Beard Winter LLP

Insurance defence and coverage

Led by Peter Yoo, the insurance group handles bodily injury defence (including resort, tavern, occupiers' and motor vehicle claims), coverage disputes, and accident benefits files, where it has guided clients into the Licence Appeal Tribunal system. Its loss transfer and priority lawyers include some whom peers now call on to sit as arbitrators, and the firm acts for international insurers of bars, restaurants and event venues and defends recreational facilities, sport associations and municipalities in injury suits. It's an industry affiliate of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association and advises new insurers coming into the Canadian life and health market.

Corporate, franchising and M&A

The corporate group represents franchisors, from start-ups to national and international systems, as well as franchisees such as multi-unit and area holders; Derwin Wong has advised franchisors for more than 25 years. It's retained mainly by middle-market companies, financial institutions and private equity funds on mergers and acquisitions, acts for small and mid-size public issuers on offerings and listings, and helps non-profits apply to the Canada Revenue Agency for charitable status.

Trademarks and IP protection

Trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets are the focus of the firm's IP work, from registration through enforcement by infringement and passing off actions, Mareva injunctions and Anton Piller orders. Derwin Wong is a registered trademark agent, and Agatha Chiu's practice also takes in trademarks.

Restructuring and insolvency

Beard Winter's restructuring and insolvency lawyers have acted for creditors, debtors and trustees, including in proceedings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. Its litigators have appeared at every level of Ontario court, and its solicitors have represented both buyers and sellers of distressed assets and businesses.

Employment and labour

The employment group acts for employers of every size and regularly takes wrongful dismissal matters for both employers and employees; it also advises people under federal jurisdiction on unjust dismissal complaints under the Canada Labour Code. Employers get representation on union certification applications at the Ontario Labour Relations Board, construction industry included, and injured workers can get help with WSIB and disability insurance claims.

Our guide: Severance Pay in Ontario: What a Calculator Can and Can't Tell You

Family law

Audrey Shecter, a partner and Certified Specialist in Family Law, practises in the group, which handles separation and divorce, marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements. It also helps with private adoptions, including early conversations with people who are only considering adopting a child.

Our guide: How to Hire a Family Lawyer in Toronto

Residential and commercial real estate

The real estate lawyers buy, sell, finance and lease property for clients, from homes to commercial, institutional and industrial sites, and they can close deals in every registry office in Ontario. The firm is approved to act for all the major banks and trust companies, acts for landlords and tenants at the Landlord and Tenant Board, and appears before local committees of adjustment on severance applications.

Wills, trusts and estates

Estate planning and administration, business succession, domestic and international trusts, estate litigation and charity matters all sit with this group, whose clients include Canadian and international families, private companies, trust companies and accounting firms. Victoria Winter and Andrea Tratnik both hold the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Commercial and general litigation

The litigation group has trial and appeal experience that reaches the Supreme Court of Canada. Its work covers real estate disputes, from purchase agreements taken to trial to powers of sale and foreclosures, along with shareholder oppression claims and construction disputes, where it reviews facts and documents while a project is still under way.