Terms of Use

Acceptance

This Terms of Use Agreement ("Agreement") is a legal agreement between you, and Gowling WLG. Gowling WLG is an international law firm comprising the members of Gowling WLG International Limited, an English Company Limited by Guarantee, and their respective affiliates. Each member and affiliate is an autonomous and independent entity. Gowling WLG International Limited promotes, facilitates and co-ordinates the activities of its members but does not itself provide services to clients.

References on this website to "Gowling WLG", "law firm" and "legal practice" are to the members of Gowling WLG International Limited and their respective affiliates (together the "Gowling WLG entities" and each a "Gowling WLG entity") or (as the context requires) the Gowling WLG entities collectively.

This Terms Of Use Agreement ("Agreement") states the terms and conditions under which you may access and use any website which Gowling WLG chooses to link to this Agreement (each a "Website"). By accessing and using a Website, you are indicating your acceptance of, and agreement to be legally bound by, this Agreement. If you do not accept this Agreement, you must not access or use a Website.

Gowling WLG may revise this Agreement at any time by updating this posting. Use of a Website after such changes are posted will signify your acceptance of these revised terms. You should visit this page periodically to review this Agreement. We will indicate at the top of this page the date this Agreement was last revised.

Not legal advice

Information made available on the Website in any form is for informational purposes only. It is not, and should not be taken as legal advice. You should not rely on, or take or fail to take any action, based upon this information. Never disregard professional legal advice or delay in seeking legal advice because of something you have read on the Website. Prior results, articles, and case studies or other materials available on the Website do not guarantee a similar outcome in future representation. Contact a Gowling WLG professional to discuss potential resolutions to specific legal concerns you may have.

No lawyer-client relationship

The presentation of information on the Website, or your use of or reliance upon such information, does not establish a lawyer-client relationship between you and Gowling WLG or between you and any Gowling WLG professional. Please also note that any information sent or received over the internet may not be secure. Gowling WLG cannot guarantee the security or privacy of any communication (in any form) to the Website.

Ownership of content

All materials displayed or otherwise accessible through the Website, including but not limited to text, graphics, videos, photos, trademarks, logos and other materials (collectively, "Content") are protected by copyright and trade-mark laws, and are owned by a Gowling WLG entity and/or their licensors, or the party accredited as the provider of the Content. Except as granted in the limited licence herein, any use of the Content, including modification, transmission, presentation, distribution, republication, or other exploitation of the Website or of any Content, whether in whole or in part, is prohibited without the express prior written consent of the applicable Gowling WLG entity. Your use of the Website and/or any Content does not grant or transfer to you any ownership or other rights in the Website and/or any Content, and except as expressly provided, nothing herein or within the Website and/or any Content shall be construed as conferring on you or any other person or entity any license under any Gowling WLG or any third party intellectual property or other rights. Any rights not expressly granted to you in this Agreement are expressly reserved.

Limited licence

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you are hereby granted a limited, fully revocable, non-transferable and non-exclusive licence to access, view and use the Website for your personal, non-commercial use, and are granted the right to download, store and print single copies of items comprising the Content for your personal, non-commercial use, provided that you maintain all copyright, trade-mark and other notices contained in such Content. This limited license does not include any rights not specifically enumerated herein. Your limited license to use the Website and the Content is automatically revoked upon termination or expiration of this Agreement (whichever occurs first). You agree that you will not use the Website or any Content for any purpose that is unlawful.

Links

The Website may contain links to third-party websites. These links are provided solely as a convenience to you and not as an endorsement by Gowling WLG of the contents of such third-party websites. Gowling WLG is not responsible for the content of any third-party website, nor does it make any representation or warranty of any kind regarding any third-party website including, without limitation: (i) any representation or warranty regarding the legality, accuracy, reliability, completeness, timeliness, security, suitability of any content on any third-party website; (ii) any representation or warranty regarding the merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose of any material, content, software, goods, or services located at or made available through such third-party websites; and (iii) any representation or warranty that the operation of the third-party website will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects or errors in such third-party websites will be corrected, or that such third-party websites will be free from viruses or other harmful components. You also understand and agree that the Gowling WLG Privacy Policy is applicable to Gowling WLG and while you are using the Website and is not applicable to your use of third-party websites. Once you are linked to another website, you should read the privacy policy of that website before disclosing any Personal Information (as defined in the Privacy Policy).

