Our lawyers

Mike McCarter's practice is concentrated in two main areas of law: commercial real estate and general business and corporate law.

Commercial Real Estate
Purchases, sales, mortgaging, leasing and other transactions involving commercial real estate.

Business and Corporate Law
In the field of general business law, Mike is experienced in providing practical advice and creative solutions to businesses on a range of issues, including acquisitions and reorganizations, asset transfers and amalgamations.

His client base is typically entrepreneurial and often owner-managed, and includes manufacturing companies, home builders, construction companies, and service firms.

Mike has completed the in-depth tax course at the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) and is able to apply his understanding of tax implications to restructurings and other business transactions.

He has lectured on issues in real estate law and is a member of the Waterloo-Wellington Estate Planning Council.

Paul's clients benefit from the experience he has gained through 30 years in corporate law and land development law.

Land Development
Paul has a wealth of experience managing all aspects of land development projects for clients, overseeing projects from green fields to the building phase and beyond. The expertise he offers includes selecting, leading, and working with development teams, (engineers, planners, surveyors, environmental, hydrogeological and other consultants) budgeting, tendering, and processing projects through all phases to completion.

Business Law
Paul has worked extensively with a business client base, including individuals, private corporations, and small public corporations. They regularly seek his assistance with such matters as mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, financing, reorganizations, shareholder agreements, joint ventures, tax planning, contract negotiation (including licensing, distributor, franchising, and other contracts and agreements), both on a domestic and international basis.

Succession & Estate Planning
For business owners concerned about the transition to the next generation, Paul can provide a broad range of expertise in estate and succession planning, including tax planning, establishing sophisticated trusts and wills, and developing estate plans for both the senior and junior generations. Paul has successfully completed in-depth training for family business succession and is experienced not only in the legal issues but also family and other dynamics that can arise which require sensitivity and thoughtfulness in their resolution.

Technology and business law constitute Tom's practice. Tom's training as a mechanical engineer and his keen interest in technology have made him well suited for his law practice and his client base includes businesses ranging from start-up ventures to public companies.

Tom is active in providing advice and documentation to technology companies regarding non-disclosure agreements, licensing and distribution arrangements, technology transfer and joint venture agreements both for Canada and internationally. Tom is a director of both public and private technology companies which adds to his extensive expertise in this area of law.

Tom also provides advice on business and commercial matters and deals extensively with asset and share transactions, mergers, amalgamations and other corporate reorganizations, stock option plans, private placements, shareholder agreements, corporate governance matters and other corporate requirements. Tom has acted for Canadian Crown corporations in international financing and commercial transactions.

In addition to his practice, Tom was a founding member of Communitech, the Waterloo Region technology association, and took a fiver year sabbatical from law as the President of a Waterloo-based software company.

Business Law
John has worked with a business client base that seeks his assistance on a variety of business law matters including share and asset purchases and sales, corporate and asset backed financing, contract negotiation and commercial agreements. In particular, John has been helpful in assisting his clients navigate the legal waters of international business transactions and brings a first-hand knowledge to those matters.

Real Estate
John has an extensive background in and represents real estate owners, builders, developers and private and institutional lenders on purchase, sale, financing, lease, and other transactions for commercial, industrial and residential property.

Estates
John has developed an expertise in estates and estate administration and is consulted on will drafting and estate administration on a frequent basis. His support staff in this area are proficient in the latest estate software and as a result, John is able to provide a very efficient service to his estate clients.

Community Involvement
John is also an active member of the community and has served on various philanthropic and public boards. John is currently on the Board of Governors of Conestoga College.

Business Law
Mike's practice entails acting in an advisory role to business owners and corporations, from the creation, organization and structuring of business ventures, associations, partnerships and corporations, through to planning and assisting in the often intricate and sensitive transition of family and closely held business interests to succeeding generations and key employees. Drawing from a wealth of experiences with a variety of industries and commercial enterprises, Mike typically assists with the negotiation of shareholder and partnership agreements and disputes, and plays a key role in business and corporate transactions, acquisitions, sales, mergers, restructuring and financing.

Real Estate
Mike routinely represents real estate owners, builders, developers and private and institutional lenders on purchase, sale, lease, financing and joint venture transactions for commercial, industrial and residential property.

Estate Planning
Drawing from years of experience dealing with business owners, their families, and the dynamics of their relationships, Mike is able to provide sound personal and business succession and tax planning advise and services, from the preparation of wills and powers of attorney, through to the completion of complex business transitioning and succession planning, family trusts and estate administration.

President 2007-2008 Waterloo-Wellington Estate Planning Council
Waterloo Law Association
Canadian and Ontario Bar Associations

Avril has developed an expertise in Condominium development law and has been involved in a number of high profile condominium developments, both residential and commercial, in Waterloo Region. Avril's expertise includes Standard, Phased, Vacant Land and Common Element Condominium plans as well as condominium conversions, amalgamations and governance. To that end, Avril has drafted sophisticated documentation from by-laws and declarations to cost sharing and other agreements involving multiple parties and interests.

Avril is also engaged in all aspects of real estate including development, purchase and sales, financing, leasing and other matters. She has assisted senior members of the firm on a number of complex real estate transactions and is familiar with a broad range of real estate matters.

Avril has also become an important asset to MGBW's merger, acquisition and divesture practice assisting on all aspects of the transactions from detailed due diligence matters to drafting a wide variety of sophisticated corporate documents including share and asset purchase agreements, share rights, share holder support, and other agreements. Avril is increasingly relied upon by her senior lawyers in this critical aspect of business law.

Since Amy joined the firm in 2002 as an associate she has been increasingly involved in the firm's merger, acquisition and divestiture and corporate finance practice, assisting the senior partners on large complex transactions and as a lead lawyer on a number of transactions in the $1M to $5M range. In connection with this area of law, Amy has drafted a wide variety of sophisticated corporate documents including share and asset purchase agreements, executive employment agreements, shareholder agreements, share rights, share holder support, joint venture and other agreements. Amy is increasingly relied upon by her senior partners in this critical aspect of business law.

Amy has also had extensive involvement in drafting sophisticated estate plan documentation including multiple wills, inter vivos, testamentary and other trusts, share rights, shareholder and other agreements. Amy was the recipient of the Award in Wills and Estates in her graduating year from the University of Western Ontario.

Amy also works closely with clients on other business law matters including incorporations,reorganizations, corporate compliance and corporate governance.

Chris joined our firm in the summer of 2007 after completing his articles and his academic background is particularly strong in business law. Chris also brings with him good understanding of business having completed his undergraduate studies in Commerce.

Chris is currently involved in undertaking due diligence in transactions, organizing and assisting in completing transactions and assisting the other lawyers at MGBW primarily in their merger, acquisition and divesture practice.