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Simon P. Crawford

Leading Commercial Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner

Samantha Weng

Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

Once again, cottage season is upon us—and like the return of the season, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Court) has returned to the well-settled law of adverse possession, which continues to surface in modern property disputes where long-term use of a property by an adjoining owner can sometimes erode the ownership rights of the legal owner.

Lines in the Sand A Case of Adverse Possession from Cottage Country

Lines in the Sand: A Case of Adverse Possession from Cottage Country

The Court of Appeal for Ontario recently reaffirmed in Ross v. Luypaert that a co-owner of a jointly owned property located in Ontario may bring an application for a partition or sale under Section 3 of the Partition Act (Ontario) (Act).

Ross v Luypaert

Ross v. Luypaert: Separating Shared Property Interests Through the Partition Act (Ontario)

Simon Grant

Banking & Finance Lawyer, Fintech Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner 

Jane C. Helmstadter

Samantha Weng, Simon Grant, Jane Helmstadter and Ali Naushahi write on how best to protect royalty interests from potential downsides in the June/July issue of Canadian Mining Journal.

Canadian Mining Journal Strategies to Safeguard Your Royalty Interest

Canadian Mining Journal: Strategies to Safeguard Your Royalty Interest

Gary S.A. Solway

Technology, Media and Entertainment, Corporate Commercial and Governance Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Kristopher R. Hanc

M&A and Capital Markets Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Angela Blake

M&A, Securities and Corporate Finance Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Blue Ant Media, a privately owned company controlled by Michael MacMillan, announced on March 24, 2025, that it has entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Blue Ant will go public via a reverse takeover (RTO) of Boat Rocker Media.

Blue Ant Media Announces Go Public Transaction By Way Of RTO Of Boat Rocker Media

Blue Ant Media Announces Go-Public Transaction By Way of Reverse Takeover of Boat Rocker Media

Lorelei Graham

Food and Agribusiness Lawyer, IP Lawyer, Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Across the Atlantic, the European Union (EU) and its member states have also been encouraging climate-resilient agri-tech innovation, but their approach to intellectual property incentives has been a bit different. The European Union has set ambitious climate goals (like achieving climate neutrality by 2050) and launched the European Green Deal, a broad policy agenda to support sustainable technologies. While funding and regulations (such as support for sustainable farming practices) are big parts of the EU strategy, there is also recognition that IP rights play an important role in fostering innovation. However, unlike Canada or the recent US pilot program, Europe has not implemented a unified “green channel” for patent examination at the European Patent Office.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part III

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part III: Green Without the Label: Europe's Pragmatic IP Approach to Agri-Tech Innovation

Steven L. Major KC

Commercial Dispute, Construction, Fraud, Police and Personal Injury Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Drew C. Broughton

Corporate Commercial and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Kevin Myson

Corporate, Commercial Transaction, Energy, Natural Resource and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Canada is navigating a "wild frontier" in the energy industry, with a unique opportunity to forge successful and sustainable partnerships both domestically and internationally. This was the rallying call at the Energy Business Forum during the 74th Canadian Energy Executive Association (CEEA) conference in Banff, Alberta, where industry leaders gathered to share visions for the future of Canada's energy landscape.

Key Takeaways From the Wild Frontier Energy Business Forum CEEA 74

Key Takeaways From the "Wild Frontier" Energy Business Forum at CEEA '74

Melanie Teetaert

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Jennifer (Jenn) K. Choi

Maruska Giacchetto

This article examines the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision in J.P. Thomson Architects Ltd. v Greater Essex County District School Board, 2025 ONCA 378, which provides critical clarification on the interpretation of multi-step dispute resolution (MSDR) clauses. MSDR clauses, commonly used in commercial contracts, outline escalating steps such as negotiation, mediation, and arbitration to resolve disputes. The Court addressed ambiguities in the drafting of MSDR timelines, emphasizing that specified timeframes should be interpreted as minimum waiting periods rather than strict deadlines. The decision overturned a lower court ruling that barred a party from arbitration due to a perceived failure to meet a 30-day mediation request deadline. This article highlights the importance of precise drafting in MSDR clauses, discusses the implications of the Court's decision, and provides practical guidance for parties drafting or negotiating dispute resolution provisions in commercial agreements.

Do you need to rush to mediate - Ontario Court of Appeal

Do You Need to Rush to Mediate? Ontario Court of Appeal Clarifies Interpretation of Multi-Step Dispute Resolution Clause

The United States has long been a major player in both agri-tech innovation and the intellectual property (IP) landscape. In the past, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offered its own version of a green patent fast-track to encourage climate-friendly inventions. Notably, in 2009 to 2011 the USPTO ran a Green Technology Pilot Program that prioritized examination for certain eco-friendly patents. The pilot ended in 2012, but more recently the USPTO brought back the idea in June 2022, with the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program, which was essentially an accelerated examination program for patent applications directed to fight climate change. Under this program, inventions designed to reduce or monitor greenhouse gas emissions, including many clean energy, sustainability or climate-smart agriculture innovations, could be examined out of turn. Importantly, like Canada’s program, the US pilot did not charge the usual petition fee for expediting. The goal was to spur green tech by making it faster and cheaper to secure IP rights.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part II

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part II: Innovation Interrupted: What the End of the USPTO's Green Program Means for Agri-Tech

Climate change is driving a surge in agricultural technology (agri-tech) innovations aimed at making farming more resilient and sustainable. From drought-resistant crops to carbon-capturing soil techniques, these climate-focused agri-tech solutions are crucial for global food security. An often-overlooked piece of this puzzle is intellectual property (IP) strategy, namely how patents and other IP rights are used to protect and incentivize innovation.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part I

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part I: Planting the Future: Why Canada's IP System May Be the Climate Innovation Sleeper Hit

Update on Recent Tax and Regulatory Changes—What you Need to Know

Authors


Bennett Jones Speaking Engagement Update on Recent Tax and Regulatory Changes—What you Need to Know November 22, 2023 Authors Samantha WengAssociate Samantha Weng spoke at the OBA Real Property Law Program: Update on Recent Tax and Regulatory Changes—What you Need to Know, presented by the Canadian Bar Association. This session covered various topics relating to new regulatory requirements and tax regulations, including: Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act; Vacant Home Tax; and Underused Housing Tax. Share by Email Social Media Download Download Subscribe Republishing Requests For permission to republish this or any other publication, contact Amrita Kochhar at kochhara@bennettjones.com. For informational purposes only This publication provides an overview of legal trends and updates for informational purposes only. For personalized legal advice, please contact the authors. Authors Samantha Weng, Associate Toronto • 416.777.5526 • wengs@bennettjones.com