Legal Document Review Services

Employment agreements can contain complex provisions about compensation, non-competition, non-solicitation, intellectual property ownership, termination entitlements, and confidentiality. We review your employment contract and explain in plain English what you are agreeing to.

Common for senior hires, executive offers, and unique employment structures.

Commonly Reviewed

• Non-competition and non-solicitation clauses
• Termination and severance provisions
• Compensation structure and bonuses
• Intellectual property assignment clauses
• Confidentiality obligations
• Probationary period terms

Commercial leases are complex, heavily negotiated documents that can bind your business for years. We review your commercial lease and identify non-standard terms, unusual landlord rights, and obligations you may not have expected.

Strongly recommended before signing any commercial lease.

Commonly Reviewed

• Rent escalation and base rent structure
• Operating costs and TMI obligations
• Permitted use restrictions
• Assignment and subletting rights
• Renewal and termination options
• Personal guarantee requirements

While Ontario residential tenancies are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, lease agreements can include terms that modify or supplement the statutory framework. We explain your rights and obligations clearly.

Applicable to Ontario residential tenancies.

Commonly Reviewed

• Lease term and renewal structure
• Rent and deposit provisions
• Tenant and landlord obligations
• Permitted alterations
• Entry and notice provisions
• Pet, parking, and utility terms

Separation agreements address property division, spousal support, and parenting arrangements. Before signing an agreement that may bind you for years, having a lawyer explain the terms, your rights, and potential implications is essential.

We provide review and ILA certificates where required.

Commonly Reviewed

• Property division and equalization
• Spousal and child support
• Parenting and custody arrangements
• Release and waiver of claims
• Variation and enforcement provisions
• RRSP and pension division

Shareholder agreements govern the relationship between shareholders, including voting rights, share transfer restrictions, dispute resolution, and exit mechanisms. Whether you're a founder, investor, or key employee receiving equity, you should understand what you're signing.

Common for start-up founders, investors, and equity recipients.

Commonly Reviewed

• Voting rights and drag-along provisions
• Right of first refusal and share transfer restrictions
• Dividend policies
• Shotgun clauses and buyout mechanisms
• Non-compete obligations
• Board composition and management rights

Independent contractor agreements can contain obligations that closely resemble employment obligations — but without employment law protections. We review your contractor agreement and flag provisions that may be unusual or unfavourable.

Especially important for first-time contractors or sole proprietors.

Commonly Reviewed

• Services scope and deliverables
• Independent contractor classification
• Exclusivity and non-compete terms
• Intellectual property ownership
• Termination rights
• Liability and indemnification

When an employer offers a severance package, they typically ask you to sign a release giving up your right to sue. Before you sign, you need to know whether the offer meets your minimum entitlements under the Employment Standards Act — and whether you may be entitled to more at common law. We review the package and explain your options.

Do not sign a severance release without understanding what you may be giving up.

Commonly Reviewed

• ESA minimum entitlements vs. what's being offered
• Common law reasonable notice entitlements
• Scope of the release and what rights you're waiving
• Continuation of benefits and other perquisites
• Non-disparagement and confidentiality terms
• Timing and whether you should negotiate

Personal guarantees and loan agreements can expose you to significant personal liability. We review loan agreements and guarantee documents so you clearly understand what you are agreeing to and the circumstances under which you may become liable.

Critical before signing any personal guarantee.

Commonly Reviewed

• Personal guarantee scope and limitations
• Security and collateral provisions
• Default and acceleration clauses
• Cross-default provisions
• Demand vs. ongoing guarantee structure
• Limited vs. unlimited guarantee

Many agreements — including guarantees, co-habitation agreements, marriage contracts, and separation agreements — require a certificate of independent legal advice. We provide ILA for eligible matters after a proper review of the document.

Subject to conflict check and eligibility assessment. We do not provide ILA certificates for mortgages, lender-required guarantees, refinancing, private lending, secured loans, real estate closings, or title matters — those require a real estate lawyer. We can refer you to a referral partner if needed.

Commonly Reviewed

• Marriage contract and pre-nuptial ILA
• Cohabitation agreement ILA
• Separation agreement ILA
• Personal guarantee ILA (non-lender)
• Written certificate provided
• Virtual ILA via secure video

Ontario's Arthur Wishart Act (Franchise) requires franchisors to provide a disclosure document at least 14 days before you sign or pay anything. This document is dense, heavily drafted in the franchisor's favour, and critical to understand. We review the FDD and explain what the franchisor is telling you — and what it isn't.

Strongly recommended before making any franchise investment decision.

Commonly Reviewed

• Franchisor's financial disclosure and litigation history
• Territory rights and exclusivity
• Initial and ongoing fee structure
• Renewal, transfer, and termination rights
• Franchisee obligations and restrictions
• Your 14-day cooling-off rights under the Arthur Wishart Act

A franchise agreement is a long-term, detailed contract that governs every aspect of your relationship with the franchisor. We review the agreement alongside the disclosure document where available and explain the key obligations, restrictions, and risks you're taking on.

Review of the franchise agreement and FDD together is recommended where both are available.

Commonly Reviewed

• Fee obligations: royalties, marketing fund, and other payments
• Territory protections and encroachment provisions
• Renewal terms and conditions
• Exit, transfer, and sale restrictions
• Non-competition and post-term obligations
• Default and termination provisions

If you have a legal document that doesn't fall neatly into one of the above categories, submit it through our intake form. We'll assess the scope and let you know whether we can assist and at what cost.

Custom pricing applies to complex or non-standard documents.

Commonly Reviewed

• Asset purchase agreements
• Service agreements
• Partnership agreements
• Software licensing agreements
• Consulting agreements
• And more