Wednesday, May 04, 2022 @ 2:45 PM
Birth of the metaverse: Emerging challenges
As we outlined in part one of this four-part series, if Web3 is the digital transformation of the Internet, the metaverse implies massive change in client portfolios and expectations of professional advice. ... [read more]
Tuesday, May 03, 2022 @ 1:09 PM
Loopstra Nixon LLP adds associateLoopstra Nixon LLP announced that Baira Oldvurova has joined the Toronto firm as an associate. ... [read more]
Tuesday, May 03, 2022 @ 10:23 AM
Mentors in the legal profession | Gary JosephFor the most part change is a good thing. More specifically and germane to this piece, changes in the practice of law since I was called appear to me to be mostly positive, but I still regret some. I try to so hard to avoid sounding like some old dinosaur lamenting the old ways of practice but sometimes I just can’t help it. I am what I am, and I say what I think. So here goes. ... ... [read more]
Monday, May 02, 2022 @ 1:57 PM
The importance of communicating with estate beneficiaries
One of my late husband’s favourite sayings, along with putting “a rod in pickle for your own back” (the relevance of this one will become clear later in this article, but for a history of this saying, see The Phrase Finder and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary), was “start out how you mean to go on.” Good advice in a variety of situations, including for estate trustees (also referred to as executors) who are beginning to administer an estate. ... [read more]
Monday, May 02, 2022 @ 8:52 AM
The Coach: Most lawyers not suited to business of law | Gary MitchellOver the past 16 years, I have witnessed and observed the common personality traits and habits of lawyers. Of course, these are not just lawyer traits, these are human traits. But for some reason(s), which I will offer my hypothesis later in this article, these traits are heightened in most lawyers. ... [read more]
Thursday, April 28, 2022 @ 12:04 PM
Personal liability of estate trustees in dependant support claims
As a fiduciary for an estate, an estate trustee must comply with various legislation including the Succession Law Reform Act (SLRA) when disbursing estate assets and managing the estate. When dealing with a person who may be a dependant of the estate, and who may bring a Dependant Support Claim, estate trustees must adhere to s. 60 of the SLRA, failing which, they could be held personally liable. This article will consider the extent of an executor’s personal liability under s. 67(3) and remedies available to dependents should an executor disperse estate assets before a claim is heard. ... [read more]
Wednesday, April 27, 2022 @ 8:57 AM
Birth of the metaverse: Emerging estate opportunities
In the not-so-distant past it might have seemed absurd for a lawyer to begin an estate planning conversation by asking a client about their e-mail usage, their favourite travel reward program or their experience with cryptos. ... [read more]
Monday, April 25, 2022 @ 9:02 AM
Nightmare on law street | Mark BorkowskiI caught up with an old friend the other day. When I met Murray Gottheil years ago, he was your typical law firm partner. He chased billable hours. He brought in clients. At one point he was the managing partner of his medium-sized firm. After 40 years the stress got to him and he got out. He retired, moved to the country and bought a pickup truck. ... [read more]
Friday, April 22, 2022 @ 1:15 PM
Being charitable across borders
When deciding which charities to benefit, many Canadians have philanthropic objectives that extend beyond the border. ... [read more]
Thursday, April 21, 2022 @ 10:38 AM
New judge appointed to Ontario Court of JusticeThe Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General announced the appointment of a new judge to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective April 28. ... [read more]
