news
Updates to Retainer Agreement (May 2011)
We have updated our standard Retainer Agreement. The changes include: clarification about termination of retainer by firm, updated provision allowing changes to the standard terms by posting new version on the website which is deemed sufficient notice to the client, and web link added inside the PDF file.
The blank form of the Signature Page has now been posted, along with a new information guide disclosing our hourly billing rates and internal disbursement rates.
The most current versions of the Retainer Agreement, Signature Page, and Fees and Disbursements guide are now posted publicly for download:
Firm Blog Posted
We have started a firm blog, which will have additional information related to our practice areas, including legal updates, short articles, and product reviews. Click below to read our blog:
Office Space for Rent
We have extra office space available for rent or lease. Configuration of the available area, rental term, pricing, and additional services are all very flexible and negotiable. Please email us using the email link at the bottom of the page to request a detailed information package.
Redesigned Website (Nov 2010)
We have redesigned our website to make it more informative and usable. Information on our services is now sorted in the main menu bar by practice area. An extensive list of helpful external links can be found under the Resources section. We are also working on compiling free legal guides summarizing various areas of law, which will be posted in the coming months under the Resources section and under each practice area.
Updates to Retainer Agreement Standard Terms (Jul 2010)
We have revised our standard Retainer Agreement. The changes include: terminology updates, references to GST changed to HST, new provisions and clarifications about contracting out work to contract lawyers or other service providers at below fair market value rates and marking up such rates to fair market value at our discretion, clarification about full indemnity costs applying on collection of outstanding accounts, deadline to dispute accounts changed to 15 days, timeline for a principal's obligation to pay fees personally if their business entity fails to pay changed to 30 days, updated provision allowing changes to the standard terms at our discretion which the client is deemed to accept if there is no objection within 30 days.
Our invoices now indicate that interest on unpaid accounts applies at 25% per year, and NSF charges are $50.00 plus HST for each returned cheque. Various fees, hourly rates, disbursements, and required retainers/reserves have also changed to reflect the HST and other factors.
The most current version of the Retainer Agreement is now posted publicly for download:
HST in Effect in Ontario (Jul 2010)
The Harmonized Sales Tax is now in effect in Ontario. In most (but not all) cases, the HST combines the federal GST of 5% and the Ontario PST of 8% into a single tax of 13%, for which businesses can obtain input tax credits. Legal fees and most disbursements are now subject to the new HST rate. Further information is available from the Ontario Ministry of Revenue and Canada Revenue Agency:
Ontario Small Claims Court Limit Increased to $25,000.00 (Jan 2010)
The monetary limit for bringing a case in Small Claims Court in Ontario increased to $25,000.00 from $10,000.00, along with several rule changes. The increased limit allows more cases to be brought through the simpler Small Claims Court procedures, rather than having to start a lawsuit through the more complex Rules of Civil Procedure in Superior Court. Additional information about Small Claims Court and the changes is available from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General:
Ontario Civil Procedure Rule Changes (Jan 2010)
A number of changes came into force in the Rules of Civil Procedure, including the following: discovery has been narrowed in scope and time, a discovery plan is now required, pre-trial rules have been updated, the Simplified Procedure monetary limit has increased to $100,000.00, experts' duties clarified, service and filing timelines extended, case management and mediation rules updated, the summary judgment test changed, and automatic dismissal procedures updated. Additional information about the changes and links to background documents are available from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General: