From farm to fork and through all stages of the supply chain, TDS recognizes the vital role that our food producers and the companies that add value upstream and downstream play.
TDS supports both family and corporate farms, food processors and retailers, ag-tech companies, agricultural equipment manufacturers, agribusiness service providers, grain companies and crop input manufacturers.
Clients expect that our lawyers know the law, that is a given. While all lawyers know the law, TDS lawyers make an extra effort to not only know our clients' business, but also have an understand their industry and the nuances that go along with each unique sector.
To better understand the evolving needs of agribusiness and agri-food companies, we are members of Food & Beverage Manitoba. We have also participated in events with the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers (CAAR) and Agrologists Manitoba. TDS agribusiness and agri-food lawyers have spoken at industry conferences, including Manitoba Ag Days, Grain World, and Agriculture Enlightened.
TDS agribusiness lawyers have written timely client alerts on recent industry developments and articles on agricultural matters for leading publications such as Country Guide Magazine. They have been quoted in industry publications, including The Western Producer and AgCanada.com. In addition, lawyers from our agribusiness group have been sessional lecturers of the Agricultural Law course at the University of Manitoba.
Developing strategies and solving problems
Our agribusiness lawyers work as part of our clients’ team to develop strategies and solve problems, including:
- Business Immigration - When our clients need to look outside of Canada for labour, we assist with navigating the immigration bureaucracy to ensure that applications are processed and the people they need to run their operation can work in Canada.
- Corporate and Commercial - Our business law group helps clients with a wide range of corporate and commercial matters These include financing, restructuring, partnerships, joint ventures, corporate governance, taxation, securities, intellectual property, and shareholder agreements.
- Environmental Compliance - Environmental sustainability, safety and compliance are another top concern of agribusiness and agri-food companies. Lawyers in our firm assist our clients by providing advice concerning environmental assessment processes, environmental issues in real property transactions, contaminated site issues caused by fertilizer and other chemicals, environmental management systems (EMS), and regulatory compliance.
- Financing and Raising Capital - Financing agribusiness operations can be critical to the future of a business and its growth strategy. Our lawyers have relationships with many leading financial institutions and government agencies. Our strategic connections can help in assisting clients with grant applications and lease/loan negotiations and applications. TDS securities lawyers are also very connected in the venture capital and private equity circles and can assist clients with raising equity capital.
- Insolvency, Bankruptcy & Restructuring - Our firm provides a wide range of services to secured and unsecured creditors, receivers, trustees in bankruptcy and to debtors in connection with insolvency-related issues. These services include the preparation of various forms of security agreements, the enforcement and realization of security, and the resolution of priorities issues between competing creditors. We represent clients (both creditors and debtors) in the restructuring of debt and the enforcement of collateral. Members of the firm have extensive experience in both complex restructurings and realizations.
- Cyber Security, Data Protection & Privacy Law – Our team works with our client’s team to assist with cyber security and data protection policies, drafting and reviewing agreements, providing advice on cyber insurance contracts, and ensuring compliance with Canadian privacy laws. Through our global Lex Mundi service, our lawyers assist clients with privacy law advice and compliance around the world, including GDPR in the E.U. and CCPA in the U.S.
- Intellectual Property (IP) Protection - Agribusiness companies can generate a large amount of IP that can be complex, valuable and difficult to protect. Our team assists clients with copywriting and trademarking and work closely with patent agents to ensure valuable IP assets are protected. Once our clients’ intellectual property is protected, we assist them in negotiating and licensing their technology to their strategic partners, clients and suppliers.
- Labour & Employment - Labour and employment law in the ag industry has some unique characteristics. Whether with respect to terminology or cultural norms, TDS agribusiness lawyers have experience with matters specific to the ag sector. Workplace Health & Safety Regulations and employee handbooks are areas of interest for many employers. Our lawyers work with our clients to develop comprehensive agreements, policies, and documentation to protect both the worker and the company.
