A power of attorney gives someone the legal authority to make decisions for another person, but that authority comes with important legal responsibilities. When a power of attorney misuses that authority, ignores the grantor’s wishes or puts their own interests ahead of the grantor’s, the result can be a serious legal dispute.

A commercial lease dispute can arise when a landlord and tenant disagree about rent, repairs, operating costs, renewal rights, or how the leased premises can be used. In Ontario, reviewing the lease itself is usually the starting point for understanding the parties’ rights and obligations, alongside the Commercial Tenancies Act and applicable common law.

Purchase and sale disputes arise when a buyer or seller cannot, or will not, complete an Agreement of Purchase and Sale as agreed. The dispute may involve a failed condition, undisclosed property defect, title problem, deposit, missed closing date, or a party simply refusing to close. The legal consequences depend on the terms of the agreement and the circumstances surrounding the breakdown.

A common occurrence in construction disputes is when the project deals with delays and  falls behind schedule. The parties often disagree about what caused the delay, who is responsible, or who should bear the resulting costs. These disputes can involve contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers and other project participants. A delayed project can mean lost revenue, strained subcontractor relationships, and mounting legal exposure.

Unpaid commercial invoices begin with a client who is slow to pay but can quickly become a cash flow concern, particularly for a business that has already delivered the goods or completed the work in good faith. The temptation is to keep sending reminders and hope the account resolves itself, but Ontario law gives businesses a defined path forward and understanding that path early makes it far easier to recover what is owed.

Termination with cause allows an employer to dismiss an employee immediately, without notice or severance in many circumstances, but Ontario law sets a high threshold before that can happen. Dismissal with cause is one of the hardest decisions a business owner must face. Ending someone's employment immediately carries a personal weight that no amount of legal preparation fully removes, even when the underlying conduct is serious and the decision is clearly justified.

A breach of contract rarely announces itself with a single dramatic event. More often it builds slowly, through missed deadlines, partial deliveries, or vague excuses, until a business relationship that once worked no longer does.

In Ontario, a common law partner does not automatically inherit from an estate the way a married spouse does. However, depending on the circumstances, they may have legal rights to make a common law estate claim through dependant support claims, unjust enrichment claims, or by challenging the validity of a will.

Commercial arbitration often becomes the deciding factor when a property dispute threatens to derail a business. Maybe a tenant has stopped paying rent over a repair disagreement, or a co-owner will not agree on next steps for a stalled development, or a contractor walked off a renovation halfway through the job. These situations pull attention away from daily operations, strain business relationships, and put real money on the line, all while the business tries to keep functioning as though nothing is wrong.

A corporate deadlock can take hold of a business in a way that feels sudden, even though it has usually been building for some time. Many private companies are structured with equal ownership, where each of the two owners holds a 50% interest, because the two people starting the business trust each other and want to share control evenly.

Family business disputes often arise when a founder dies or loses the capacity to manage the company. They sometimes begin with a medical diagnosis that changes everything, the power of attorney that family members question, or a will that surprises everyone in the room when it is finally read. Whether a founder has passed away or has simply lost the capacity to make decisions, a business left without a clear succession plan can cause disagreements between family members that quickly escalate into legal conflicts involving estates, corporate ownership, and control of the business. 

Construction lien mistakes in Ontario happen more often than most people expect, and when they do, the right to recover payment can disappear entirely.

Construction holdback disputes can quickly turn a successful project into a legal dispute. Under Ontario's Construction Act, holdbacks serve an important purpose. They help protect parties further down the construction chain by ensuring funds remain available to satisfy valid lien claims. However, once lien rights have expired or applicable statutory requirements have been met, those funds are not meant to remain frozen indefinitely.

Conflict is part of everyday life, and civil litigation in Ontario can span a wide variety of relationships.  These disputes can be between business partners, family members, neighbours, employers, contractors, or property owners. Each disagreement or dispute can have its own resolution and can come in a multitude of ways. Some disagreements can be resolved with a conversation or a compromise, while others can be  more serious and can eventually require legal intervention.

Misrepresentation franchise claims are one of the most common and most serious types of franchise disputes in Ontario. When you buy a franchise it is a major financial decision…

Property co-ownership disputes in Ontario can arise when spouses, siblings, business partners, or other co-owners disagree about selling a property, financial contributions, responsibilities, or ownership rights.

Estate disputes between siblings rarely begin as purely legal disagreements. We often find that what appears on the surface to be a disagreement about money or property is often rooted in grief, long-standing family dynamics, and deeply personal views about what is fair. When a parent dies, unresolved tensions can surface quickly, turning what should be a structured legal process into a difficult and, at times, adversarial situation.

Adjudication notice in Ontario? What construction owners and contractors need to know has changed under the 2026 amendments to the Construction Act. 

Ontario construction business owners and contractors need to know how to react when they receive a notice. Learn what to do once a legal action is in play.

Owning a waterfront cottage in Ontario carries the promise of fun and recreation, but in reality, it also includes a higher likelihood of waterfront rights disputes. Disagreements over shoreline boundaries, beach access, and the use of water are some of the most common issues that escalate into litigation.

Vendor relationship problems may start small, but they rarely stay that way.

What starts as a breakdown in communication or expectations can quickly turn into a legal dispute affecting operations, revenue, and reputation. Understanding your legal options can make the difference between resolving the issue or escalating it.

Learn how vendor relationships turn into litigation and what your next step should be.