Mayo Law

03/13/2026

You had the idea. But who legally owns it?
Without clear agreements, multiple people can claim ownership.
Co-founders, employees, investors — all can fight over it.
That leads to disputes, court battles, and blocked projects.
Protect your startup from day one. Book a call today to speak with one of our highly trained lawyers.

03/12/2026

Your non-compete clause probably isn’t enforceable.
Most business owners think a signed agreement stops employees from competing. It doesn’t work that way.
Courts look at whether the restriction is reasonable in scope, geography, and time.
Too broad? Unenforceable. Too vague? Unenforceable.
And if you try to enforce an invalid clause, you’ll waste time and money in court.
Don’t rely on a piece of paper. Protect your business the right way. Book a call today to speak with one of our highly trained lawyers.

03/11/2026

If you control how, when, and where they work — that’s an employee.
A contractor agreement won’t protect you from misclassification liability. Courts and tax authorities look at the actual working relationship, not what’s signed on paper.
Control = Employment Risk.
Don’t leave your business exposed. Book a call today to speak with one of our highly trained lawyers.
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03/10/2026

03/08/2026

Most shareholder disputes start long before the dispute actually appears. They start with a poorly drafted shareholders’ agreement or with founders who skip the agreement entirely. When ownership, voting control, exits, and decision-making are not clearly structured at the beginning, the conflict later becomes almost inevitable.

A properly drafted shareholders’ agreement creates the internal governance of the company. It defines how decisions are made, what happens if a shareholder wants to exit, how shares can be transferred, how deadlocks are resolved, and how minority shareholders are protected.

In this guide we outline 12 key clauses every shareholders’ agreement should include to prevent disputes and protect the stability of the business.

Comment GUIDE to get the full checklist.

Mayo Law
Cross-border business law | U.S. & Canada

entrepreneurlaw corporatestructure startuptips usbusiness canadabusiness mayoLaw

03/06/2026

Starting a business in the United States?
The E-2 visa allows investors from treaty countries to live and work in the U.S. by investing in a real operating business.

But many applications fail because of three common mistakes:
insufficient investment,
passive businesses,
or poor documentation.

Understanding the structure of the investment and the business plan is critical before applying.

Mayo Law
Cross-border business and immigration law

www.mayo.law
Toronto: 416-708-6010
New York: 646-662-2782

02/25/2026

Most disputes among founders can be anticipated and avoided. A shareholders’ agreement that is properly drafted serves as the underlying structure that establishes control, decision-making protocols, exit options, and conflict resolution procedures before disputes emerge. This article highlights the fundamental clauses that every startup and growing company should implement from the outset.

A shareholders' agreement is the backbone of a multi-owner company, setting the stage for smooth operations by defining decision-making authority, ownership, and exit strategies. By addressing issues like equity vesting and board composition early on, companies can avoid slow-motion litigation and e...

12/03/2025

Great news from Toronto. Our clients secured approval for their E2 visa in the service sector. A lean professional services operation with serious upside, built on an investment under USD 50,000 and a single employee to start. We demonstrated that the enterprise is real, operating, and positioned for scalable growth, with a credible job-creation plan and a sustainable revenue model.

09/18/2025

Great news from Sydney, Australia: another E-2 visa approved, this time for our Aussie clients, founders of a growing residential and commercial painting company entering the U.S. market.

The process involved a full ownership restructuring, a solid documentation package, and clear evidence of substantial investment, all aligned with the high standards of the E-2 treaty investor framework.

Excited to see this business grow and thrive in the U.S.

09/12/2025

For all foreign investors in the U.S. considering E-2 or other nonimmigrant visas, take note of an important change. On September 6, 2025, the Department of State announced that all non-immigrant visa applicants must schedule their visa interviews in their country of nationality or residence. For countries where the U.S. does not have routine visa operations, nationals must apply at designated consulates. Applicants must be ready to prove residence, and applying outside your country of nationality or residence can create long delays. Fees are not refundable or transferable. Existing appointments will generally not be cancelled. Exceptions remain for diplomatic, official, UN-related, humanitarian, and medical cases.

See update:

Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and other National Security and Public Safety Threats