Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Before you call about a business transaction or financing

General guidance for this kind of matter, not advice about your situation and not specific to this firm.

Questions worth asking

• Who would lead the matter day to day, and who else would you bring in?
• Will the Calgary office lead, or will other BLG offices be part of the core team?
• Do you have clients of my size, or is my matter smaller than what your Calgary team usually handles?
• Can you give me a fee estimate for the work, and what assumptions is it built on?

How this work is usually billed

Large and mid-sized firms usually bill by the hour, with rates that rise with seniority, and staff a deal with a partner and one or more associates. For a defined piece of work, such as a share purchase, a financing or a joint venture agreement, ask for a written estimate, how often you will be invoiced and whether any stage can be capped.

What to have ready

A short description of the deal and the deadline driving it, the corporate structure, any term sheet or draft agreement, and who is acting on the other side. If more than one province is involved, list where each party and asset is located.