Family Enterprise
Family Enterprise Specialists are people who can focus on the unique needs and skills of your family and family oriented business, while helping your…
Legal Articles And Insights
Residential Real Estate
When you’re looking for your first home or aiming to sell your house, finding the right home or the right buyer is not always…
Shareholders Agreement
A business without a clear vision and framework is doomed to fail. Regardless of the nature of the business, shareholders agreements form an important…
Update on Financing an Optometry Practice
When it comes to financing the purchase of a new or existing health professional practice, if you are not a Dentist or Physician, there…
Drafting Shareholder Agreements
While no government statutes state that a Shareholder Agreement is necessary for your business or company, it can be extremely crucial to have one…
Changes to B.C.’s Property Transfer Taxes
Over recent months, the Government of British Columbia has enacted legislation called the Information Collection Regulation that will come into effect September 17th, 2018….
Considerations For Setting Up A Health Profession Corporation
If you are a healthcare professional and you plan to provide professional services through a corporation, the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA) requires you…
Business Formation
Through many aspects, business formation impacts how your business will function, operate and be taxed. Creating a legal structure behind your endeavour is one…
Discrimination In A Job Interview
Keeping Interviews Kosher; A Note On Discrimination During Interviews For Employers & Job-Seekers From perfecting your resume and cover letter to deciding how to…
Technology Law
Technology and Innovation are key foundations of the modern economy. With Moore’s Law in full swing, the prominence of artificial intelligence and everything being…
Workplace Investigations & Training
Workplace investigations are an important process when it comes to alleged misconduct in the workplace – and conducting a proper investigation can make all…
Running a Social Media Contest or Promotion
Due to the amount of time the average person spends on social media sites, a clear route of advertising to the masses is now…
Hummingbird Lawyers LLP at Law Day 2018
A few members of the Hummingbird family happily took part in Law Day 2018, a national event focused on celebrating the signing of Canada’s…
Healthcare Professionals
Legal Services For Healthcare Professionals When it comes to legal matters, whether you are an experienced healthcare professional or just about to start your…
The Little Black Book Of Easements
The Little Black Book of Easements is a collection of frequently asked questions along with their answers to help clients understand easements better. Andrew…
The Little Black Book Of Probate
The Little Black Book of Probate is a collection of frequently asked questions along with their answers to help clients understand the process of…
POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR PERSONAL CARE
Commonly Asked Questions about Power of Attorney For Personal Care (Medical) Q: Is a Power of Attorney the same thing as a “Living Will”?…
Probate – Dying in Canada
Probate, executor, and probate taxes are unfamiliar to many of us who have never experienced death in the family. But sooner or later it…
WILLS & ESTATES
Are you looking to have a will prepared? It’s important that a wills and estates lawyer reviews all the details with you to avoid…
REAL ESTATE
Our Real Estate Law Team understands that property transaction – especially in Toronto – deserve attention to detail, forethought, and speed. From agreement of…
Wills, and what you need to know
A Last Will and Testament, is a legal document that outlines and sets forth your wishes regarding the distribution of assets, property and the…
FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE
Divorce Lawyer Hummingbird LLP’s family law team works to resolve all types of family-related legal matters in a fair, respectful, and punctual fashion. Regarded…
MEDIATION & ARBITRATION
Some disputes are best settled out of court. At Hummingbird LLP, we apply alternative mediation and arbitration techniques where appropriate, to bring about efficient…
CIVIL LITIGATION
Pragmatic, timely and cost-effective – because we know that you’ve got better things to do than sit in court! Where disputes prove unmanageable, Hummingbird Lawyers…
ENTERTAINMENT LAW
Careers in the entertainment industry are as diverse as its employee base. Whether you are in the spotlight or behind the scenes, Toronto entertainment…
BUSINESS & CORPORATE
Are you looking for a top law firm to provide legal services? Perhaps you are looking for a legal advice from an experienced corporate lawyer,…
EMPLOYMENT
Losing your job can be emotionally and financially traumatic. At Hummingbird LLP we work with you to ensure that you get the severance package…
Corporate Will
What Is A Corporate Will? A corporate will (also known as secondary will) is a special tool for estate planning with respect to your…
Your Last Will and Testament
What is a Last Will and Testament? A Law Will and Testament is a legal document that appoints who will be in charge of your…
Planning Act Dispute
What is a Planning Act Dispute? Ontario’s Planning Act is in place to provide municipalities, and its citizens, the opportunity to plan, document and…
Financing and Investor Agreement
Financing and Investor Agreement is drafted and negotiated with a focus on protecting an investor’s assets, the investment itself and the intellectual property of…
Personal Legal Services & Counsel
Our experienced roster can assist you in any personal legal matter that you face. From settling an estate, to representing your case, Hummingbird can be there.
