Business law
In corporate law, we provide ongoing support throughout your life as an entrepreneur or business owner.
Our Approach in Business Law
Looking for a business lawyer in Montreal?
Our business lawyers provide ongoing support throughout your life as an entrepreneur or business owner.
In fact, by starting their own business, our cofounding partners have acquired a unique understanding of business operation and environments.
Our lawyers understand your situation as an entrepreneur or business owner, because they've been there themselves.
Business law is complex and full of nuances, as it not only deals with sophisticated corporate structures, but also encompasses concepts of taxation, accounting, finance, regulation and corporate restructuring. Therefore, legal work in business doesn't stop at setting up a company; it also involves managing all the company's internal and external relationships afterwards.
That's why our business lawyers act as external partners who protect your business thanks to their availability and ongoing service throughout your company's entire life cycle: from inception, through operation and, if necessary, dissolution.
✦ Process
Our approach
At the heart of our practice is our lawyers' commitment to putting our clients first. We understand that every legal situation is unique, and we take the time to listen, understand your situation and develop the best strategy for you.
Consultation
A legal consultation is the first essential step in accessing our services. During this consultation, our lawyers will have the opportunity to hear and better understand your situation, so as to best answer your questions and concerns.
Legal advice
Thanks to their in-depth knowledge of various areas of law, our lawyers can provide you with legal advice and solutions that arerelevant and tailored to your situation.
Representation
You can count on the oratory skills and determination of our lawyers to represent you and defend your interests before courts or government agencies.
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Services Offered in Business Law
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you want to start a business in Quebec or Canada? Starting a business is not an easy task, so it's a good idea to have a business lawyer accompany you. At Boavista Legal services, you can consult one our business lawyers, who will explain to you the different business structures that exist, and tell you the advantages and disadvantages of each. Here is a quick overview of the most common business structures in Quebec and Canada:
- Corporation, also known as société par actions in French, have the acronym INC.;
- Sole proprietorship (the choice of many self-employed workers);
- General partnership, also known as société contractuelle in French, have the acronym S.E.N.C. or S.E.N.C.R.L. in Québec;
- Limited partnership, abbreviated S.E.C.
It all depends on your goals
Here are two examples:
1 ) How to start a company or how to incorporate a company in Quebec while limiting your personal liability?
Incorporation may seem like the most complex and expensive way to open a company in Quebec, but it also offers the most protection.
It is important to note that you can opt to incorportate in Quebec is or in Canada. While incorporations in Quebec may offer some additional protections of the Quebec Business Corporations Act and be slightly less expensive in incorporation fees, incorporating in Canada allows you to establish your head office anywhere in country. The choice ultimately depends on whether you want to operate only in Quebec or in other provinces. Once your company is incorporated, you will be required to register in every province you do business in. This makes incorporation in Quebec less expensive than federal incorporation. A federal company operating in Quebec will have to incorporate federally ($200.00 / $250.00) and then register in Quebec with the Quebec Enterprise Registrar ($378.00), whereas a Quebec company is automatically registered by the Registrar after incorporation (total fee of $378.00)*.
*Amounts quoted are subject to change by the government and are provided for information purposes only. To get the most up-to-date rates, see the relevant legislation or consult one of our business lawyers.
2 ) How can I start a business quickly and easily as a self-employed worker in Quebec?
This involves registering a sole proprietorship. To do this, you need to register a business with the Quebec Enterprise Register (REQ). If you select this option, note that your business will not be treated as a different, distinct entity from yourself and you will not benefit from limited liability for your business.
For your company to be incorporated, our lawyers will take the necessary steps at the Quebec Enterprise Registrar (REQ). This includes registering a company with the Quebec Enterprise Registrar (REQ). This can be done online through the Centre informatique du registre des entreprises du Québec (CIDREQ) at www.registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca.
Then, you can obtain a Quebec Enterprise Number (NEQ), the Business Registration Certificate, and choose your business name in Quebec, unless you prefer a numbered company.
Registering a company with the CIDREQ also requires filing an initial declaration. The corporation's initial declaration is the first step and must be followed by a number of annual updates.
If, instead, you choose to incorporate in Canada, with the federal government and under the Canadian Corporations Act, then our lawyers will prepare the constitutive statutes and send them to the Federal director of Corporations for approval and then file the initial declaration with the Federal director of Corporations and the Quebec Enterprise Registrar (REQ).
Incorporating and registering a company in Quebec or Canada can be expensive. It may be tempting to do it yourself, but it will still cost you hundreds of dollars.
The risk of going through the Quebec incorporation process alone is that you may end up with major blanks or gaps in your registration or incorporation papers later on.
Not only do you run the risk of having to pay twice to redo your registration or incorporation, but any mistakes in the incorporation could lead to legal problems.
That's why it's advisable to have it done by a business lawyer. In any case, you'll have to pay the necessary fees for the form to register a business or the form to incorporate a business ($378.00 in Quebec and $200.00 / $250.00 for the Canadian incorporation filing and an additional $378.00 for the initial declaration to the REQ if you incorporate in Canada), so why not do it right the first time by calling on one of our lawyers.
Even after the incorporation of your new company, there is still much work to be done. . Our business lawyers can create your corporation's minute book, prepare your first board and shareholder resolutions, even prepare your share certificates and draft your shareholder agreement.
Even after the incorporation of your new company, there is still much work to be done. Our business lawyers can create your corporation's minute book, prepare your first board and shareholder resolutions, even prepare your share certificates and draft your shareholder agreement.