Canada is seen as a leader in food production and innovation but risks falling behind by not pursuing opportunities in international markets, according to a panel of experts from the sector.

The legal profession is thought to be divided by borders. Lawyers attend different law schools, specialize in different fields, and are admitted to different bars. In fact, those lines only run so deep. At their core, all lawyers share the same dedication to their clients and the same belief in the rule of law. Whether they practise in Canada or the United States, every lawyer also believes our profession is stronger when we maintain the highest ethical standards.

Canadian companies need to keep their eyes on the Dodd-Frank law, says Andrew Foley.

If Canadian companies haven’t focused too much on the American Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act so far, they probably need to look into it immediately, say lawyers on both sides of the border.

Editor Andi Balla discusses the main stories in the December 2010 issue of Canadian Lawyer InHouse, which focuses on some of the latest cross-border business and legal trends.

In the rapidly evolving world of environmental case and statute law, it’s prudent to have a solid grasp of regulatory provisions on both sides of the border.

 

India has a common law tradition, is a member of the Commonwealth, is English speaking, and has an almost unlimited market potential with more than 1.1 billion people. Conducting legal business in the world’s second-most populous country takes knowledge of more than the laws governing companies; it takes patience, cultural sensitivity, and on-the-ground support.

Threatening to undo Johnny Depp’s public relations efforts, Somali pirates have gone on a hijacking spree. Even freighters carrying food aid for their fellow Africans are not immune to their ransom efforts.

Potential new Canadian importation regulations could leave in-house counsel and corporate executives scrambling for their dictionaries to make sure they have a clear understanding of the difference between onerous and onus.

When it comes to doing business abroad, more and more companies — and their executives — are bumping into conflicting legal environments: as the Enron and Hollinger  cases show, their lawyers need to find out what’s out there, before the trouble starts.