Corporate Legal Services & Counsel
Hummingbird Law can be your legal counsel in the corporate realm, whether you are signing your first commercial property, or looking to protect your company’s assets.
Legal Counsel as a Service – LCaaS ©
Hummingbird Lawyers LLP now offers outsourced, personalized Legal Counsel as a Service to companies with, or without, current in-hous
Wrongful Dismissal
Wrongful Dismissal, What You Need To Know About It What Is Wrongful Dismissal? So, you’ve been let go? However, you were given no prior…
Knights LPC is joining forces with Hummingbird Lawyers LLP
In our continued effort to increase the talent and reach of our firm, we are proud to announce that Knights LPC has merged into…
Bill 148
Ontario’s government has enacted a new Bill, as of January 1, 2018, and spanning to January 2019, to overhaul rules in the workplace, create…
Lending and Borrowing
Lending and borrowing transactions in real estates can be risky without knowing all the details. Contacting legal counsel to help oversee finances can be a…
Artist Incorporation And Organization
Should You Incorporate Yourself as an Artist? For artists, there are many appealing aspects to being self-employed. Many creative people have made a career…
Joint-Venture Agreement And Band Partnership
Band Agreement Playing local shows and bar gigs can eventually lead to your big break as a musical group. Working towards your dream, with…
Agreement of purchase and sale
What Is An Agreement Of Purchase And Sale? A Purchase and Sale agreement is a written contract between the buyer and seller of a…
Representation Agreement & Talent Agency
Progressing your career as an artist can be a stressful, and sometimes lengthy, process. Securing an agent can be one of the most influential…
New Minimum Wage In Ontario
The new year brought in several changes in the province of Ontario, one of the most talked about is the coming changes to minimum…
Title Dispute
What is a Title Dispute? Title disputes arise when there is a disagreement over who owns a specific property, and the amount of land…
Mortgage Fraud
What is Mortgage Fraud? Mortgage fraud happens when a consumer is fully aware that they are misrepresenting information during the purchase or agreement of…
Purchase and Sale Agreement
Purchase and Sale Agreement, What Does It Mean? A Purchase and Sale Agreement is a written contract between the purchaser (buyer) and vendor (seller)…
What is mortgage enforcement?
Mortgage enforcement is a form of real estate law that is in place to ensure that the terms of a mortgage contract are upheld….
What is Appellate Law?
To put it simply, appellate law is law pertaining to the appeal of a court’s or judicial decision on a legal case. Essentially, it…
Operating Cost Dispute
What Is An Operating Cost Dispute? Starting a business can be a lengthy and sometimes stressful process. There are many costs and charges that…
Defaults and Collections
What Are Defaults and Collections? Defaults are when your tenants are failing to pay rent on an agreed upon time. These times should be…
Lease Disputes
What are Lease Disputes? After a gruelling process of trying to get your business off the ground, you’ve finally made some progress. Securing your…
Employment Contract
What exactly is an employment contract? Canadian companies are beginning to use employment contracts for every level of worker in hiring processes. The…
Workplace Harassment And Bullying
What Defines Workplace Harassment And Bullying? Before we jump into the legal aspect of Workplace Harassment And Bullying, let’s see how they are defined:…
Constructive Dismissal
What Is Constructive Dismissal? Your workplace should be a space that you enjoy. It shouldn’t feel like a chore going to work, nor should…
Rent Issues
How rent issues arise? Before any rental unit is secured and a lease is signed, rent should be negotiated between the tenant and landlord….
Severance Pay
Severance Pay In Ontario Before you sign… If you have recently retired, or been laid off, then you are entitled to a severance pay…
Dead Man’s Unsent Text Accepted As Will
Radio Interview With Amy MacAlpine Tasha Kheiriddin from Global news is interviewing Amy MacAlpine about a unique story in Australia. After a man committed suicide…
Employment Agreement
Employment Agreement, Do I need one? I am no longer surprised when I meet with employers and employees and they cannot recall: (a) if…
Why can’t we all just get along?
Being a recent import to the Ontario Bar from Nova Scotia, one of the most substantial changes and challenges that I have encountered is the…
Amendments to the Construction Lien Act
This week I had the pleasure of attending the Toronto Construction Association’s seminar on Bill 142 – Amendments to the Construction Lien Act (Legislative…
Cannabis Act And Weed At Work
Cannabis Act, Will It Ever Be Permitted To Have Weed At Work? With the new Cannabis Act of Bill C-45, Canada will see all…
Is travelling down the long road of litigation worth it?