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution - Litigation and dispute resolution in the ag industry has some unique characteristics. Amongst those unique characteristics is the ability of ag producers in some situations to impose a stay of proceedings upon creditors and a mediation process under the federal legislation. Whether with respect to unique statutory processes, terminology, or cultural, TDS agribusiness lawyers have experience with matters specific to the ag sector. With the largest litigation and dispute resolution practice in Manitoba, we work collaboratively with clients to ensure they receive innovative, cost-effective representation. Whether it is contractual disputes, bankruptcy, class actions, intellectual property disputes, tax litigation, or commercial litigation, we can help.
- Mergers & Acquisitions - Our lawyers regularly assist local, national, and international clients with leveraged and management buy-outs, joint ventures, acquisitions and divestitures, cross-border transactions, public company transactions, reorganizations and recapitalizations, transactions involving divisions, subsidiaries and spinoffs, and restructurings. Today’s M&A transactions are often global in reach. TDS is a founding member (and the exclusive Manitoba member) of Lex Mundi - the world's leading network of independent law firms, with in-depth experience in 100+ countries worldwide. Our global connections to top law firms can make a world of difference to clients when it comes to M&A.
- Real Estate Transactions - TDS provides counsel and services to lenders and borrowers in financing transactions. We also provide these services to a wide number and variety of clients in the acquisition and sale of property including commercial, industrial and retail properties.
- Tax Credits for Research & Development - Agribusiness and Agrifood companies may benefit from applying for Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credits with assistance from their accounting firms. However, the claims are sometimes denied by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA). When appropriate, our tax dispute resolution lawyers advocate on behalf of our clients, helping them receive the tax credits which are valuable to the growth and success of their business.
- Transportation - Our firm has helped with the development of several short-line railroads in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. These developments support farming communities, investors, and stakeholders in the grain supply chain and their ability to transport products quickly and efficiently to distribution facilities. Examples of projects include the creation of the Lake Line Railroad Inc. from Gimli to Selkirk and the Long Creek Railroad Company Inc.
Focus on the operation of your business
While you focus on the operation of your business, we will work on solving your legal problems and protecting your interests. Whatever your challenge, we are ready to support you. TDS is proud to be external counsel for some leading agribusiness and agri-food companies, including:
- HyLife Inc.
- Farmers Edge
- Grain companies
- Crop input suppliers (including seed, crop protection, and fertilizer)
- Buhler Industries Inc.
- Primary Producers
- Several shortline railroads including Long Creek Railroad Company Inc. and Lake Line Railroad Inc.
- Shape Foods, Inc.
- Country Meat and Sausage Inc.
Agribusiness and Agri-Food Lawyers
Glen Agar
Lawyer
Renae Baker
Lawyer
Mason Broadfoot
Lawyer
Michael Choiselat
Lawyer
Bjorn Christianson, K.C.
Lawyer
Silvia de Sousa
Lawyer
Abhinav Dhingra
Lawyer
Kelly Dickson
Lawyer
Adrian Frost
Lawyer
Elmer Gomes
Lawyer
Maria Grande
Lawyer
Antoine Hacault
Lawyer
Leilani Kagan, K.C.
Lawyer
Adam I. Kaplan
Lawyer
Lucy Kinnear
Lawyer
Jeffrey Kowall
Lawyer
Frank Lavitt, K.C.
Lawyer
Barry MacTavish
Lawyer
Ross McFadyen
Lawyer
Gordon McKinnon
Lawyer
Jennifer McRae
Lawyer
Drew Mitchell
Lawyer
Robert Olson
Lawyer
Leo E. K. Palay
Lawyer
Dan C. Robillard
Lawyer
Paul Roy
Lawyer
Art Stacey
Lawyer
John Stefaniuk, K.C.
Lawyer
Allan Stewart
Lawyer
Gregory J. Tallon
Lawyer
Andrew Thompson
Lawyer
Lynda Troup
Lawyer
Alyson Vercaigne
Lawyer
Nicholas Woelcke
Lawyer
Celyna Yu
Lawyer
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