Business & Corporate Legal Counsel
Serving startups, growing companies, and established enterprises across Alberta — from the first shareholder agreement to a multi-million dollar acquisition.
Who We Help
We act for small, midsize, and large corporations across Alberta. Whether you are structuring a new venture, acquiring a business, resolving a shareholder dispute, or navigating a franchise arrangement, our team brings the commercial understanding and legal precision your situation requires. In a fast-changing global economy, we tailor our legal advice based on your priorities and goals — and we go the extra length to help our clients grow their businesses.
Business Advice That Guides You Forward
Every business decision of consequence has a legal dimension. Agreements, contracts, incorporation structures and partnerships entered without a properly drafted contract all accumulate. When they are handled well from the start, they become the foundation your business grows on. When they are not, they become the problems you spend years resolving.
Being approachable and developing a strong relationship with you are essential parts of how this practice operates. Our clients appreciate our willingness to go the extra length in helping them grow their businesses. We have assisted clients from small, midsize and large corporations — and we take the time to understand what is important to you and your business before we give you advice.
Our business and corporate lawyers work with founders, executives, and business owners at every stage — from incorporating a new company and drafting the first shareholders agreement, to guiding a multi-million dollar acquisition or resolving a complex commercial dispute.
Business & Corporate Law Services
Starting a Business
A strategic business formation is a crucial first step. We guide you in choosing and structuring the right business type — sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, joint ventures, franchises, and trade names — and ensure it suits your goals, liability needs, tax considerations, and growth plans.
Incorporations
Incorporating your business provides limited liability, tax advantages, improved access to grants and loans, and continuity of the company independent of its founders. We tailor our advice to your stage of business and help you determine when and how to make the transition.
Business Agreements & Contracts
We prepare and review partnership agreements, joint venture agreements, unanimous shareholders agreements, service agreements, franchise agreements, employment agreements, non-competition and confidentiality agreements, and asset purchase and sale agreements. We identify the risks before you sign.
Buying & Selling a Business
Buying or selling a business involves more decisions than most clients anticipate. We guide you through the full transaction — from structuring the deal and conducting due diligence to drafting the purchase agreement and managing the closing. We help you understand all hidden costs and risk factors involved.
Shareholder Agreements & Disputes
A well-drafted shareholders agreement prevents most disputes before they start. When disputes arise, we represent shareholders in negotiations, mediations, and litigation — including corporate oppression claims where the rights of minority shareholders have been disregarded.
Corporate & Commercial Litigation
Our corporate litigation lawyers have years of experience resolving disputes at different levels of the Alberta court system. We provide tactical, cost-effective representation for contract disputes, franchise disputes, copyright violations, corporate oppression claims, and all forms of commercial litigation.
Franchise Law
Franchise arrangements carry specific legal obligations on both sides. We advise franchisors and franchisees on their rights and responsibilities, review franchise disclosure documents, and represent clients in franchise disputes where the relationship has broken down.
Maintaining a Business
Our role does not end at business formation. We assist with corporate name changes, corporate securities, corporate policies and procedures, maintaining minute books, annual returns, drafting and maintaining employee contracts, acting as registered office, and dissolving companies in Alberta.
Contract Negotiations
Not every business matter requires litigation. Where negotiation is the right tool, we represent your interests at the table with the preparation and commercial awareness that produces agreements both parties can build on. We can find strategic solutions to your business law concerns.
Choosing the Right Business Structure
A strategic business formation is a crucial first step towards running a successful business. Our competent business lawyers will take the time to understand your goals. We will make sure, moving forward, that your business suits your needs and purpose.
We can guide you in understanding the advantages and disadvantages of one type of business over another. There are several factors to consider when structuring your business — liability issues, tax considerations, costs to establish, the number of members, and profit distributions, to name a few.
Our corporate lawyers offer competent legal guidance in structuring the following types of businesses:
- Sole proprietorships
- Partnerships
- Corporations and joint ventures
- Franchises
- Trade names
Beyond Formation: Maintaining Your Business
Our role as your business lawyer does not end at the formation of your business. We offer additional legal services that help you maintain a viable, compliant, and growing company:
- Corporate name changes
- Corporate securities
- Corporate policies and procedures
- Maintaining corporate minute books
- Annual returns
- Drafting and maintaining employee contracts
- Acting as registered office for corporations
- Dissolving companies in Alberta
Our expertise in corporate financing and corporate litigation has helped our clients avoid unwanted litigation while making important decisions on the capital structure of the corporation. Issues around employee relations are also handled by our lawyers.
Ditch the Templates. Get It Right.
When Should a Lawyer Get Involved?
Often when people hear the words "contract" or "agreement," they assume a lawyer isn't involved unless something goes wrong or there's a breach. That assumption is costly.
Because of the rise of online purchases of cookie-cutter contracts, we have seen an increase of businesses and individuals suffering from poorly drafted agreements. Often, these invalid contracts don't consider Alberta's laws and regulations. They are more of a legal liability than a form of protection.
