An Update from LaBarge Weinstein - March 2019
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Despite a winter of freezing cold temperatures and mounds of snow, it finally feels like spring is on the way. It’s time to stop hibernating and start enjoying the great outdoors!

Don't want to wait for the newsletter to stay in the loop? Remember you can follow us on Twitter, read our blog or connect with us on LinkedIn for up-to-date news and information.

Client News


Here are a few client highlights from the last three months:
  • Rewind.io and Welbi pitched their businesses to the tech and startup ecosystem in Ottawa on March 20 at L-SPARK's annual SaaS Showcase. The showcase is a graduation event for L-SPARK's accelerator cohort. Congratulations!
  • In an interesting Globe and Mail piece, Ian L. Paterson, CEO of Plurilock, discussed how unlike most Canadian banks, a number of video games companies are ahead of the curve when it comes to security by using two-factor authentication practices. 
  • In a blog post following a funding announcement, Jordan Boesch, CEO of 7shifts, took a moment to reflect on the hard work of his team and their passion which allowed them to achieve 300% year-over-year growth. Their restaurant shift scheduling platform is currently being used in 10,000 restaurants. Great work!
  • Harbr, StellarAlgo,  and Fellow Insights are two of 26 companies recently chosen to participate in the C100's upcoming 48 Hours in the Valley program. This highly-selective annual event invites some of Canada's most promising startups to the Silicon Valley for two days of workshops, investor meetings, networking, and mentorship. 
  • Having worked closely with Houseplant for nearly two years, Canopy Growth Corporation announced an official partnership on March 27. Founded by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, Houseplant represents years of product expertise and an unmatched attention to detail within each strain that has been carefully selected and grown.  
  • Following a record 2018 in which You.i TV booked more new business than in all other years combined, the company recently announced the addition of two industry veterans. Lara Lerville will join the organization as Heads of Sales in Europe and Ghali Belghali as Heads of Sales in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions. You.i builds products that help media and entertainment companies deliver the best experiences for their customers on every screen.
  • Proud to be Me, an Ottawa-based anti-bullying organization, hosted a successful fundraising gala on Friday, March 29 to a sold out crowd of 400 people. The proceeds from the event will fund programs that help empower and educate youth in their mission towards inclusion.
Do you have news to share? Email us and your update could appear in a future newsletter.

Deals & Transactions Report

Here is a sample of publicly-announced deals that we’ve worked on over the last quarter:

Want to see even more? Check out the Deal Flow section of our website.

Firm Update


We celebrated our 22nd anniversary on February 1. In that time, we've grown from six lawyers to 26 and have achieved a number of great milestones. We want to thank our clients, partners, and colleagues for the support that has allowed us to succeed over the years. Check out this short video to learn more.

We are happy to announce that we are sponsoring Smash-iT For Cancer, an upcoming ping pong tournament in support of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. The event will take place in September at the Brookstreet Hotel and is being hosted by the Crowe BGK Foundation. 

Shareholder's Agreement - Do I Need One?


Shareholders’ agreements are generally a good idea wherever you have a company with more than one shareholder. 
 
A shareholders’ agreement can set the expectations of the parties as to how the corporation will operate, can outline how important decisions will be made and can limit actions that shareholders can take with their shares.
 
A shareholders’ agreement is like a form of insurance.  If the parties are getting along, it is likely that they will never look at the shareholders’ agreement, but if things do not go as planned, they can look to the agreement to hopefully settle any disagreements in an orderly fashion.
 
For example, a shareholders’ agreement can address the following matters:
  • The election and composition of the board of directors
  • What constitutes a fundamental matter, and who gets to approve them
  • When a shareholder can transfer their shares, and restrictions relating to that transfer
    • Right of first refusal
    • Drag along
    • Tag along
  • Pre-emptive rights
  • What happens if a shareholder dies or becomes disabled and unable to work in the business
  • Shot-gun clause
Future blog posts will look at each of these features in more details, so stay tuned to our website.
 
Thinking of putting a shareholders’ agreement in place for your company? Contact us.

Our Services - What LW Can Provide Your Business


When people think of LaBarge Weinstein, transactions such as financings and M&As typically come to mind. However, here at LW, we have a number of other practice groups and services to support the corporate team.

Our Tax Planning group can assist with business and individual tax planning, business succession, cross-border tax issues, employee compensation, among other services. The Technology and IP team help clients with all types of commercial agreements, with an emphasis on technology licensing and intellectual property protection. We also have a Securities & Public Company Representation group who counsel clients on a full range of disclosure, governance and transaction matters.

Want a lawyer who understands your business? Contact us today! 

Tax on Split Income - Does it Apply to You?


As you are getting ready to file your personal taxes for 2018, prepare yourself for a new question to be asked by your accountants…does TOSI apply to you?
 
TOSI is a new acronym added to the tax lexicon in the past year as a result of the tax changes introduced by the government in 2017.  TOSI stands for “tax on split income”.
 
Although TOSI is a complex labyrinth of rules that are very fact specific, it may apply to you if you received dividends, gains or interest from a business in which a person related to you is involved (because they provide services or own an interest in that business).
 
If TOSI applies, the amount should be reported separately on your tax return, as the affected amount will be taxed at the highest marginal tax rate (instead of at the normal graduated rates).
 
Do you have questions about TOSI or any other tax matters? Please contact us today!

Featured Testimonial


"I can't say enough great things about James Smith and his team at LaBarge Weinstein. We at Picatic swear by their whole firm. LW understands founders, they are founder’s lawyers – Period. Highly recommend!"
 
                              - Jayesh Parmar, CEO of Picatic (sold to Eventbrite in 2018)
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