Loblaws and Shoppers Divestitures Approved
The Competition Bureau has approved plans by Canadian grocery giant Loblaw Companies Limited to divest nine in-store pharmacies to Remedy’s Rx, two grocery stores to Metro Inc., and two Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies to the Jean Coutu Group. The divestitures are pursuant to a March 2014 Consent Agreement between Loblaw and the Commissioner of Competition that resolved the Bureau’s concerns with Loblaw’s acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation. Loblaw still has to sell another 14 stand-alone retail outlets, as the Consent Agreement does not permit them simply to be closed. The Bureau expressed the hope that these divestitures will remedy the ... [more] Full article
Transcontinental Agrees to Sell 34 Community Newspapers
Transcontinental Inc. has agreed to sell 34 out of the 74 weekly newspapers it is buying from Quebcor Media Inc. in order to resolve the Competition Bureau’s concerns that the ... [more] Full article
Business Directory Scammer Sentenced
One of four participants in a business directory scam targeting businesses and non-profit organizations in Canada and the United States was sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Quebec Provincial Court after pleading ... [more] Full article
Lousiana Pacific Abandons Plan to Acquire Ainsworth Lumber
The Louisiana Pacific Corporation (LP) has abandoned its plan to acquire Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd., as a result of a concerns raised by both the Competition Bureau and the United ... [more] Full article
Developments Contributors
Michael Binetti
Michael Binetti, a partner of the firm, brings a proven litigation background plus extensive experience in arguing both trials and appeals. He has demonstrated his strategic legal capability and expertise in wide-ranging areas of litigation. Michael’s peers and clients have commented that Michael is an “excellent and creative lawyer,” “finds unique solutions to complex problems,” and that “Michael gets it and knows how to win.”
Kenneth A. Dekker
Kenneth Dekker, a partner of the firm, is a successful trial and appellate lawyer who is valued by his clients as a resourceful and practical litigation counsel. Over more than two decades, Ken has litigated noteworthy cases in a range of fields that include class action defence, securities and broker-dealer litigation and regulatory defence, corporate and shareholder disputes (including oppression and winding up cases), defamation, civil fraud litigation, disputes over contracts, injunctions, professional liability litigation, employment litigation and cross-border litigation issues. Ken has appeared before all levels of courts in Ontario, including the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal for Ontario, as well as before the Supreme Court of Canada. Ken also represents and advises clients in regulatory matters before the Investment Industry Organization of Canada (IIROC), the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA) and the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). Ken has been ranked as Repeatedly Recommended for Securities Litigation by Lexpert, for Corporate and Commercial Litigation by Best Lawyers of Canada, and he has been given the highest available rating of AV, or pre-eminent, by his peers on Martindale-Hubbell.
Meredith Hayward
Meredith has earned an impressive reputation for her skill and abilities in Commercial Litigation and Administrative Law, appearing at all levels of court in Ontario, before the British Columbia Court of Appeal, and before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Masiel A. Matus
Masiel has a broad commercial litigation practice and represents both national and international clients in a variety of complex matters. Masiel has experience litigating cases involving professional negligence, commercial leasing and real property disputes, insurance, contract disputes, shareholder disputes, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of trust, employment matters and defamation claims.
David N. Vaillancourt
David's practice expertise focuses on all matters of Commercial and Civil Litigation, Competition and Administrative Law. David has acted for clients in a wide range of disputes, including shareholder and partnership disputes, securities litigation, class action defence, proceedings under the Competition Act, employment law disputes, contract disputes, breach of confidence/intellectual property disputes, fidelity bond claims, and professional negligence claims. David has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, including the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and has also appeared before the Competition Tribunal and the Federal Court of Appeal. David has appeared as lead counsel in numerous trials, hearings, and motions. David has been successful in numerous adversarial proceedings, and also has successfully negotiated the resolution of dozens of cases.