Litigation is often over-dramatized in movies, television and pop-culture. We as the viewer get to watch the ‘good guy’ trump the ‘bad guy’ after…
Executor, What Does It Mean?
Executor Responsibilities Unexpected tragedies happen to every family. Any individual can succumb to serious illness or death. Yet as difficult as these situations can…
Can real estate ‘speed-dating’ solve Toronto’s puzzling housing costs?
There is a unique approach to homeowning that is being highlighted in the city of Toronto with the idea of ‘speed-dating’ to find a…
Selling The Matrimonial Home In Ontario
Selling The Matrimonial Home In Toronto’s Steep Housing Market The shock factor of Toronto’s real estate market is dying down as the average price…
The solution for the dying neighbourhood mall
Neighbourhood malls are quickly becoming a memory, and companies like Amazon are to blame. Consumers are embracing the simplicity and convenience of online shopping….
Changes to Ontario’s labour laws and what it means for the average ‘worker’
Ontario’s Liberal government has received recommendations on how to make the largest reform to Ontario’s Labour Laws and the Employment Standards Act (ESA) since…
The Hummingbird Brand Story
Children are amazing because they are so authentic and yet so determined to grow and change. They listen to their hearts and minds and…
Court 2 Court Beach Volleyball Tournament 2016
Picture Gallery Court 2 Court 2016 was a big success! Hummingbird Lawyers had a blast and cannot wait until 2017’s event taking place on July…
Help I’ve been fired!
Getting fired can happen to any of us. Some of the most recognizable and successful businessmen and women have been fired from their jobs…
New Laws Affecting Dissolved Corporations in Ontario
On December 10, 2016, the Forfeited Corporate Property Act (the “FCPA”) introduced new changes to existing laws regarding the forfeiture of corporate property to…
new requirements for Corporations governed by “OBCA” And “OCA”
On December 10, 2016, new requirements for Corporations governed by Ontario’s Business Corporations Act (“OBCA”) and Corporations Act (“OCA”) came into force. The following…
The Benefits of Title Insurance – A Video by LawPro
As part of LAWPRO’s public awareness efforts to promote the role of the lawyer, they produced a video: Why every homeowner needs title insurance….
Understanding the Power of Attorney
Understanding the Power of Attorney Video Interview of Amy MacAlpine with Randy Holt from Investors Group Amy MacAlpine, head of Wills & Estates at…
Where There’s a Will There’s a Way
Where There’s a Will There’s a Way Video Interview of Amy MacAlpine with Randy Holt from Investors Group Amy MacAlpine, head of Wills and…
The Validity of Power of Attorney after Death
The Validity of Power of Attorney after Death Video Interview of Amy MacAlpine with Randy Holt from Investors Group Amy MacAlpine, head of Wills…
Understanding Probate
Understanding Probate Video Interview of Amy MacAlpine with Randy Holt from Investors Group Amy MacAlpine, head of Wills and Estates at Hummingbird Lawyers LLP…
Buying A House With A Boyfriend
Living together (cohabitation) is not always an antecedent to marriage. But buying a house with a boyfriend differs from sharing a basement apartment with…
The Impact of Wills on Marriage
The Impact of Wills on Marriage Video Interview of Amy MacAlpine with Randy Holt from Investors Group Amy MacAlpine, head of Wills and Estates…
First Time Homebuyer? New Changes Coming Your Way
LTT Refund for First-time Homebuyers If you are a First-time Homebuyer, you may qualify for a refund of all or part of the Land…
Land Transfer Tax in Ontario, New Changes
Buying a new home, for many people, will be the biggest if not one of the biggest investments any purchaser will make in their…
Mindwire – An Executive Directors Soapbox
So I finally mustered up the courage to put keystroke to blog and start an ongoing talk-blog on our site to speak about the…
Residential Tenancies Act 2006
From its purpose, applications, exemptions, and more. The Residential Tenancies Act is the most important Act for landlords and tenants to understand to know…
New Development Condominiums: Beware the Two Closings
If you have purchased a new development condominium in Ontario and are awaiting “closing”, you should be aware that new development condos have two…
Travelling with Children After Separation or Divorce
Travelling with children of separation or divorce is more complicated than simply booking a flight and confirming a hotel. Parents who are going through a…
Mortgage Lenders Beware – Understanding the limitations on penalties
Lenders beware! In the current economic climate, lenders are required to enforce their security to recover loans following default by lenders. However, the recent…
New Home Owners: Understanding your Supplementary Tax Bill
Purchasing a newly constructed residential home or condominium can be exciting. However, when it comes to property taxes, new homeowners may often get taken…
A little now or a lot later: An Employer’s duty to keep lone workers safe
Over the past decade, several provinces have installed legislation requiring private employers to address issues of employee safety in circumstances in which they work…
The Acquisition of the Residential Condominium For The Purposes of Renting
In recent years, one of the more popular transactions that I have seen has been the acquisition of a residential condominium with the intent…
Are You Protected in the Workplace?
