Dentons Business Insights Podcast

In response to the Fall Economic Statement of 2022, the federal government has taken steps to reinforce the Canada Revenue Agency’s ability to unravel tax avoidance schemes by expanding their audit powers. In this episode, tax lawyers Jacob Yau and Caroline Harrell discuss their recent two-part series on the newly expanded audit powers of the CRA and what this means for Canadian taxpayers and businesses.

On this episode, Ben Iscoe and Larysa Workewych explore the current use of clawback policies in Canada as well as the implications of new requirements implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission expected to take effect on October 2, 2023 and how those changes may affect Canadian businesses from a labour and employment perspective.

Click the links below to learn more about this topic:

“Everything you need to know about clawback policies” co-authored by Ben Iscoe and Larysa Workewych. 

“New SEC clawback compensation rules impact Canadian issuers” featuring Ben Iscoe.

Decarbonization has become a central focus for many businesses. While every sector in the global economy is facing different pressures to revamp and decarbonize their footprints – metals and mining companies have been presented with the unique challenge of supplying the critical raw materials needed to move towards wind and solar power generation, battery and fuel-cell based electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen production. In this episode, Blair McCreadie speaks with Corporate partners Greg McNab and Ali Amadee, and Senior Advisor at StrategyCorp Inc. Philippe Couillard about emerging trends and how Canadian businesses are responding.

Global M&A has shifted over the last year as investors take stock after 2021’s whirlwind of dealmaking. Macro pressures (including inflation, rising interest rates, geopolitical unrest and ongoing supply-chain disruption) have given acquirers cause to pause and assess risks but, at the same time, there is strong motivation to consider cross-border and global acquisitions to unlock growth. In this episode, Blair McCreadie speaks with Corporate partner Alex Farcas and Litigation and Dispute Resolution partner Rachel Howie, to discuss this report as well as emerging trends and how dealmakers are responding.

Click here to read the article, “The shifting tides of cross-border M&A”.

Executives in the not-for-profit sector manage ever-changing corporate governance issues, including responding to geopolitical shifts, keeping up with the war for talent, reconnecting with key stakeholders, and re-imagining strategy, culture, and everything in between. In this episode Blair McCreadie speaks with Tax partner Pamela Shin, who specializes in charity and non-profit law, about emerging trends in the sector, and how boards and executives can respond.

Material Adverse Effect clauses (or “MAEs”) are customary in M&A transactions. When the COVID-19 pandemic put the applicability of these provisions under the microscope, courts and industry leaders were called upon to interpret how and when such clauses can be relied on. With the pandemic behind us, helpful guidance and interpretation on the operability of MAE clauses in the M&A landscape remain. In this episode, Blair McCreadie speaks with Corporate M&A partners Alex Farcas and Tom Redekopp alongside Litigation partner Chloe Snider about the lessons we have learned about MAE clauses from the pandemic and key considerations for M&A transactions moving forward.

In this episode, Blair McCreadie speaks with Sean Bhagwandin, General Counsel at Nissan Canada Inc. and Kirsten Thompson, National Privacy and Cybersecurity lead at Dentons, on the trends influencing the outcomes of judicial cases in privacy litigation.

In Canada, ESG issues are at the forefront of corporate thinking as a source of risk and opportunity – from regulations, standards and setting sights on the future. In this episode, Blair McCreadie is joined by Toronto Litigation partner Dina Awad, to talk about what’s on the horizon for ESG and climate-related disclosures, and what businesses can do to proactively prepare for upcoming regulations.

Chief Legal Officers are increasingly relied on as key business partners to manage and mitigate risks in their organizations. In this episode, Blair McCreadie speaks with Toronto litigation partner Michael Schafler to discuss the emerging legal trends that are affecting in-house counsel, and what they can do protect their business.

In this episode, Blair McCreadie speaks with Toronto trusts and estates partner Blair Botsford to discuss the intersection of business and personal planning and how getting your personal affairs in order can add significant value to your business.

Canada has long been seen as a key player in the global insurance industry. With increasing M&A and consolidation in the Canadian market, alongside heightened regulatory activity both federally and provincially, what challenges are on the horizon for Canada's insurance sector in 2021 and where do the opportunities lie?

In this episode, Blair McCreadie speaks with Canada head of Corporate and Regulatory Insurance Laurie LaPalme, and Litigation partner Arthur Hamilton, who outline the trends you need to know about and how companies in the insurance space can best manage risk.

Canadian Cannabis companies have a unique window of opportunity to retain the leading position in this growing global sector. Having passed the two-year 'canniversary' of the federal Cannabis Act, and with more than 1,000 new cannabis retail stores expected to open across the country next year, business leaders are well-positioned to leverage insights and shift the focus from cultivation to innovation.

In this episode of the Toronto Business Insights podcast, Blair McCreadie speaks with Eric Foster about the industry review he’s leading with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, pressure points companies are facing, evolving opportunities for expansion, and why innovation is the key to retaining Canada’s lead on the global stage. Eric also shares what’s on the horizon for the emerging psychedelics industry. 

If you would like to discuss this podcast, please contact Eric Foster, Blair McCreadie or any member of Dentons’ Cannabis group.

Privacy modernization is underway in Canada, following the trend that started in 2018 when the European Union enacted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).  Since then, more than 60 jurisdictions around the world have enacted or proposed postmodern privacy and data protection laws.  As new privacy regulations emerge, businesses will need to seek compliance solutions that can appropriately scale in order to mitigate reputational risk and avoid hefty monetary fines. 

On this episode of the podcast, Blair McCreadie speaks with Kirsten Thompson about data privacy modernization and how this will impact the bottom line for any business.  Kirsten outlines what’s on the horizon for Canada’s data privacy landscape, what new legislative measures are being considered, and what steps General Counsel or Chief Privacy Officers should take now to manage their risk and get prepared for the new regime.

If you would like to discuss this podcast, please contact Kirsten Thompson, Blair McCreadie or any member of Dentons’ Transformative Technologies and Data Strategy group.