Given that I write about monopolies from time to time, this rather fine article in the Legal Post about the regulation of the legal profession – or perhaps the control of the profession, depending on one’s perspective – caught my eye by Vern Krishna, a prominent tax lawyer in Ontario.
His articulate note is also interesting given that the Competition Bureau has on occasion reviewed Canadian self-regulated professions, including the legal profession, most recently in its Self-regulated professions report.
It’s time to open legal doors – Vern Krishna
When it comes to monopolistic protection, no one does it better than the legal profession.
In a story reported earlier today in the Toronto Star, the Star reported an announcement by Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada (“IAB”) Vice-President Sam Parent that online marketers will soon introduce self-regulation for behavioral advertising (see: Advertisers to Police Themselves When Targeting Online Users).
The National Competition Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association will be holding its annual Competition Law Spring Forum on May 2, 2012 in Toronto at the Toronto Board of Trade.
From the CBA:
“Aided by the 2009/10 changes to the Competition Act, the Canadian Competition Bureau has adopted an aggressive enforcement agenda. There are more cases litigated in the Tribunal and the Courts than ever before, including the first prosecution under the new conspiracy provisions of the Act. Commissioner Melanie Aitken has made it clear that there are more to come.
Our expert panellists will provide guidance on effectively protecting your clients’ interests at all stages – from preventative compliance programs to responding to criminal or civil enforcement actions. We are delighted to announce that Commissioner Aitken will be our keynote lunchtime speaker.”
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On January 19, 2012, the Competition Tribunal set hearing dates in the ongoing abuse of dominance case The Commissioner of Competition v. The Toronto Real Estate Board (see Scheduling Order).
The evidentiary portion of the hearing in this case is scheduled to begin on September 10, 2012 in Toronto.
A claim against two major real estate boards and their executives for breaching terms of an earlier settlement agreement, common law and Competition Act conspiracy and certain economic torts survived a motion to dismiss last week. The reasons for judgment provide insight into the sufficiency of pleadings in cases involving allegations of anti-competitive conspiracies against businesses and their executives.
Last Friday, Mr. Justice Kenneth L. Campbell of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed a motion by the defendants in Dale v. The Toronto Real Estate Board to dismiss Realtysellers (Ontario) Limited’s (“Realtysellers”) action against The Canadian Real Estate Board (“CREA”), The Toronto Real Estate Board (“TREB”) and 47 other defendants (for a copy of the decision see: Dale v. The Toronto Real Estate Board).
FEBRUARY 1-3, 2012 – Vancouver
The Antitrust Law Section of the American Bar Association and the International Bar Association (IBA) will be holding their bi-annual International Cartel Workshop in Vancouver from February 1-3, 2012 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
From the American Bar Association:
“The International Cartel Workshop, recognized globally as the premier international cartel program offered anywhere, is presented only once every two years. The next Workshop, which will have many new features, will be held in Vancouver, Canada during February 1-3, 2012. The 2012 program will continue the Workshop’s tradition of instruction by demonstration, with experienced faculty from around the globe taking you inside a hypothetical international cartel matter — from detection by government enforcers to the disposition of government prosecutions and private damage claims. The Workshop will also highlight new developments in the law and leniency practices around the world, with leading enforcers and experienced private practitioners demonstrating how critical decisions are made on both sides of the table and providing examples of important interactions between counsel and enforcers. The 2012 Workshop’s international faculty includes many of the most accomplished cartel attorneys in the world, as well as the most senior cartel enforcement officials from a variety of jurisdictions.”
For more information about the joint ABA/IBA Cartel Workshop see:
American Bar Association – Antitrust International Cartel Workshop
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For more information about our regulatory law services contact us: contact
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Businessweek, the Wall Street Journal and others reported yesterday that Maple Group Acquisition Corp., composed of 13 Canadian financial institutions, will once again extend its Cdn. $3.73 billion mixed cash and shares offer for the TMX Group beyond the previous January 31st deadline if regulatory approvals are not received.
Maple’s offer to acquire the TMX is subject to approval from provincial securities regulators and the federal Competition Bureau, which initiated a second-stage review with the Commissioner of Competition announcing in November, 2011 that the Bureau had “serious concerns” about the transaction.
Some of the potential issues the transaction raises include a high degree of consolidation in the trading services market and issues based on access and pricing of clearing and settlement services, as the transaction would also include the acquisition of CDS Inc., Canada’s currently not-for-profit equity and fixed-income clearing operator.
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For more information about our regulatory law services contact us: contact
For more regulatory law updates follow us on Twitter: @CanadaAttorney
JANUARY 25-26 2012 – Toronto
The Canadian Institute will be holding an Advertising and Marketing Law Conference on Wednesday, January 25-26, 2012 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto, Ontario.
Templates/precedents and checklists to run promotional contests in Canada
Templates/precedents and checklists to comply with Canadian anti-spam law (CASL)
