Presvelos Law / Our Services

Legal services, delivered with care and diligence.

Practices

Corporate Litigation

When a business relationship breaks down — a shareholder dispute, a broken contract, an oppression claim — the cost of getting it wrong compounds quickly. We act for Ontario businesses and their owners in commercial disputes before the Superior Court of Justice and in private arbitration, with strategy shaped by what actually happens in a courtroom.

  • Contractual disputes
  • Shareholder disputes
  • Oppression claims and derivative actions
  • Corporate fraud
  • Arbitrations

Real Estate Litigation

Real estate disputes in Ontario often turn on a single clause or a missed disclosure. We act on failed transactions, agreement of purchase and sale disputes, broker and agent negligence, and commercial landlord–tenant conflicts — the same close reading of the contract that drives The Fine Print.

  • Real estate and property disputes
  • Real estate agent and broker negligence claims
  • Property misrepresentation issues
  • Breach of Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS)
  • Commercial real estate — landlord and tenant
  • Breach of commercial lease
  • Partition and sale of property

Construction Litigation

Construction disputes run on strict deadlines — Ontario's Construction Act sets firm timelines for preserving and perfecting a lien, and missing them can be fatal to a claim. We act for owners, contractors, and trades on lien claims, defect disputes, and payment and holdback conflicts, from the contract through to trial.

  • Construction lien claims
  • Construction defect disputes
  • Breach of construction contract
  • Payment and holdback disputes
  • Trade and subcontractor claims

Business Law

The cheapest dispute is the one that never happens. We help Ontario businesses get the foundational documents right — shareholder agreements, incorporations, purchase agreements, and corporate governance — so the terms are clear before anyone has a reason to argue about them. And when disputes do arise, we are well positioned to assist with those as well.

  • Shareholder agreements
  • Shareholder negotiations
  • Incorporations
  • Legislative and regulatory compliance
  • Share and asset purchase agreements
  • Corporate by-laws
  • Shareholder and director resolutions

Employment Law

Employment matters in Ontario are governed by a mix of the Employment Standards Act and the common law, and the two can produce very different outcomes. We act for both employees and employers on dismissals, severance disputes, and the agreements that define the relationship — and we draft them so they hold up.

  • Wrongful dismissal
  • Constructive dismissal
  • Lay-offs
  • Severance pay disputes
  • Bad faith / unfair dealings
  • Non-solicitation disputes
  • Employment advice and agreement drafting

Professional Liability

Professionals are held to the standards of their field, and a claim can put both a practice and a reputation at risk. We act on professional negligence and breach of fiduciary duty matters, and advise on the application of professional standards across regulated professions in Ontario.

  • Professional negligence claims
  • Legal fees assessments
  • Breach of fiduciary duties
  • Advising on application of professional standards
  • Breaches of professional standards

Expropriation

When a government authority takes private land for infrastructure, Ontario's Expropriations Act entitles the owner to fair compensation — including for injurious affection to land that is not taken. We act for owners in valuation disputes and compensation claims arising from major transit and infrastructure projects.

  • Compensation claims under the Expropriations Act
  • Injurious affection claims
  • Before-and-after valuation disputes
  • Major infrastructure takings

Appeals

An appeal is a different exercise from a trial — it turns on identifying reversible error and framing the legal issue cleanly. We have appeared at every level of court in Ontario and before the Federal Court of Appeal, acting on appeals from both trial decisions and tribunal orders.

  • Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court
  • Court of Appeal of Ontario
  • Federal Court of Appeal
Common questions

Questions clients ask before they call.

How long do I have to file a construction lien in Ontario?
Under Ontario's Construction Act, the timelines for preserving and perfecting a lien are strict, and they shifted under the Act's modernized framework. Because the clock can start running earlier than people expect and a missed deadline can extinguish the claim entirely, the safest step is to get advice as soon as a payment problem appears rather than waiting. We can review the specific dates that apply to your project.
What is the difference between wrongful and constructive dismissal?
Wrongful dismissal is when an employer ends the employment relationship without adequate notice or pay in lieu. Constructive dismissal is when an employer makes a fundamental, unilateral change to the terms of employment — a significant cut to pay, role, or location — such that the law treats it as a dismissal even though the employee was never formally let go. Both can give rise to a claim for damages; which one applies depends on the facts.
What is injurious affection in an expropriation claim?
Injurious affection refers to the loss in value to land that is not taken, caused by a public authority's expropriation or works on neighbouring land — for example, when a major transit project reduces access or usability of the remaining property. Ontario's Expropriations Act allows owners to claim compensation for this loss, not just for the land physically taken.
What are a commercial landlord's rights when a tenant doesn't pay rent?
Ontario's Commercial Tenancies Act gives a landlord options on non-payment of rent — but they can be mutually exclusive. A landlord may generally either terminate the lease and re-enter, or distrain (seize and sell the tenant's goods) for the arrears, but not both. The right choice turns on the lease and the facts, and a misstep can create liability, so it is worth getting advice before acting.
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