Business Law

Business law solutions that work for you

Nelligan O'Brien Payne LLP's business law lawyers work hard to provide cost-effective advice and solutions that help you face today's business environment with confidence. We provide legal services to businesses based in Ottawa as well as numerous other communities throughout Ontario.

Our services include:

• Corporate organization, re-organization, and governance for business and not-for-profit corporations
• Share/asset transactions
• Shareholder/partnership agreements
• Negotiating and documenting commercial transactions
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Providing assistance with issues relating to service offerings, franchise agreements, distribution, and reseller contracts
• Transactional financing for institutional and private lenders
• Privatization
• Emerging advanced technology and bio-medical development matters
• Debt collection, workouts, and mortgage remedy matters for secured and unsecured institutional and private lenders
• Financing transactions with angels and venture capital investors
• Bankruptcy and insolvency
• Constitutions and by-laws
• Director and officer liability, insurance liabilities, and risk management
• Business transition planning, including will and estate planning, and wealth transfer strategies
• Responding to a lawsuit of any nature

Our expertise and experience also includes:

Small / Medium-Sized Enterprises - whether you are starting a business or you operate an established business, our business lawyers provide advice on legal considerations such as business structure, financing, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, shareholder agreements, family trusts, and more.

Not-for-Profit Corporations - we act as counsel for many not-for-profit and charitable organizations, aiding them with issues such as organizational structure, corporate governance, and audit committee effectiveness.

Transition Planning - we advise family-owned businesses on transition planning and bridging the gap between the family and the business. We help our clients provide for their families' futures, improve the financial stability of their businesses, and prepare their businesses for transfer to successors.

Governance - the responsibilities and liabilities affecting Directors, Officers, and Senior Management, and the question of sound corporate governance, have recently gained new attention. Effective board management and understanding full-disclosure obligations are essential for gaining and maintaining the confidence of your stakeholders.

Aboriginal Law - we act as counsel for many First Nation and aboriginal organizations, providing on-going advice related to corporate and commercial, natural resources, construction, employment, and governance. We also assist our aboriginal clients with business interests in such sectors as resource development, construction, transportation, commercial real estate, and aviation. Our experience with First Nation communities extends to Ontario, Quebec, and Nunavut.

Our employment law group often assists business clients with employment related issues. For details regarding the services of our employment law lawyers, see our Employment Law services.