Limitation of liability

Subject to applicable law, in no event shall Gowling WLG, or any of its partners, employees, consultants, representatives, officers, directors, agents, or licensors ("Gowling WLG Released Parties") be liable for damages of any kind including, without limitation, any direct, special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential damages or any loss or damages in the nature of or relating to lost business, lost savings, lost data and/or lost profits, arising from your use of, reliance upon, or inability to use the Website and/or the Content, regardless of the cause and whether arising in contract (including fundamental breach), tort (including negligence), or otherwise. The foregoing limitation shall apply even if Gowling WLG knew of or ought to have known of the possibility of such damages.

Disclaimer of warranties

Subject to applicable law, the Website and the Content is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranty or condition of any kind, either express or implied. Gowling WLG expressly disclaims all warranties and conditions, including any implied warranties of merchantability, satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, title, quiet enjoyment, accuracy, completeness, or non-infringement in respect to the Website and the Content, to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, while Gowling WLG endeavors to provide Content that is correct, accurate and timely, no representations or warranties are made regarding the Website and/or the Content including, without limitation, no representation or warranty that (i) the Website or the Content will be compatible with your computer, mobile or other device and/or software; (ii) the Website or the Content will be accurate, reliable, complete, current, timely or suitable for any particular purpose, (iii) that the operation of the Website will be uninterrupted or error-free, (iv) that defects or errors in the Website or the Content will be corrected, (v) that the Website or the Content will be free from viruses, Trojan horses, malware, worms or other harmful components, and (vi) that communications to or from the Website will be secure and/or not intercepted. You acknowledge and agree that you are using the Website and the Content, if applicable, at your own risk and liability.

Release and indemnity

To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, you hereby agree to release each of the Gowling WLG Released Parties from, and in no event shall any or all of the Gowling WLG Released Parties be liable to you or any other person or entity, for any and all liabilities and damages (including any direct, indirect, special, exemplary or consequential damages, including lost profits) whatsoever or arising from your use of the Website (including any breach by you thereof), the Content or otherwise relating to this Agreement and you agree that your sole remedy for any claim, loss, damage, costs or expenses is to cease using the Website and the Content. You will indemnify and hold each of the Gowling WLG Released Parties harmless from and against any claims, losses, judgments, damages, costs and expenses (including without limitation, reasonable legal fees) incurred by any of them due to or resulting from your use of the Website, the Content or otherwise relating to this Agreement (including any breach by you thereof). You will also indemnify and hold the Gowling WLG Released Parties harmless from and against any claims brought by third parties arising out of your use of Content from this Website. You agree that the applicable Gowling WLG Released Party(ies) may assume the defense and control of any matter for which you are required to indemnify the Gowling WLG Released Parties and you agree to cooperate, at your cost, with our defense of these claims. You agree not to settle any matter without the prior written consent of the applicable Gowling WLG Released Party(ies).

Privacy policy

Gowling WLG treats personal information that you submit through this Website in accordance with its Privacy Policy. Please read and review the Gowling WLG Privacy Policy, which describes the privacy policies and practices of Gowling WLG in detail, as such policy may be amended from time to time by Gowling WLG. Gowling WLG advises you to check the Privacy Policy on a frequent basis for changes. By using a Website or providing us with personal information, you consent to the use of your Personal Information by Gowling WLG in accordance with the terms and for the purposes set forth in the Privacy Policy.

Security and confidentiality

The transmission of data or information over the internet or other forms of networks may not be secure, and is subject to possible loss, interception or alteration while in transit. Gowling WLG cannot guarantee security of any communication to or from the Website. Gowling WLG does not assume any liability for any damage you may experience or costs you may incur as a result of any electronic transmissions over the internet, other forms of networks or otherwise while using the Website. Unless we have confirmed in writing that we represent or act for you, in no event will any information you provide on or through the Website be deemed to be confidential, create any fiduciary obligations to you on our part, or result in any liability to you on our part. Unsolicited emails from non-clients do not establish a lawyer-client relationship, and may not be privileged, and may be disclosed in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You should take reasonable and appropriate precautions to ensure compatibility of any website you visit with your specific computer, mobile or other device. Gowling WLG does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the internet.

Passwords

Any passwords and user ID's used for a Website are for individual business use only. You will be responsible for the security of your password and user ID (if any). Gowling WLG will be entitled to monitor your password and user ID and, at its discretion, require you to change it. If you use a password that Gowling WLG considers insecure, Gowling WLG will be entitled to require the password to be changed and/or terminate your account. You further agree not to disclose your password or user ID to any other person and Gowling WLG will not be responsible for the unauthorized use of your profile by any other person and are under no obligation to confirm the actual identity of any password or user ID. You agree to notify Gowling WLG immediately upon becoming aware of any known or suspected unauthorized use(s) of the your password or user ID to gain access to your profile, or any breach of security, or if at any time your password or user ID is, or you believe it has been, lost, stolen, disclosed, or otherwise compromised, via e-mail to mail@gowlingwlg.com. Gowling WLG cannot and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with these provisions.

