OUR WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.
We sum it up in the two phrases. Big in skills. Small in attitude.

We are committed to delivering superior legal services exemplified by:

  • Sound Judgment
  • Timely Service
  • Practical and Informed Advice
  • Exceptional Value

AS OUR CLIENT YOU CAN EXPECT:

  • A clear definition of objectives and a clear strategy to achieve them
  • Personal service, focused attention to detail, and timely, thorough, professional work, both in content and presentation, and clear concise legal documents
  • Responsive, accessible, friendly lawyers and staff
  • You will find us uncomplicated, open and straight talkers

THERE IS ANOTHER KIND OF LAW FIRM. CALL US.

For more information on our firm, please

Banking & Corporate Finance

We represent both large and small financial institutions including banks, trust companies and lending syndicates. On behalf of these diversified financial institutions, we recognize the importance of completing loan transactions on time and on budget.
We further represent our business and real estate clients regarding their financing requirements. When required, we help clients structure their financing to minimize costs, control risk, and conserve their borrowing capacity.

TYPICAL BANKING AND CORPORATE FINANCE TRANSACTIONS INCLUDE:
  • Operating and term loans to corporate borrowers, including drafting of loan agreements and putting into place the required security
  • Mortgage loans
  • Sale and leaseback transactions
  • Debt restructuring
  • Inter-lender agreements

WE ARE FREQUENTLY REQUIRED TO ENFORCE SECURITY IN DEFAULT SITUATIONS. THEREFORE, OUR EXPERTISE INCLUDES:
  • Mortgage remedies, including power of sale, foreclosure and judicial sale
  • Privately appointed receiverships, including both straightforward liquidations and complex commercial insolvencies where the debtor's business is continued
  • Court-ordered receiverships
  • Resolution of inter-lender priorities and conflicts
  • Insolvency, work-outs and proposals under The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

 

GET TO KNOW MEMBERS OF THE MBS TEAM ACTIVE IN CORPORATE AND BUSINESS FINANCING

Banking & Commercial Lending
Wesley Brown
Laila Parvez

Real Estate and Mortgage Financing
Morris Sosnovitch

Remedies & Enforcement
V. Ross Morrison
David Bleiwas

Corporate & Commercial

Our ability to capably advise business people across the whole spectrum of business issues is a source of continuing pride. Our advice is straightforward and intelligible, without confusing legal jargon.

OUR EXTENSIVE RANGE OF BUSINESS LAW EXPERTISE INCLUDES:
  • Design of appropriate business structures and vehicles, whether as corporations, partnerships, joint ventures or other contractual arrangements
  • Organization of corporations, including incorporations, amalgamations and reorganizations
  • Shareholders', partnership and joint venture agreements
  • Acquisitions and mergers
  • Franchising and distribution arrangements, including design, implementation and maintenance of national and provincial franchising structures and other distribution and supply arrangements
  • Employment arrangements, including drafting of employment agreements, confidentiality arrangements and employee share ownership structures
  • Detailed contract review and drafting, with appropriate risk analysis, good business judgment and sound advice
  • Technology licensing and supplier arrangements

GET TO KNOW MEMBERS OF THE MBS TEAM IN THE CORPORATE & COMMERICAL PRACTICE AREA:



Laila Parvez

Dixie Ho
Natalie Schernitzki

For more information on Corporate & Commercial matters, please contact
Wesley Brown, 416-368-1744.

Estate & Succession Planning

The Business is not served well in the long run without an understanding of the personal plans and lives of its owners and their families.  We advise clients on a personal level about their estate planning and their planning for the succession of the ownership and management of the business.

OUR MANAGED BUSINESS PLANNING SERVICES INCLUDE:
  • Tax-planned wills, including straightforward wills for families
  • Powers of attorney for both property and for personal care, including living wills
  • Inter vivos trusts and education trusts for children or grandchildren
  • Business Succession Planning
  • Contentious and non-contentious probate matters
  • Administration of estates, including advice to estate trustees, attorneys and other fiduciaries
  • Innovative advice to avoid family conflict, or when necessary, to control family conflict
 



For more information on Estate & Succession Planning, please contact Wesley Brown, 416-368-1744.

Franchising & Licensing

Providing effective advice in franchising depends upon accurately assessing the unique relationship between franchisors and franchisees. It also requires sound practical advice to manage the relationship, which we provide based upon our extensive experience in representing both franchisors and franchisees.

We represent a full range of franchisors, from start-ups to national and international franchise systems.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:
  • Advising on the start up of the system
  • Franchise documentation including disclosure documents
  • Area development agreements and master franchise agreements
  • Advice with respect to terminations and repossessions
  • Dispute resolution, including injunctions and other forms of litigation common to franchising
  • Commercial leasing
  • Construction contracts and construction lien matters
  • Licensing and intellectual property matters
  • Supply and distribution agreements
  • The purchase and sale of franchise systems
  • Advice and assistance regarding employment laws, liquor licensing and other regulatory matters

We also represent franchisees, including multiple unit holders and area franchisees. Our firm is a member of the Canadian Franchise Association and the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association.

