Contacts
Lawyers
Miller Canfield is uniquely positioned to provide legal services to global firms expanding, investing and establishing operations in Canada, and to Canadian firms wishing to do the same globally.
We represent non-Canadian and Canadian clients alike—from entrepreneurs to closely held companies to multinational organizations—advising on operations on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border and providing representation in provincial, state, federal and appellate courts and in international arbitrations.
We have handled transnational deals and disputes for many decades, and our lawyers are familiar with Canadian legal concepts and the interaction between Canadian and United States statutory and common law authorities. Our experience lends to seamless representation in multi-jurisdictional business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and insolvencies, as well as in complex international disputes.
This expertise complements the firm's ability to serve clients in other countries who seek a North American presence. Our team assists with trade issues including tax, customs, immigration, homeland security, financing, R&D tax incentives, real estate, retail leasing, and employment issues.
Our lawyers appear regularly in courts in both Canada and the United States, and they also prosecute and defend international arbitrations around the world. We have in-depth expertise in resolving disputes in the automotive, steel and construction industries as well as in the enforcement of security to recover debts due to our clients.
In addition, our lawyers provide services to trustees and executors administering estates holding assets in Canada. We are routinely called upon to address issues with respect to property owned by non-residents of Canada, a common occurrence in the Great Lakes and East Coast regions.
- Successfully defended numerous Canadian manufacturers in supply chain management disputes, and in agency and distribution disputes, in federal courts located in the United States.
- Successfully defended and prosecuted a $300 million global mineral rights dispute against a Canadian energy company in U.S. federal court and in an international arbitration seated in the United States.
- Successfully prosecuted in U.S. federal court an $80 million contract dispute between a Canadian agricultural company and its American joint venturer, obtaining an injunction preventing the transfer of assets to a third party.
- Successfully defended a Canadian manufacturer—defeating an injunction motion and obtaining summary disposition—in a trade secrets case filed in U.S. state court.
- Successfully defended an American automotive supplier in a dispute filed in Ontario by its sub-supplier and alleging breaches of various production contracts.
- Successfully prosecuted in U.S. state court a contract dispute between a New Zealand manufacturer and a Canadian agricultural company relating to machinery supplied in British Columbia, obtaining summary disposition on affirmative claims and counterclaims and recovering attorney fees.
- Successfully defended a Canadian software company in a contract and warranty dispute filed by an American transportation company in U.S. state court, obtaining dismissal of all claims.
- Successfully defended a Canadian steel supplier in a dispute filed by an American manufacturer in U.S. federal court, obtaining dismissal of all claims.
- Successfully prosecuted a collection action in U.S. federal court on behalf of a Canadian genetics company and its American customer, obtaining summary disposition on all claims.
- Successfully represented a Canadian clothing designer in a contract dispute in an Ontario court with a former consultant, obtaining judgment against the consultant.
- Assisted a Canadian technology company with a U.S. subsidiary to classify its robot technology under U.S. export controls, including robot components, software and technology, along with accompanying cameras, sensors and lasers.
- We have extensive experience in Canada and the U.S. financing and registering aircraft under the Cape Town Treaty. Clients include aircraft owners, corporate fleet managers and airports on both sides of the border.
- Represented Canadian health care professionals in establishing a multi-disciplinary health care facility, including the acquisition of real property, and preparation of various contracts including leases, cost-sharing agreements, and associate agreements.
