Canada: Corporate/Commercial Law

Although Goudreau c. Le Roi is not a charity law case, its reasoning may be relevant to charities that use contractual safeguards to manage valuation risk and prevent unintended private benefits.

When the holiday season approaches and the calendar year nears its end, many Canadians look to support the causes they care about while also managing their tax position.

Can the federal government regulate registered charities and revoke their status, or does the Constitution reserve this power exclusively to the provinces? Courts are now grappling with this question in constitutional challenges that could reshape charity oversight across Canada.

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP provides legal expertise across multiple practice areas including fund formation, competition law, antitrust, foreign investment, and venture capital. The firm's Toronto-based partners offer specialized counsel to clients navigating complex regulatory and transactional matters. Contact information and professional backgrounds are available for key team members specializing in these areas.

As artificial intelligence becomes deeply embedded in business operations across all industries, buyers and investors face a new category of risks that extend far beyond traditional technology companies. From intellectual property concerns to data sovereignty issues, understanding how AI is integrated into a target company's workflows has become essential for effective due diligence and risk assessment.

GP stakes transactions—namely, minority investments by third-party investors in a private asset manager—were once viewed primarily as a founder liquidity tool. The market, however, has evolved well beyond that original story, with these transactions increasingly framed as strategic partnerships rather than mere financing events.

Private corporations governed by the Canada Business Corporations Act (the “CBCA”) should ensure that their register of individuals with significant control (an “ISC Register”) is complete, accurate and up to date. Corporations Canada has begun issuing official inquiries to certain CBCA corporations in connection with their ISC Register filings, particularly where a corporation has reported that it has no individuals with significant control (“ISCs”).

In-house counsel face critical decisions at the outset of internal investigations that determine the credibility and defensibility of the entire process. This guide examines the strategic questions around scope, privilege protection, external support, and documentation that must be addressed early—often under pressure and before the facts are fully known.

L'OCRI continue d'utiliser des dispenses pour relever les défis pratiques liés à la réglementation des courtiers membres. Les dispenses accordées en 2025 visaient plusieurs domaines récurrents, notamment les activités de négociation, la double inscription, les cryptoactifs, le prêt de titres et l'assurance des compétences, démontrant une approche de réglementation fondée sur des principes et la proportionnalité.

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP provides legal expertise across multiple practice areas including fund formation, competition law, antitrust, foreign investment, and venture capital. The firm's Toronto-based partners offer specialized counsel to clients navigating complex regulatory and transactional matters. Contact information and professional backgrounds are available for key team members specializing in these areas.

Le gouvernement canadien et les provinces intensifient leurs efforts pour soutenir l'innovation nationale face aux perturbations géopolitiques et à la concurrence mondiale. De nouveaux programmes de financement, sources de capitaux et initiatives axées sur le talent visent à commercialiser la recherche, préserver la propriété intellectuelle canadienne et attirer des investissements dans des secteurs stratégiques comme l'IA, les sciences de la vie et la défense.

Geopolitical disruptions and intensifying competition are driving Canadian governments to invest strategically in innovation, talent, and supply chain resilience. This edition explores recent regulatory developments in AI, employment law, financial services, and capital markets, while tracking the trend toward larger late-stage venture capital deals in 2026.