Trademarks

Gowling WLG and the Gowling WLG logo are trade-marks of Gowling WLG International Limited. Other names, words, titles, phrases, logos, designs, graphics, icons and trademarks displayed on the Website may constitute registered or unregistered trade-marks of Gowling WLG or third parties. Our trade-marks may be unregistered or registered in Canada, the United Kingdom, and in other countries as applicable. Any use of such trade-marks, except as expressly provided for herein, without the express written consent of the applicable owner is strictly prohibited. Nothing contained herein or on the Website (including, without limitation, the Content) may be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license to use any trade-mark(s). You agree that you will not take any actions inconsistent with Gowling WLG ownership of, or any third party's ownership of, the trade-marks.

While certain trade-marks of third parties may be used by Gowling WLG under licence, the display of third party trade-marks on the Website should not be taken to imply any relationship or licence between Gowling WLG and the owner of said trade-mark or to imply that Gowling WLG endorses the wares, services or business of the owner of the said trade-mark.

Intellectual property concerns

If you are a copyright or trade-mark owner, authorized to act on behalf of one, or authorized to act under any exclusive right under copyright or trade-mark, you agree to promptly report any alleged copyright or trade-mark infringements taking place on or through the Website by providing a written notice with the following information:

  • Identification of the copyrighted work or trade-mark that you claim has been infringed;
  • Identification of the allegedly infringing content, and information reasonably sufficient to permit Gowling WLG to locate it;
  • A statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the use of the content identified in your notice in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright/trade-mark owner, its agent, or the applicable law;
  • A statement by you that you attest that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright/trade-mark owner or otherwise authorized to act on the owner's behalf; and
  • Your physical or electronic signature, together with your contact information (address, telephone number and, if available, email address).

Deliver the notice to us at the following address:

Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
160 Elgin Street
Suite 2600
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1P 1C3
ATTN: IP Manager

Governing law and jurisdiction

Subject to applicable law, by accessing or using a Website, from Canada, or by accessing or using a Website that is identified as a Gowling WLG (Canada) Website, you agree that all matters relating to your access to, or use of, such Website and its Content shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada, without regard to conflict of laws principles, and you agree and hereby submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario with respect to all matters relating to your access to and use of such Website. Subject to applicable law, by accessing or using a Website from the United Kingdom, or by accessing or using a Website that is identified as a Gowling WLG (UK) Website, you agree that all matters relating to your access to, or use of, such Website and its Content shall be governed by English law, without regard to conflict of laws principles.

Termination

Gowling WLG may, in its sole discretion, cancel or terminate your right to use any or all Websites, or any part of any Website, or any Content, at any time without notice. In the event of termination, you are no longer authorized to access the applicable Website, the part of the Website, or Content affected by such cancellation or termination. The restrictions imposed on you with respect to both Content and the Website set out in this Agreement shall survive. Gowling WLG shall not be liable to any party for such termination.

Third party rights

For English law purposes, the Gowling WLG Released Parties shall have the benefit of the indemnities given by you in this Agreement pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. For the purposes of Canadian law, the Gowling WLG Released Parties shall be recognized as third party beneficiaries in respect of the benefit of the indemnities given by you in this Agreement.

Entire agreement

Except for any agreement in respect of Content, this is the entire agreement between you and Gowling WLG relating to your access and use of the Websites and the Content herein.

General

If any term or provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, it shall be severed and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force without being invalidated in any way. You may not assign, convey, subcontract or delegate your rights, duties or obligations hereunder. A Gowling WLG entity will not be considered to have waived any of its rights or remedies described in this Agreement unless the waiver is in writing and signed by the applicable Gowling WLG entity. No delay or omission by Gowling WLG in exercising its rights or remedies will impair or be construed as a waiver. Any single or partial exercise of a right or remedy will not preclude further exercise of any other right or remedy. The failure of Gowling WLG to enforce the strict performance of any provision of this Agreement will not constitute a waiver of the right of Gowling WLG to subsequently enforce such provision or any other provisions of this Agreement. The headings used in this Agreement are included for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect.

Last revised February 19, 2016