Minority Founders in a Series A, Careful
A Series A can quietly strip minority founders of control. Learn how governance terms, not valuation, often determine who really runs the company—and how to protect yourself.
The Use of Holding Companies
Discover the benefits and strategies of using holding companies in Canada. Learn how they can protect assets, optimize taxes, and enhance business efficiency in this comprehensive guide from Wires Law.
Negotiating Cofounder and Shareholder Agreements
Learn about shareholder agreements for Canadian startups. Protect founder interests, negotiate key terms, and avoid disputes. Wires Law provides expert guidance.
Holding Bitcoin on Your Balance Sheet in Canada
Explore the legal aspects of holding Bitcoin on your balance sheet as a Canadian company. Get expert insights on compliance, tax implications, and best practices from Wires Law.
Incorporating Subsidiaries in Canada: What Foreign Tech Companies Need to Know
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Crowdfunding & the New Era of Entrepreneurial Financing
Rewards Based Crowdfunding The 2008 financial crisis left small businesses with little means to raise capital, the wells of capital dried up. So, it wasn’t a coincidence that a year later, in 2009, Kickstarter was founded on the basis it could be part of the solution...
Founder and Shareholder Loans
Many early stage companies in Canada are self-financed, either with founder loans, or loans from friends and family. Some founders consider protecting their loans against trade creditors and other lenders by entering a form of loan agreement or promissory note, along...
Navigating Venture Capital and Private Equity for Canadian Founders
After watching an episode or two of the Dragon’s Den or Sharks Tank founders might be tempted to think that negotiating a deal to raise equity capital from investors is simply a matter of valuing shares and dividing up equity. It’s not. The handshake deals made on TV...
Convertible Loans
Before we get into private equity investments, it is important to be aware of convertible debt. A convertible loan, also known as a convertible note, is a short-term debt instrument often used in the early stages of a start-up’s life cycle. It is a loan from an...
Stock Option Plans in Canada
Discover employee stock options (ESOs) in Canada: benefits, legal frameworks, and tax implications for startups and employees. Wires Law offers expert insights.
Choosing a Business Name: Why Getting it Right is Important
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Choosing and registering a business name involves legal considerations that vary depending on your jurisdiction, the nature of your...
Choosing a Domain Name and Not Getting Sued
Discover how to choose a business domain name, avoid cybersquatting, and navigate domain disputes in Canada. Wires Law offers expert guidance on TLDs and legal risks.
Can you use a Competitor’s Trademark in Your Website’s Metatags?
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Paying Instagram “Influencers” to Endorse Products Online
Social Media Endorsement Deals: More and more e-commerce retailers are turning to social media influencers on Instragram for product endorsements.
The Digital Minute Book for Corporations – Time to Convert?
At Wires Law we operate a paperless legal practice, which includes the management of corporate minute books. A corporate minute book is a record of the rules and decisions the company’s board of directors and shareholders make. It also contains, among other things,...
12 Areas of Potential Liability for e-Commerce Businesses – Website Terms and Conditions
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Founder Stories (Gongshow Hockey): Tips on Picking a Domain Name and Avoiding Domain Name Disputes
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Does your Company Actually Own its Domain Name?
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Founder, Director and Officer Compensation in Crowdfunding Companies
How Much Should Equity Crowdfunding Directors Be Paid? In their proposed "Crowdfunding Offering Document" from March 20, 2014 the Ontario Securities Commission requires crowdfunding companies to disclose how much money the directors and officers of the corporation...
Equity Crowdfunding Exemption Scheduled for Q1 2015
I had the pleasure of speaking on a panel this morning with Gerrard Buckley of Maple Leaf Angles, Jos Schmidt of Aequitas Innovations Inc. and Jim Turner the Vice Chair of the Ontario Securities Commission. The event, Igniting Entrepreneurship and Capital Flow in...
A Canadian Online Marketplace To Sell Your Small Business (Founder Stories)
Its not easy to sell your business. Like any other Entrepreneurship student, Nunzio Presta, Graduate of The Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, aspired to leave school with a fresh business idea that would jump start a successful career. His first...
Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credits
Howard Lerner is an Chartered Professional Accountant with Richter LLP who has offices adjacent to Wires Law. Howard services a diverse range of clients, with particular expertise in high-tech businesses, construction companies, and some of Ontario’s top professional...
The Looming Sale of Baby Boomer Businesses
Distinct Capital Partners ("DCP") is an Oakville, Ontario based investment banking firm that provides corporate finance, M&A and advisory services to small and mid-market Canadian private companies. Their clients are primarily owner operated businesses, meaning...
Selling a Business in Ontario
Selling a Business in Ontario There are two ways to sell a business in Ontario: (1) Selling the underlying assets of the business; or (2) Selling the shares of the corporation that owns the assets and operates the business. Usually, it is preferable for the seller to...
Should I have a Holding Company?
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Deducting Legal Fees for Tax Purposes
Deducting Legal, Accounting and Other Professional Fees Many startups do not realize that their legal and accounting fees can be deducted as a business expense for tax purpose. Here is the CRA's full archived guide to deducing legal and accounting fees. The CRA's...
SEC Opens Crowdfunding Invitation to Canadian Securities Regulators
The US Securities and Exchange Commission made its big announcement on Wednesday setting out a comprehensive proposal for how equity Crowdfunding rules would actually work. As a Canadian lawyer who has been writing about the importance of finding a way to harmonize...
Time for an Accountant? Head to the Cloud
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Should I Trademark It?
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Corporate Share Classes
Why Have Different Share Classes? Not all shares are created equal. Start-ups can issue different types (or classes) of shares with different rights attached to them. Having different classes of shares can be used for a number of different reasons but more often that...