Services

Our firm provides a wide variety of legal services for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, practice managers and veterinary-related businesses developed and enhanced over 25 years in professional practice. Mr. Jack’s practice experience in this sector has provided him with the opportunity to advise veterinary clients on the following matters:

Purchase and Sale of Veterinary Hospitals and Professional Succession Planning

Regardless of whether you are a “seasoned veteran” or a recent graduate just entering the professional practice of veterinary medicine, the development and implementation of effective strategies to sell or purchase a clinic is critical to your success. Together with your other professional advisors - valuators, financial planners, accountants and tax advisors - we’ll guide through to the completion of a successful transaction.

Employment Agreements - Lay and Professional Staff

There is no doubt that the management of the personnel in the veterinary hospital is critical to its ongoing success. Both the practice owner and the employee will benefit from the certainty that comes with having a properly-drafted employment agreement setting out the clear terms of the relationship.

Wrongful Dismissal

One of the most difficult legal issues facing both clinic owners and their staff relates to the plethora of considerations arising in the context of the termination of the employment relationship. We can offer you advice on whether or not lawful cause for termination exists and the protocols to follow if termination is to occur in the absence of “just cause” in a manner that will best lead to avoiding claims for wrongful dismissal.

Professional Veterinary Incorporation and Corporate Compliance

Our firm regularly attends to the incorporation requirements for veterinary practices together with ensuring the ongoing compliance of those professional corporations with provincial laws. Working closely with your accountants, we will ensure that the correct steps are taken to maximize the benefits of incorporation.

Practice Financing and Accounts Receivable Management

From time to time the veterinary practice will require additional financing from institutional lenders to fund expansion plans or help to manage day-to-day cashflows. Our firm has acted on behalf of hospitals will all of the major lenders in Canada to provide appropriate financial arrangements. In addition, we are well-prepared to assist clinic owners with the avoidance and collection of problematic accounts receivable.

Partnership and Shareholder Agreements

Multi-owner practices generally benefit from a properly-drafted ownership agreement to provide for practice governance, continuity of ownership and dispute resolution mechanisms. We have years of experience in drafting such documents suited to the special needs of the veterinary community.

Professional Regulation Compliance

As a member of a self-governed profession, the veterinarian is subject to a number of important and, sometimes, complex regulations administered by his/her provincial governing body dealing with such things as advertising, practice impairment, accreditation of facilities and, of course, licensing. Our office is familiar with all provincial veterinary legislation and can guide you in a manner that will ensure your continued compliance. In addition, we’ve assisted members of the profession initiate change to the current legislation.

Professional Complaints and Discipline Defense

One of the key characteristics of a self-governed profession is the need for its members to investigate and adequately deal with client complaints about the conduct of fellow members. Our offices regularly assist veterinarians in defending themselves against allegations of unprofessional conduct through ensuring that appropriate investigation protocols are observed, assisting in responding to client complaints and appearing on behalf of the practitioner at provincial disciplinary proceedings including engaging appropriate expert witnesses when necessary and offering submissions on the application of appropriate penalties.

Commercial Leases

The relationship between the landlord and tenant of the premises from which the practice is conducted is a key legal concern. Our years of experience in reviewing many commercial leases will assist in making certain that the clinic has the benefit of the continued use of the facilities after you’ve made your significant investment in them and in guiding you with respect to the honouring of the terms of the lease by both you and the landlord.

Personal Estate Planning

Our view is that the practice of veterinary medicine extends to the personal estate planning of the owners of the clinic. We will be pleased to assist you in developing an appropriate estate plan for the distribution of the wealth that you have created during your lifetime for the benefit of your identified beneficiaries and in a manner that, to the extent possible, lessens the costs associated with estate administration.