Over the past decade, several provinces have installed legislation requiring private employers to address issues of employee safety in circumstances in which they work…
Sellers – Be Aware of the Closed Mortgage
What is A Closed Mortgage A Closed Mortgage is a mortgage where the term of the mortgage is for a fixed period of time…
Parents Refusing Vaccines
Can Parents Refusing Vaccines from their children be criminally liable? With all the recent controversy about vaccinations, I have been asked a very common…
Why You Should Save The Trouble Of Dying Without a Will
Death takes a toll on a family but dying without a will can make things even worse. Here are a few bad situations that…
How To Avoid a Stressful Closing Day For Your Residential Real Estate Transactions
Next to your wedding day, moving day is perhaps one of the most stressful days you can experience and if you are lucky, you…
Thinking of Self-Representing?
Thinking of self-representing? Better think again. Potential Pitfalls of the Self-Represented Litigant There are a number of potential pitfalls people face when bringing claims…
Do I Really Need A Will?
Q: I don’t really have that much, do I really need a will? A: Yes! Reasons why you need a Last Will and Testament…
Adverse Possession, LTCQ is Not Enough
Adverse Possession, Squatters Rights Following s. 32 of the Land Titles Act, a large majority of land in Ontario have been switched over from…
Live and Let’s Deduct (Save Money with Fuel Deductions)
Written By: Mariann Karageorgievski, J.D. candidate 2015 As we emerge from the long, bitter winter and welcome the long awaited summer sun, we are…
Your License to Day Care
If you are currently running, or plan to run, a daycare out of your home, you must comply with a number of requirements held…
The Hidden Condo Clause
The pursuit of finding a rental unit is a treacherous feat, driven by a desire to find a great location with adequate living space…
Family Violence
The Implications of family violence On The Divorce Process Family violence still occurs nowadays and it could be related to family law. Family law…
Property Easements
Written By Anita Guyadin, J.D. Candidate 2015, updated in 2018 by Hummingbird’s Real Estate Lawyer, Andrew Fortis. Why Are You On My Land? Property Easements…
It is In Your Best Interest! – How to Express Interest Rates in a Contract?
Whether you are drafting a contract or signing one, there are several areas in which you should be careful. One of these areas is…
Donald Sterling – The Man with the Silver Gun
Much is being said about Sterling and his recent racial comments secretly taped and made in private. Much of this discussion circulates around the…
Fraud Prevention: The Little Black Book of Scams
With the proliferation of the internet, we have all been blessed with wonderful productivity aids, entertainment options, communication mediums, and distractions of all kinds….
CASL – Anti-Spam Legislation
On July 1st, 2014, the Government of Canada is putting into effect a new Anti-Spam Legislation(aka CASL). This will affect everyone in a corporate…
PART 1: What your business needs to know – Getting ready for Canada’s New Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)
Getting ready for Canada’s New Anti-Spam Legislation What your business needs to know – Part 1 of a multi-part series on CASL. By Adam…
PART 2: Questions, Answers, and Other Important CASL Facts
CASL PART 2: Questions, Answers, and Other Important CASL Facts By Adam Dwek This article is Part two of a six part series on…
PART 3: CASL : The Law On Sending Commercial Electronic Messages
PART 3: If It Doesn’t Look Like a Commercial Electronic Message, It’s Still Probably a Commercial Electronic Message! By Adam Dwek Continuing a multi-part…
PART 4: Consider CASL When Buying a Business
Consider CASL When Buying a Business By Adam Dwek Part 4 of our multi-part series on CASL focuses on CASL concerns and issues when…
When A Common Law Spouse Dies Without a Will
Common law spouses are not treated the same as married spouses under the law and do not automatically have the same property rights. In…
Three Ways to Protect Your Common Law Spouse
In Ontario, common law spouses are not always treated the same as married spouses under the law. The definition of “spouse” is different in…
Specific Performance for Real Estate Investment Properties – Extremely Unlikely
Is Real Property unique? It was not so long ago that courts thought so. No two pieces of property were considered the same and…
Evergreen Building Ltd. v. IBI Leaseholds Ltd., 2008 BCSC 235