The truth is, our team of Calgary lawyers spend countless hours preparing and revising legal documents. Most of the contracts we modify or rewrite are contracts that clients have purchased online with sections that don't apply to their business or situation.
A lawyer doesn't just step in when someone doesn't hold up their end of an agreement. We are often closely involved in the preparation process before the contract is even signed — to avoid future headaches and litigation issues.
For many businesses and individuals, having a well-planned and executed contract can save a tremendous amount of stress and money. From thoroughly understanding the terms of an agreement, to writing one from scratch, our experienced lawyers can help bring peace of mind and clarity to your unique needs.
We draft, review, and revise business contracts including:
- Partnership agreements
- Joint venture agreements
- Franchise agreements
- Unanimous shareholders agreements
- Assets purchase and sale agreements
- Service agreements
- Non-competition and non-solicitation agreements
- Confidentiality agreements
Protecting You Through Every Transaction
The entrepreneurial spirit is strong here in Calgary. Our city doesn't just attract new start-ups — there is considerable activity in the selling and acquiring of existing businesses. Like starting a business from the ground up, the sale and acquisition of an existing business come with their own set of legal challenges.
Osuji & Smith Lawyers will help you transition and organize the sales and transfer as smoothly as possible. Our corporate legal knowledge helps our clients identify risk factors and avoid them where possible.
When considering selling or buying a business, there are critical risks to consider:
- Are you paying or receiving a fair price?
- Have you considered all of the hidden costs involved in the transaction?
- Is the financing secured and ready?
- If purchasing, how liable are you if the business fails?
- If selling, have you been upfront and transparent? Could future legal proceedings result from concealing critical information from the buyer?
Speak to a Lawyer Before You Sign Anything
Despite how successful and established a company is, new ownership can change the course for the brand — for better, or for worse. This is why we strongly recommend seeking a qualified lawyer's help before any business transaction occurs.
Do not wait until negotiations have begun, or paperwork has already been signed. Understand the risks involved in this important transaction. The guidance of a business lawyer can save you a significant amount of stress and money in the long run.
In business sales and acquisition matters, the process often involves the drafting and reviewing of essential business agreements such as:
- Partnership agreements
- Joint venture agreements
- Franchise agreements
- Unanimous shareholders agreements
- Asset purchase and sale agreements
- Service agreements
Business Law FAQs
Our Approach to Business Legal Advice
Being approachable is how this practice operates. Business owners and executives need a lawyer who is reachable, who understands the commercial context of their decisions, and who gives clear advice rather than qualified answers that leave you no better informed than before you called.
We build long-term relationships with our business clients because the value of a lawyer who already understands your business, your risk tolerance, and your objectives compounds over time. The client who calls us to review a service agreement this year is the same client we help structure an acquisition for three years later.
Calgary has recognized Osuji & Smith Lawyers as a leader in business law. We have been named one of the Three Best Rated Business Lawyers in Calgary multiple years running, and our team speaks more than 32 languages — so we can serve you in the language you are most comfortable in.
Settlement First. Litigation When Necessary.
Business moves fast and conflict is a distraction. Our primary focus is resolving commercial disputes through settlement to save you time and capital. If litigation is unavoidable, we stop at nothing to protect your corporate interests at every level of the Alberta court system.
We also serve clients in Airdrie, Chestermere, Red Deer, Edmonton, and across Alberta. Our office is conveniently located in Kensington, close to downtown Calgary, with free parking available for our clients.
The Collective Intelligence Advantage
Business law rarely operates in isolation. A corporate acquisition can trigger employment law obligations. A shareholder dispute can intersect with estate planning when ownership transitions are involved. An international business arrangement can require immigration counsel for the people moving with it.
At Osuji & Smith, your business lawyer works within a firm covering employment, real estate, civil litigation, immigration, family, and estate law. When your commercial matter requires a wider view, that expertise is already here — without engaging a separate firm.
What Our Business Clients Say
Our organization retains Osuji & Smith Lawyers for multiple complex legal matters, and our experience has been excellent. Lyon combines thoughtful strategy with clear communication and a level-headed, professional demeanor that inspires confidence. We are very satisfied and would not hesitate to recommend Osuji & Smith to organizations seeking capable, principled legal counsel.
Michael Bickert Bickert Management Inc. — Corporate ClientMy partner and I had a meeting with Charles today. He was very welcoming and so full of knowledge — but most importantly, honest. He helped us understand our situation without charging us a ton of money. He did not make us feel as if we were just a dollar sign and actually seemed to care. That is not common in lawyers. We would most definitely recommend him to anyone.
Michelle R. Business ClientI've had the pleasure of working with Charles and his team since 2020. Their deep knowledge and genuine care made me feel like a priority every step of the way. He stepped in on short notice to review an important document over the weekend before Christmas. That level of commitment is rare and deeply appreciated.
Jennifer Abraham Business ClientTalk to Us First
Whether you are entering a new business arrangement, acquiring a company, incorporating, or dealing with a dispute that is disrupting your operations — speak with us before you commit to a course of action. The right legal advice at the right stage costs considerably less than fixing a problem that proper counsel would have prevented.
Or call us directly 403.283.8018