golden Dragon Ho 10. Inc., unanimously holding that when a contract is silent on an issue, absent contradicting contractual provisions, a mortgagor must provide additional consideration to amend the agreement to receive a right to prepay and discharge a mortgage.

As a result of a recent amendment to the Employment Standards Act as part of Bill 88, employers with 25 or more employees will be required to adopt a written policy on electronic monitoring.  Given the significant number of new obligations, businesses should begin preparing for Bill 88’s implementation now.

You will quickly find that many people who contact you about internet defamation simply want the statements removed and/or stopped. Their fury and sense of impotence is palpable, but you must be disciplined and avoid transforming a problem into a disaster. In this article, the last in the series “To Sue or Not to Sue for Libel,” cyber libel expert David Potts considers defamation injunctions through various angles.

The Court of Appeal for Ontario has now overturned the Superior Court of Justice’s decision in Rahman, finding that the “just cause” provision in the employment contract contravened the Employment Standards Act, 2000. This is yet another decision confirming and applying Waksdale and its strict interpretation of employment agreements regardless of contextual factors and the sophistication of the parties.

It’s not every day that one gets to rub shoulders with judges of the Supreme Court of Canada. In fact, the closest I had ever been to a Supreme Court judge prior to last week’s Gala dinner at the Ritz-Carlton in Toronto was back in 2007 when I visited Ottawa and signed up for a tour of the highest court in the land. So, you can imagine how thrilled I was to attend the OBA gala in honour of Justice Rosalie Abella and Justice Mahmud Jamal on May 26, 2022. And what a supreme evening it was, indeed!

Most lawyers retained on cyberlibel actions never ask themselves how internet and offline libel actions differ, to the detriment of their client. Admittedly, it is a large and complex topic, and it requires an understanding of internet technology, reputation management, information warfare and strategic studies as well as defamation law, so in this article, I will just sketch the differences.

As I conclude my term as Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division-East (“OBA YLD-East”), I want to reflect on how my experience on the OBA YLD-East Executive has helped me develop as a young lawyer. While the paths of all lawyers are unique, I wanted to share some of the lessons that I have learned in case it’s helpful for others thinking of joining the OBA executive or serving in similar roles.

Here are three remote networking avenues that I benefitted from during the pandemic, that can also be used in the post-pandemic world.

In this short piece, I would like to explore how Métis communities in the United States (“US”) could claim Canadian constitutional rights by making references to the fresh legal perspective advanced in Desautel. In a potential future case where Métis in the US might claim s. 35 Canadian constitutional rights, I advance the position that s. 35 should be interpreted in a purposive way that includes Métis people who were forced to move elsewhere or on whom international boundaries were imposed.

Many lawyers have had an eager bright law student send them an email asking for an internship opportunity. Lawyers often feel swamped with that feeling of I can’t divide my attention any further. My advice, having a student can be rewarding, and productive, you just have to figure out what works for you and them.

A recent decision from the Ontario Court of Appeal has made it nearly impossible for Ontario employers to terminate employees without paying them at least their statutory minimum termination entitlements under the Employment Standards Act (“ESA”).

Questions we should be asking and considerations we need to keep in mind with respect to digital signing of documents for business lawyers.

Our guest star for May's "Featured Member" series is Avechi Chimara, current member-at-large on the Business Law Committee.

In 2016, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice recognized, for the first time, the tort of public disclosure of private facts in response to the proliferation of “revenge porn” disseminated online. Since then, subsequent courts across the country have provided further guidance on the nuances of the tort and what types of privacy infringements it is intended to redress.

There is still very little recognition among many lawyers of the differences between internet defamation proceedings and offline defamation proceedings, and even less recognition of the practical consequences of the two forms of defamation proceedings. The next article will summarize the major differences between online and offline libel litigation and their consequences. Here, I will simply sketch some of the important characteristics of the internet.

Avery Lee is a talented young IP lawyer and the very first Trademark Agent to file a trademark application for a hologram in Canada. While he recognizes that his hologram is not as impressive as the larger scale holograms displayed by projectors or viewed with special glasses, he hopes that his trademark application can serve as a building block for other applicants and Trademark Agents.

A key aspect of mentorship is ensuring that you establish mutually beneficial professional connections and focus on maintaining those relationships throughout your career, rather than just seeking out how others can support you.

Learning how to handle senior lawyers who are all-too-comfortable resorting to bullying is an essential part of any lawyer's toolbox. Here are some tips for dealing with those bullies.