Case Commentary In Evergreen, a landlord of an office building in downtown Vancouver was experiencing financial difficulty and wished to redevelop the property in…
The Mortgagor’s Equity of Redemption
A mortgage security represents various things to various people, depending on their economic circumstances and their particular wants and needs. A mortgage may represent…
Just Cause Dismissal of Employees
Some Considerations Surrounding Just Cause Dismissal of Employees Just Cause, General Principles Typically, there is a requirement for reasonable notice for termination under the Employment…
In Terrorem Clauses in Wills
Some Considerations Concerning In Terrorem Clauses in Wills A condition surrounding a legacy in a will may be found to be void, and the…
Matrimonial Home
To Gift or To Loan Money For A Matrimonial Home, that is the Question As is customary among families, parents want the best for…
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Jagjit S. Bhathal
Jag is a devoted Family Lawyer. He brings more than 15 years of courtroom experience to Hummingbird Lawyers, having appeared in the Supreme Court…
Andrew M. Fortis
Andrew leads Hummingbird Lawyers Real Estate and Corporate / Commercial practice. Andrew is Hummingbird’s go-to guru for commercial and residential real estate transactions, offering over 15 years experience,…
Roy M. Bernhard
Roy serves as our Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for leading the development and execution of the Firm’s long-term strategy with a view…
Amy M. MacAlpine
Amy leads Hummingbird Lawyers Wills & Estates practice, bringing more than 17 years of experience in Wills and Estates to Hummingbird Lawyers. A Boston native,…
Brian Greenspan
Brian Greenspan spearheads the Legal Counsel as a Service (LCaaS) Program and acts as an ambassador and point of contact for Hummingbird Lawyers LLP….
Ankur Narula
Ankur is an Associate Lawyer in the Corporate/Commercial , Real Estate and Entertainment divisions at Hummingbird Lawyers LLP. He graduated from Osgoode Hall Law…
Michael E.B. Taing
Michael is the managing lawyer for Healthcare Professionals and practices in the Corporate/Commercial and Real Estate divisions at Hummingbird Lawyers LLP. Michael’s practice focuses…
Ella Aiaseh
Ella works closely with the Family Law team at Hummingbird Lawyers on a variety of family law cases, with a special focus on…
Yuce Baykara
Yuce Baykara is an award-winning litigator and former advisor with the Ontario Government. Yuce has joined the Civil Litigation Practice Group with Hummingbird Lawyers…
Adina Schild
Adina began her work at Hummingbird Lawyers as a summer intern in 2013 and completed 10 months as a Student-at-Law with the firm. Adina…
Daniel Wulffhart
Daniel is an Associate Lawyer in the Corporate/Commercial and Entertainment divisions of Hummingbird Lawyers LLP. While completing his articles at Hummingbird, Daniel benefited from wide exposure to…
Michael A. Levine
Known for his expertise in the Entertainment Industry and with over four decades of legal experience, Michael Levine offers his knowledge and services as Of-…
Douglas J. Green
Douglas Green is an Honorary Partner with Hummingbird Lawyers LLP. Doug was called to the bar in Ontario in 1976, a graduate of the University…
Harjot Gill
Harjot is an associate in the Family Law Division of Hummingbird Lawyers LLP. While conducting his articles at Hummingbird Lawyers, Harjot benefited from wide…
Jonathan J. Barr
Jonathan is a civil litigator with over a decade of real courtroom experience. During his 12+ years of practice, Jonathan has conducted trials (including…
Amiri Dear
Amiri Dear is an Associate in the Civil Litigation Division of Hummingbird Lawyers LLP with a special interest in employment and real estate related…
Silvana Baella
Silvana is an Associate Lawyer in the Civil Litigation Division of Hummingbird Lawyers LLP. While completing her articles at Hummingbird, Silvana benefitted from wide…
Jaime Dym
Jaime Dym is a legal assistant with Hummingbird Lawyers. Jaime will shortly be sworn in as a Paralegal. Working primarily in the area of family…
John Daldin
John works with Hummingbird lawyers as a business development consultant, primarily for corporate and entertainment focused clients. While his past work for Merrill Lynch…
Nadia Scobici
Nadia is a legal assistant with Hummingbird Lawyers. She works closely with Andrew Fortis and Michael Taing on corporate matters and with Amy MacAlpine…
Julie Williams
Julie Williams has joined the Civil Litigation Practice Group with Hummingbird Lawyers LLP. She is a legal assistant working primarily in the civil litigation…