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Joseph N. Blinick

Commercial Litigation, Securities, Class Actions and Insolvency Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner

In June 2022, the Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia was published. The report canvasses the nature and extent of money-laundering activities in British Columbia and examines multiple issues that have contributed to its precipitous rise.

The Cullen Commission Explores the Issue of Money Laundering Through Virtual Assets

Lincoln Caylor

Commercial Litigation and Fraud Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner 

On June 15th, 2022, the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia (Commission or Cullen Commission) released its highly anticipated <a href="https://cullencommission.ca/files/reports/CullenCommission-FinalReport-Full.pdf">final report</a> (the Report) which comes after years of work and a review of extensive evidence, including testimony from nearly 200 witnesses. Led by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Austin Cullen, the Commission was established to inquire and report on the extent of money laundering in British Columbia, the role and effectiveness of regulatory authorities and barriers to law enforcement.

The Cullen Commission Releases Its Final Report Key Takeaways

The Cullen Commission Releases Its Final Report on Money Laundering in British Columbia—Key Takeaways

Nathan J. Shaheen

Commercial Disputes and Financial Crimes Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

On May 24, 2022, nine Canadian cryptocurrency companies—Wealthsimple, CoinSmart, Netcoins, Shakepay, VirgoCX, Tetra Trust, BlocPal, Balance and Coinsquare—announced their membership in the Travel Rule Universal Solution Technology (TRUST), an industry group formed to advance compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) anti-money laundering guidelines for virtual asset service providers (VASP).TRUST, and its expanded Canadian membership, is a positive development for those seeking to prevent illicit cryptocurrency transactions, or aiming to trace funds into the hands of wrongdoers when such transactions occur.

Canadian Cryptocurrency Companies Join Global Initiative to Combat Money Laundering

Shaan P. Tolani

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

Previously under seal and only recently released to the public, the Ontario Superior Court’s decision in Cicada 137 LLC v Medjedovic, 2021 ONSC 8581 [Cicada] shows a necessarily functional approach for those seeking to identify, trace and freeze digital assets. In the decision, Justice Myers granted an Anton Piller Order—a court remedy that allows the plaintiff, through a court-approved independent supervising lawyer, to enter a defendant’s property in order to seize relevant devices and records—in connection with the alleged theft of $15 million in cryptocurrency tokens.

Cryptocurrency Litigation Traditional Remedies in Modern Circumstances

Ontario Superior Court Issues an Anton Piller Order in Connection with Alleged Cryptocurrency Theft

Cryptocurrency Litigation: Traditional Remedies in Modern Circumstances 

James T. McClary

Private Equity and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Elizabeth K. Dylke

Corporate and Private Funds Lawyer

Haifeng Hu

Partner at Bennett Jones Vancouver

The private equity industry went in a number of different directions in 2025. Global dealmaking value picked up in the second half of the year but the number of deals decreased. PE exits declined year-over-year, boosting growth in alternative strategies to generate liquidity. Investors remain committed to PE according to Preqin's latest investor survey, despite exercising greater caution in short-term commitments. Macroeconomic conditions improved markedly as the year went on, after a turbulent and unexpected start.
In this edition of the Bennett Jones PE Briefing, we look at the full-year data on private equity activity in Canada in 2025 as well as&nbsp;how 2025 unfolded and what to look for in the coming year;&nbsp;PE exit activity and what to expect in 2026; and&nbsp;trends in GP-stakes investing.

The Q4 2025 PE Briefing

2026 Outlook: Key PE Trends Set to Shape the Year Ahead

George W. H. Reid

International Trade, Investment and Public Procurement Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Jessica B. Horwitz

International Trade Lawyer, Customs Lawyer, Regulatory Lawyer, Anti-Corruption and Economic Sanctions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Sabrina A. Bandali

International Trade, Regulatory and Investment Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

For several years, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has sought to limit the ability of non-resident importers to self-assess duties, surtaxes and other taxes on imported goods based on their acquisition costs. In pursuit of this aim, the CBSA launched a third consultation in December 2025 that anticipates a fundamental reshaping of Canada's customs valuation framework through amendments to the&nbsp;Valuation for Duty Regulations, (SOR/86-792) (VFD Regulations).&nbsp;The deadline for stakeholders to make submissions to the 2025 VFD Consultation is January 23, 2025.

CBSA Pushes Customs Valuation Reform

Third Time's a Charm - CBSA Pushes Customs Valuation Reform

Martin Ignasiak KC

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Jessica Kennedy

Larissa D. Lees

Alberta has enacted Bills 8 and 12 to establish a new regulatory and levy framework for data centre development in the province. The changes are intended to support growing AI-driven demand while protecting grid reliability, electricity affordability and long-term system sustainability.

Alberta Advances Regulatory Changes to Facilitate Data Centre Development

Hennadiy Kutsenko

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

New federal tax rules effective January 1, 2024 deny expense deductions for short-term rental properties that do not comply with provincial or municipal laws. The changes heighten enforcement risk by allowing the CRA to deny deductions indefinitely, in addition to existing penalties. This blog explains the new deduction denial rules, key exceptions and compliance considerations for short-term rental operators.

Comply or Lose Your Tax Deductions

Comply or Lose Your Tax Deductions: New Income Tax Act Rules Target Short-Term Rental Landlords

Drew C. Broughton

Corporate Commercial and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Jie (Kevin) Zhou

M&A, Private Equity and Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Jesse Fontaine

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Edmonton

The Ontario Court of Appeal confirmed that earn-out acceleration clauses are to be interpreted contextually, with materiality turning on a transaction&rsquo;s impact on the earn-out regime rather than its size or value. The decision reinforces the exceptional nature of earn-out acceleration remedies and the importance of precise drafting in share purchase agreements.

ONCA Affirms Denial of Claim for Earn Out Acceleration

ONCA Affirms Denial of Claim for Earn-Out Acceleration

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