Articles 2020

Kathryn Bush, Partner, Blakes, is being honoured this year with the OBA Award of Excellence in Pensions & Benefits Law for her outstanding leadership and contributions to the field of pensions and benefits law. Gain a glimpse of what motivates her and how she is making a difference in her area of practice in this candid Q&A.

For charities that hold endowment or other restricted funds, a natural question arises amidst the current economic downtown: can we access these funds to support our programs, meet our expenses and enable us to continue operating during this time of crisis?

This award-winning article provides an in-depth case comment and analysis of Alberta Securities Commission v Hennig from Mandy Van Waes, recipient of this year's Michael MacNaughton Student Writing Award for Insolvency Law.

It’s not a matter of if, but when. Technology continues to develop in ways that are both amazing and alarming and allow us to connect in ways we would have previously considered unimaginable. With increased technological advancement and reliance, however, comes increased opportunities for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities and access hoards of sensitive personal and corporate data, which means increased cyber risks for more and more organizations.

Many of us are experiencing the historic coronavirus-mandated “lockdown” in close, relentless companionship – of partners, children, or housemates. This presents an opportunity for closeness borne from the intensity of the experience, but also increases the chance of conflict from which it may be difficult to retreat. This article describes how to use a mediation tool to help deal with quarantine conflict.

In the current climate of physical distancing, mediating online using platforms like Zoom or Microsoft WebEx has gained prominence. Many mediators are well-equipped to offer their services using these platforms and to respond to concerns that counsel or their clients may have. As counsel consider whether or not to take their mediations online, certain factors will be relevant to the decision-making process.

Following are summaries of the four substantive civil decisions of the Court of Appeal for Ontario released last week. In 4352238 Canada Inc. v. SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., the Court ordered the appeal to be heard in writing over the objection of one of the parties, finding there was nothing in the Courts of Justice Act or the Rules of Civil Procedure that prevented the Court from doing so in these extraordinary times.

Five years ago, the Ontario Bar Association’s Aboriginal Law Section held a program titled: “Practical Perspectives on Hot Topics, Emerging Issues & Game-Changing Cases” and since then, the practice of Aboriginal law has changed dramatically. To bring fellow members, non-members and students up to speed, the OBA Aboriginal Law Section hosted an updated version of this program during the OBA’s 2020 Institute. This article summarizes the 2020 program highlights.

Is the line between work and home getting blurry? Switching to working from home has been challenging for many of us. So here are a few tips and tricks that some of the WLF Executive have been using to stay productive.