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Contracts & Agreements
Drafting, reviewing and negotiating the everyday agreements Ontario businesses rely on — service agreements, contractor agreements, NDAs and more.
Most contract problems are easier to prevent than to fix. A well-drafted agreement, reviewed carefully before signing, resolves ambiguity while both sides are still cooperating — long before a disagreement has a chance to form.
This hub focuses on the everyday agreements that Ontario businesses and individuals sign most often: what belongs in them, what to watch for, and how to negotiate terms that hold up if circumstances change.
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More guides in this hub
Independent Contractor Agreements in Ontario: What to Include and Why It Matters
How contractor agreements differ from employment contracts, and the terms that help keep the classification clear.
Non-Disclosure Agreements in Ontario: What They Protect and Their Limits
What an NDA typically covers, common exclusions, and where confidentiality obligations tend to run into trouble.
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FAQ
Agreements: frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an employee and an independent contractor?
Courts and tribunals look past the label in the contract to the real relationship — factors like control, ownership of tools, chance of profit and risk of loss all matter, not just what the agreement calls the relationship.
How specific does an NDA need to be?
Specific enough that both sides understand exactly what information is protected, for how long, and what's excluded (such as information that was already public). Vague NDAs are harder to enforce.
Can I use a template for a business agreement?
A template can be a reasonable starting point for a simple, lower-stakes agreement, but it rarely reflects the specific risks of your situation. Higher-value or longer-term agreements are usually worth a closer, tailored review.
What makes a settlement agreement enforceable?
Like any contract, a settlement agreement generally needs clear terms both sides agree to, along with consideration — most often the payment or action being exchanged for a release of further claims.
Understand your agreement. Know your next step.
Ontario-wide, plain-English contract law information — built to help you make sense of your situation before you decide what to do next.