In-House Counsel
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November 07, 2024
Confidentiality, compliance: Navigating challenges of reporting suspicious transactions in 2024
In the complex landscape of legal practice, lawyers often find themselves navigating the delicate balance between complying with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and maintaining client confidentiality. The duty to report suspicious transactions can create tension that threatens the trust essential to the attorney-client relationship. In 2024, as regulatory scrutiny intensifies, it is imperative for lawyers to develop strategies that reassure clients while fulfilling their legal obligations. This article explores the challenges lawyers face in this area and presents actionable solutions to foster trust and transparency.
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November 07, 2024
Lawyer sleep: Exercise, medication and coffee | Harjot Atwal
“When the going gets tough, the tough take a nap.” — Tom Hodgkinson
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November 06, 2024
Report reviews new drugs’ potential impact on future drug spending in Canada
The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board has released an extensive listing of new medicines in the late stages of clinical evaluation that it predicts may “significantly impact clinical practice or drug spending in the coming years.”
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November 06, 2024
How Trump’s win impacts Canada: Immigration, trade opportunities for Americans
With Donald Trump re-elected as U.S. president, Canada now faces a range of impacts that could affect its policies and relationships across multiple areas, including immigration, trade, defence and climate. Trump’s focus on strict immigration controls, “America-first” economic policies and his defence priorities are likely to shape the dynamics of U.S.-Canada relations, driving many to explore Canada as an alternative destination. Here’s a look at what Trump’s win could mean for Canada.
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November 06, 2024
Taking a break from perfectionism | Harjot Atwal
“Have the courage to be imperfect.” — Alfred Fidler
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November 05, 2024
B.C. Court of Appeal rules forum selection clause in property deal was not binding due to wording
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal in a case where a forum selection clause gave Alberta courts jurisdiction on matters arising from a property purchase agreement. The court discussed the usage of the terms “submit” and “attorn” in such clauses, ruling the chambers judge erred in interpreting the agreement.
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November 05, 2024
The boundaries of privilege and confidentiality in arbitration and related proceedings
The delicate balance between transparency and confidentiality often conflicts in the context of legal discovery. While privilege is essential for the effective administration of our justice system by protecting sensitive information and fostering open communication between counsel and clients, its application to specific documents can be murky (Lizotte v. Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, 2016 SCC 52). This is particularly true for dispute resolution proceedings and their respective pleadings.
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November 05, 2024
Navigating your clients in the age of money laundering
In an era increasingly marked by sophisticated financial crimes, lawyers face a daunting challenge: balancing their ethical obligations to report suspicious transactions with the potential fallout of such reports. The risk of clients fleeing upon detection of scrutiny can jeopardize not only the attorney-client relationship but also the firm’s reputation and financial health. This article explores strategies for effectively managing client relationships when faced with the responsibility to report suspicious activities under anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
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November 04, 2024
Non-financial co-op sector sees significant increases after COVID downturn
Non-financial co-operatives in Canada continued to rise in 2022 after seeing declines in 2020 during the pandemic, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.
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November 04, 2024
Fed. Ct. judges take to YouTube to address bar’s & litigants’ non-disclosure of gen-AI court filings
Knowing that at least some (if not how many) lawyers and self-represented litigants are failing to disclose their use of ChatGPT or other generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools when they create content for documents filed in Federal Court, the national trial court has taken the novel step of posting YouTube videos, titled “Compliance with the Notice on the Use of Artificial Intelligence,” featuring judges who explain how to comply with the mandatory AI-use disclosure obligations the court imposed 10 months ago.