This article is the first of several in the series and looks at how defamation actions differ from other types of proceedings.

Our guest star for March's "Featured Member" series is Lauren J. Dalton, current newsletter editor and incoming chair of the International Business Law Committee. Lauren is an associate in the Corporate & Financial Services Department of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in New York. We thank Lauren for her participation and hope you enjoy getting to know her!

The practice of law is fraught with many challenges and a lot of skill, planning, and vigilance is required to navigate through the potential pitfalls. In this article, Michelle Wen Xiao Kang highlights the common traps that may lead to a potential LAWPRO claims and suggests ways that junior lawyers can reduce the risk of a claim being brought against them as a result of errors and omissions in performing their professional services.

Though no stranger to relocating and adapting, I found it challenging as a newcomer to Canada and as a law student because I knew absolutely nothing about Canadian society or Canadian law. Fast forward three years, and I am an articling student with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. So, what helped me land on my feet in Canada? If I was to offer one answer, it would be the conscious effort to build contextual intelligence.

Navigating appeals to the Court of Appeal for Ontario (ONCA) can be a challenge for any lawyer. New lawyers navigating their first appeal to the ONCA are probably doubly stressed, particularly if they are working alone, and especially where the appeal is complicated by a motion to quash. In this article, Nancy Sarmento offers a fantastic ensemble of gems from the gurus of appellate advocacy.

Our guest star for February’s "Featured Member" series is Anjana Bhaskaran, secretary of the Business Law Executive. We thank Anjana for her participation and hope you enjoy getting to know her!

It's never too early to think about developing your own client and referral bases as a junior lawyer. Read on to find out how you can expand your business network and some of the non-traditional ways to do so.

For newly called lawyers moving from non–firm articling to practicing at a firm, the transition can be a big one. Having made this leap, from articling as a clerk to working in both a small and medium–sized firm, the author provides some reflections on a few of the aspect of day-to-day practice that can look very different in a firm as opposed to other types of practice.

As the pandemic continues to change everyday life, the commercial leasing landscape has changed along with it. However, some things that have not changed are the key provisions that must be included in a commercial lease This Article looks at some of these provisions that must be included to have an enforceable lease.

The recent decision of Justice Brown in Prism Resources Inc. v. Detour Gold Corporation, 2022 ONCA 4, discusses the foundational role of written advocacy in appeals, illustrates the many legitimate reasons why an appellant might want to file a reply factum, and offers an excellent viewpoint for an automatic right to file a brief reply.

Our guest star for February’s "Featured Member" series is Andreea Muth, one of our CPD liaisons in the Business Law Executive. We thank Andreea for her participation and hope you enjoy getting to know her!

As a young lawyer trying to learn the ins and outs of practice, it can be difficult to stay on top of recent jurisprudential developments. This article provides four tips on how you can keep up with current case law and maintain the requisite level of competency to represent your clients.

I recently moved from a defendant-focused firm with almost 100 lawyers to a plaintiff-side class action group with fewer than ten lawyers. Anyone making this transition could have predicted most of the differences, but some differences are harder to see from the outside. This article summarizes three of the latter.

This article aims to provide law students, articling students, and young lawyers some tips and tricks to make their day-to-day Work from Home (WFH) a bit more manageable as the legal profession continues to grapple with the ever-changing circumstances of the pandemic.

As the highly-contagious Omicron variant sweeps across the province and COVID-19 immunization campaigns for children ramp up, two recent Ontario decisions—A.C. v. L.L., 2021 ONSC 6530 and Saint-Phard v. Saint-Phard, 2021 ONSC 6910—offer a glimpse of the legal trends emerging at this latest intersection of family law and health law.

Our guest star for January's "Featured Member" series is Hank White, CPD liaison of the Business Law Executive and a senior lawyer editor (Banking and Finance) at Practical Law Canada. We thank Hank for his participation and hope you enjoy getting to know him!

As widespread vaccination against COVID-19 continues in Ontario, many lawyers are transitioning from working at their kitchen tables to working at the office. With this in mind, here are some considerations and observations on returning to the office after spending almost 20 months working from home.

In our profession, achieving a balance between work and other demands of life can be daunting, but not achieving it could be devastating to the mind, the body, the work and familial connections. This article contains some useful tips for attaining balance in your life and work and serves as a reminder that we are the catalysts to achieving that sense of balance.