GET TO KNOW MEMBERS OF
THE MBS INVOLVED IN FRANCHISING:

Franchise Systems; Buying and Selling Franchises and Franchising Systems:
Derwin Wong
Laila Parvez
Dixie Ho

Franchise Enforcement & Litigation
David Bleiwas
V. Ross Morrison
Natalie Schernitzki



For more information on Franchising & Licensing matters, please contact Derwin Wong, 416-368-0582

Government Relations

Expenditures by governments at all levels represent a significant portion of the economy. To many clients, government contracts are an essential part of their business success. By establishing and maintaining links throughout the political spectrum and within key components of the civil service, we are well-positioned in appropriate circumstances to help clients to effectively present their business case to government.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDES:
  • Strategic and tactical advice
  • Relationship building
  • Advice to win government contracts
  • Consultation and advice with respect to obtaining changes in law or government policy

GET TO KNOW THE MEMBER OF THE MBS GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM:

Libby Burnham
Kevin Gallagher

For more information on matters related to Government Relations, please contact either Libby (416-368-0600) or Kevin (416-368-0323)

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

We regularly advise clients on appropriate actions to minimize conflict and control risk. When disputes arise, we counsel strategies to control the conflict and contain the damage and costs. When litigation becomes necessary, we aggressively represent our clients' interests and search for innovative solutions to achieve clients' objectives.

OUR DEPTH AND EXPERIENCE IS REFLECTED BY THE BROAD RANGE OF COURTS AND TRIBUNALS WHERE OUR CLIENTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY REPRESENTED, INCLUDING:
  • Representation of clients at all judicial levels, including the Supreme Court of Canada
  • Representation of clients before administrative and quasi-judicial tribunals
  • Mediation, arbitration and other alternative forums of dispute resolution

TYPICAL CASES UPON WHICH OUR LITIGATION LAWYERS HAVE BEEN RETAINED INCLUDE:
  • Simple and complex commercial and contractual disputes
  • Debt enforcement and realization of all types of security, including receiverships
  • Insolvency proceedings, including advice to receivers, trustees in bankruptcy, secured creditors and unsecured creditors
  • Professional malpractice
  • Franchise litigation
  • Real Estate litigation
  • Construction litigation, including construction lien proceedings
  • Commercial fraud
  • Securities regulatory matters
  • Shareholder and partnership disputes
  • Wrongful dismissal and general employment advice
  • Class actions
  • Cross-border litigation
  • Product liability
  • Freedom of information
  • Coroner's inquests

GET TO KNOW MEMBERS OF THE MBS LITIGATION AND
DISPUTE RESOLUTION TEAM

V. Ross Morrison
David Bleiwas

For more information on Litigation & Dispute Resplution matters, please call V. Ross Morrison, 416-368-5972.


Real Estate & Commercial Leasing

For many reasons, real estate transactions have become increasingly complex. Projects often include several participants, requiring structuring which suits the uniqueness of each project and the reasonable business interests of each participant. Government regulation of real estate has increased the risk of acquiring and owning projects, especially in the areas of land use and environmental regulation.

We have the proven experience to represent clients in all types of real estate transactions, leasing, development and financing.

TYPICAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS INCLUDE:
  • Acquisition, development and sale of real estate projects, whether residential/multi-unit residential, commercial or industrial
  • Processing and registration of plans of subdivision
  • Sale and purchase of subdivided lots
  • Condominium development including registration and unit sales, both of residential and commercial/industrial projects
  • New home subdivision sales
  • The structuring of real property projects, including limited partnerships, joint ventures and co-ownerships
  • The financing of real estate, including conventional mortgages, interim construction financing, permanent financing, sale, leasebacks and profit participations
  • Zoning, by-law and official plan amendments
  • Commercial leasing transactions for both landlords and tenants
  • Mortgage remedies, including power of sale, foreclosure and judicial sale
  • Advising condominium corporations

GET TO KNOW MEMBERS OF MBS ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MATTERS:

Real Estate, Development, and Condominium Law
Morris Sosnovitch

Commercial Leasing
Morris Sosnovitch
Derwin Wong
Laila Parvez

Litigation & Enforcement
V. Ross Morrison
David Bleiwas

For more information on our Real Estate expertise, please contact
Morris Sosnovitch, 416-368-6444.

Trademarks

The foundation of building a business's goodwill and brand recognition often lies in its trademarks and intellectual property. We recognize this basic principal and the importance of developing and protecting our business client's trademarks from interlopers riding upon the coattails of their success.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:
  • Advice to develop trademarks and other intellectual property
  • Registration of trademarks with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office
  • Enforcement and protection of trademarks from unauthorized use
GET TO KNOW THE MEMBER OF THE MBS TEAM
SPECIALIZING IN THIS AREA:


Dixie Ho
For more information on our expertise in Trademark Law,
please contact Derwin Wong, 416-368-0582.