Basics of Solicitors' Transaction Opinions 2023


Course Date: March 1, 2023

Full Course Materials
Total: 2h 50min
Total Ethics: 1h
Course Agenda ▼

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)

Stephen Curran — Lakes, Whyte LLP, North Vancouver

Introduction to Solicitors' Legal Opinions—What are they and Why Do we Give Them? (9:05 – 9:20)

  • what are they and why do we give them?
  • who provides legal opinions?
  • why are legal opinions used?
  • what are the different types of opinions that may be given?
  • useful guidelines when preparing/negotiating/receiving opinions?

Stephen Curran — Lakes, Whyte LLP, North Vancouver

Solicitors' Legal Opinion Committee ("SLOC")—Genesis and Purpose (9:20 – 9:30)

  • publications and source materials on legal opinions

Anne M. Stewart, KC — Vancouver

Standard Form Legal Opinion (9:30 – 10:30)

  • outline of a solicitor's legal opinion
  • common opinions requested and given
  • specialized types of opinions (subjects)
  • specialized types of opinions (issuers/transaction parties)

Stephen Curran — Lakes, Whyte LLP, North Vancouver
Anne M. Stewart, KC — Vancouver
Shauna Towriss — Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Vancouver
Edward J.T. Wang — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (10:30 – 10:45)

Enforceability and Qualifications (10:45 – 11:15)

  • review of enforceability opinions—what they mean and when are they given?
  • review of key qualifications relating to enforceability opinions

Shauna Towriss — Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Vancouver

Forms of Solicitor's Legal Opinions (11:15 – 11:30)

  • PPSA opinion update
  • real property opinion update
  • commercial opinion update
  • opinions respecting non-corporate entities

Edward J.T. Wang — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Due Diligence Requirements in Providing Opinions (11:30 – 11:50)

  • review of diligence steps required to provide opinions

Shauna Towriss — Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Vancouver

Roundtable Discussion and Questions (11:50 – 12:05)

Stephen Curran — Lakes, Whyte LLP, North Vancouver
Anne M. Stewart, KC — Vancouver
Shauna Towriss — Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Vancouver
Edward J.T. Wang — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Closing Remarks (12:05 – 12:15)

Stephen Curran — Lakes, Whyte LLP, North Vancouver