|
|
 |
|
|
William G. Sirdevan
Called to the Bar: 1987
Phone: (905) 452-6871
Fax: (905) 451-5058
Email: click here
|
Bill chairs Lawrences' Business Law Group. He has practised business law for over 20 years. His clients are primarily owner-managed businesses, many of which are family-owned. Bill helps them plan and implement strategiesas simple or as sophisticated as the situation dictatesto minimize risk and operate profitably with an eye to their future.
A focus of his practice is family business transition planning. Where succession to the next generation is desired, he assists in the structuring of the business to extract value for the founder while preserving value for the successors. Where a third party sale is the goal, he assists in the positioning of the business with a view to maximizing sale value.
In addition to his considerable experience in the area of business transition, Bill has acted on a wide variety of complex corporate reorganizations, financings, acquisitions and divestitures.
SIGNIFICANT TRANSACTIONS
Handled the complex sale of a multimillion dollar manufacturing business by five siblings and their elderly parents (with varying degrees of business acumen and knowledge), situated in three countries.
Assisted two siblings in navigating an involved and difficult family and business dynamic, ultimately leading to a successful third party sale.
Helped negotiate and complete a sale between estranged family members of a long-standing, highly successful service business.
Through a series of corporate reorganizations and related business succession strategies assisted a couple who owned a successful business to transition it to one of their children in a manner that was fair and equitable to both the successor and their other children.
Through the use of a "shotgun" buy-sell provision, helped two siblings secure an already successful business that they had helped build and that was destined for even greater success.
Helped a business owner-operator to remediate his business to address his bank's concerns (the bank was threatening to realize upon its security) and to position the business for a profitable third party sale, while navigating an estranged shareholder relationship.
PUBLICATIONS
"Corporate Minutes: Why They Matter" The Lawrences Letter, Winter 2007
"So You've Built the Business: Now What?" The Lawrences Letter, Spring 2006
"Bankruptcy Changes Give Suppliers New Rights" The Lawrences Letter, March 1993
SPEAKING/TEACHING ENGAGEMENTS
"Business Succession Planning", Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce, 2007
Frequent speaker on business law to community groups and business associations
Presented programs on various business law issues, including "Methods of Carrying on Business", "Business Start-ups", "Business Structures", "Shareholder Agreements", "Franchising", with the City of Brampton's Economic Development Office, 1988-1999
"Sales Representative Agreements Terms and Terminating", Canadian branch of the Manufacturers' Agents National Association (MANA), 2002
"What's in a Sales Representative Agreement and Why it Matters", Canadian Hardware & Building Materials Show, 2003
As one of the founding sponsors of the Brampton chapter of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (CAFE), helped organize and present series of seminars to the Brampton family business community, 2004-06
Taught business law at the Law Society of Upper Canada's Bar Admission Course, 2003-2006
Member of the Executive, Ontario Bar Association's Business Law Section, 2002-2006
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Law Society of Upper Canada
Ontario Bar Association
Peel Law Association
EDUCATION
Called to the Ontario bar 1987
LLB University of Western Ontario Law School 1985
MA in English Literature, University of Waterloo 1982
BA in English Literature, University of Waterloo 1978
COMMUNITY ENVOLVEMENT
President, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel Inc., 2006-2007
Director, Big Brothers Big sisters of Peel Inc., 2003-
Past Director, Junior Achievement of Peel Inc.
Past Director, Downtown Brampton Business Improvement Association
Past Sector Chairman and Division Deputy Chairman, United Way of Peel
|
|
|
|
|
