Business law · Ontario

Set the legal structure before the business move.

Incorporation, partner changes, shareholder terms, contracts, records cleanup, and the legal side of buying or selling the business. Damaris reads every matter herself and writes the next step in plain English or Portuguese.

LSO Reg. 91022I · EN | PT · Remote · Ontario

MatterAdding a partner · sampleFromDamaris Regina Guimaraes

The written next step

01Situation

Two owners want to bring a third partner into the company at 20 percent.

02Risk

Without a shareholders agreement, future drag-along, tag-along, and exit terms default to silence.

03Cost

Structure note quoted before drafting. The shareholders agreement is quoted after the route is chosen.

04Decision

Issue new shares or transfer existing ones. The route changes tax, control, and dilution.

05Next step

DRG sends the structure note. The owners decide the route before the offer letter is drafted.

Damaris Regina GuimaraesDRG Law

Who this is for

The decisions Ontario owners bring to DRG Law for business law

Each entry below names a decision and the legal structure DRG Law writes around it. If the matter on your desk fits one of these, send it to Damaris.

01

Starting a business

Most owners already know they want to incorporate. The real question is how to set it up. One owner or two? One class of shares or more than one? Should there be a holding company on top? DRG Law walks you through the choice in plain English, with the tax plan, future partners, and family in mind.

02

Adding or removing a partner

When a new partner joins, or one leaves, the rules of who controls the company need to change. DRG Law writes or rewrites the shareholders' agreement (the rulebook between the owners), updates the company records, and explains in plain English what each rule means before you sign.

03

Buying or selling a business

You can buy the shares of a company, or you can buy only what is inside the company (the equipment, the brand, the customer list). The choice changes taxes, staff, and what the seller can leave behind. DRG Law walks you through the choice first, then writes or reviews the agreement around it.

04

Cleaning up company records before a deal

A buyer, a lender, or your accountant will ask to see your company's record book and a list of shareholders. If those are out of date, the deal slows down. DRG Law goes through the records, fills in what is missing, and brings the file up to standard.

Start point

Business Setup Check

Not sure whether to incorporate?

Start with the Business Setup Check. Six plain-language questions explain the difference between operating personally and incorporating, what risks to watch, and what to review before you register.

  • Result shown on the page
  • Copy emailed to you
  • Reviewed before next step

Start here

Begin with the business setup question.

Answer six plain-language questions. Each one explains the legal point before asking for your answer. At the end, you will see a short Business Setup Note you can use before registering, signing, or speaking with your accountant.

No legal advice is given through the screen. Damaris reviews the submission before recommending the next step.

How DRG Law writes it

How DRG Law writes the business decision

Every corporate file starts with a one-page structural note before any government form is filed. The note names the decision and the structure that follows from it.

The structural note

One page that names the decision (operate personally or incorporate, one owner or two, share structure if a corporation) and what each option means for tax, future partners, and family planning.

The shareholders' agreement

Written before the share certificates are issued when there is more than one owner. Covers control rules, what happens on exit, and decision rules for big questions.

The minute book on day one

Founding resolutions, share certificates, share register, directors' register, and officers' register populated at the start. Audit-ready from day one.

What clients say

Clients who agreed to be named here

Client

Claudio Klaus, Toronto, ON

A highly skilled and reliable lawyer with a clear, practical approach to complex legal matters. Known for strong communication and sound judgment, always focused on helping clients make informed decisions. A great choice for anyone looking for solid legal support in the business world.

Client

Liz Saldanha, Toronto, ON

Hiring DRG legal services was one of our most important and best decisions when opening and taking care of our business. Fast, reliable and responsible. Damaris has always been there ready to help and support us throughout the whole process.

Read more on Google

Top-down view of an ornate brass corporate seal embosser resting beside a closed leather portfolio tied with an oxblood ribbon, brass paper clip nearby, on a walnut desk in warm afternoon light

Common questions

Common questions about business law matters

Should I incorporate, or is being a sole proprietor enough?

Incorporate when one of three things is true: your revenue is high enough that keeping money inside the company saves you tax, a partner is joining, or a customer or landlord is asking for a company on the other side of the contract. If none of those apply, staying as a sole proprietor is fine. DRG Law walks you through the choice based on your plan, not as a default answer.

How fast can a new Ontario company be set up?

The filing with the government takes one to three business days. The slower step is the company record book: the rules, the first decisions, the share list, and the official record. Most files are done end-to-end in about two weeks, from your first message to the finished record book.

What does DRG Law do that an online filing service does not?

An online service files the form and ships you a template. DRG Law advises on how to set up the shares for tax and growth, writes a shareholders' agreement that fits the real partners, sets up a holding company when that helps, and stays available for the changes that come later. The legal work after the form is where DRG Law sits.

Can DRG Law handle the full sale or purchase of a business?

Yes, for deals that fit one lawyer. DRG Law handles the planning, the offer letter, the contract, the schedules, the closing day, and the after-closing filings. Very large deals that need a full team are referred to a bigger firm.

How do fees work?

For common work like incorporations, shareholders' agreements, and share transfers, DRG Law quotes a fixed price against a written list of what is included. For matters that change as they go (large deals, restructures, many parties), DRG Law quotes a price range against the same written list and updates you each week. No file starts before you see the cost in writing.

Can DRG Law act for both partners in a partnership matter?

Not when the partners want different things. DRG Law can act for the company itself, or for one partner while the other partner uses a separate lawyer. The check for any conflict runs at the start, before any advice is given.

Send your matter

Send the business law matter here.

Damaris reads every intake personally and writes back in English or Portuguese.

Conflict check firstNo retainer until both sides signEN | PT

Or call 647-584-0998