Our Private Company Group

Whether a client is at the early stages of establishing a business and needs to assess the most logical type of entity to use or is looking to expand internationally, the Private Company Group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) is committed to helping overcome challenges and providing answers at all stages of the business cycle. With an intimate understanding of the entrepreneurial nature of closely held businesses, BLG's team comes to the table with the knowledge and experience to meet your every need. Regardless of the issue, BLG works with you, as part of your team, to attain your goals.

As proactive advocates for our clients, the Private Company Group has your best interests in mind at all times. The Group actively looks for legal issues that require resolution before problems arise that may result in costly settlements and cause potential damage to an organization or its reputation.

As the largest full-service law firm in Canada spanning the nation's largest business centres, BLG's breadth works to your advantage. With around-the-clock access to experts in all areas of the law, the Private Company Group provides top-notch general counsel to clients that is as diverse as need be.

Like you, BLG believes that nothing less than excellence will do. This commitment to service has resulted in the frequent recognition of many of our legal professionals at home and abroad. Professionals in BLG's Private Company Group were featured in the 2010 editions of Chambers Global – The World's Leading Lawyers, Best Lawyers in Canada, and the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.

At BLG, it begins with service. Our passion, drive and performance are poured into everything we do.

Our Services

BLG's Private Company Group assists clients with a full range of services, including:

• Structuring and formation of all forms of new business entities.
• Mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.
• Drafting all forms of business documents and agreements, including share and asset purchase and sale agreements; supply; service; distribution; outsourcing; manufacturing; employment; licence; confidentiality; non-disclosure and manufacturing agreements; and stock option plans.
• Drafting agreements defining relationships among owners, investors and service providers including shareholder, trust, and joint venture agreements
• Establishing and advising limited and general partnerships.
• Establishing subsidiaries and branches for U.S. and other foreign clients and advising on all aspects of doing business in Canada. Members of the Private Company Group have published 'Doing Business in Canada'.
• Developing complex share provisions for common and preferred/special shares including multiple and subordinate voting rights; conversion; redemption/retraction; and various forms of dividend payment structures
• Advising companies, boards and directors on the duties and liabilities of corporate directors.
• Arrangements, reorganizations and restructurings including continuances; amalgamations; roll-overs; butterfly and reverse butterfly
• Succession and estate planning.
• Litigation and dispute resolution.
• International strategies and structures.
• Debt and equity financings and restructurings.
• Tax planning for businesses, third party investors and owners.
• Intellectual property agreements and registrations.
• Assisting with all aspects of ongoing corporate proceedings including annual and special meetings, preparation of information circulars and other meeting materials.