What we do at Branton Law
We offer legal services in the areas of Real Estate, Business Law, and Wills & Estate planning.
Wills & Estate Planning
Business Law
Real Estate
Knowing Your Business Is Our Business
At Branton Law, we offer our clients friendly, personal service that is dedicated to seeing you and your business succeed. We always strive to recognize each individual client’s needs in order to provide the best possible customized service, advice, and quality results.
Branton Law recognizes the changing landscape of business in the Durham Region. We live in Durham Region, we work in Durham Region and we’re excited by the business growth in Durham Region. When your business thrives, so does the community.
Branton Law works with a network of accounting, tax, legal and wealth management specialists in order to provide the highest level of service to clients. We will take the time to break down complex issues and transactions and help you understand your options and how they can impact your enterprise.
Wills, Estate Planning & Administration
Branton Law offers assistance in planning for the passing of your estate, including business succession. Branton Law’s consultative approach to creating an estate plan and preparing your Will is more than simply putting instructions to paper. When meeting with clients we seek to understand your main objective, we review assets, insurance, liabilities, and provide advice on what can be done today, to plan for the reality down the road. When the myriad of details is concluded, we will aim to have your plans structured appropriately so that, ultimately, your estate is administered without complication. During the consulting process, where necessary, we also consult with your accounting, tax and financial advisors.
We help to prepare a range of estate planning documents that may include:
-
Primary Wills (Personal)
-
Secondary Wills (Corporate)
-
Powers of Attorney for care
-
Powers of Attorney for property
-
Establishing Trusts (including family and testamentary trust)
Whether or not Branton Law prepared a particular will and estate plan, we can provide guidance and counsel on the final administration of that estate when that time comes. We will work with the Executor/Estate Trustee of an estate, completing all required paperwork and provide comprehensive advice and assistance on the many tasks which must be completed following a death. This includes an in-depth review of the deceased’s assets, as well as an analysis for determining any Estate Administration Tax, if applicable. Complexities can be manifold during this process and unique circumstances need to be navigated with sound legal advice to avoid estate litigation.
We also provide legal services in the circumstance where the deceased has not left behind a valid will.
Recent Post:
Ontario Government Legislation Update- Execution of wills during COVID-19 -read more
Business &
Commercial Services
As a business owner you understand all the nuances of your core business – your customers, your competition, your market and your product or service. At Branton Law, we’re good at providing the necessary details that protect you and your business: the pitfalls that may lay in a lease agreement or franchise agreement, how to deal with employee issues, or how to manage the due diligence process involved in your business purchase.
We excel at providing the advice and counsel that helps protect you and your business and allows your enterprise to flourish. Branton Law is a full-service operation dedicated to making your business run like clockwork.
Just some of our areas of expertise:
• Business sales and purchases (asset and share transactions)
• Contracts
• Leases
• Commercial real estate transactions
• Franchise Agreements
Corporate
We assist our corporate clients with a complete range of legal services, from simple articles of incorporation to complex corporate restructuring, providing the consultation you need, when you need it. We will partner with your financial advisors, accountants and tax specialists in a coordinated effort among your trusted advisers to provide the most comprehensive planning for your business. When necessary, we will also work closely with a network of specialized lawyers who can provide us with additional resources. Our clients think of us as an integral part of their team.
• Articles of Incorporation
• Reorganizations
• Shareholder Agreements
• Share transactions
• Maintain minute books
• Annual resolutions
Professional Corporations
Professional Corporations are a different breed entirely and establishing one has its own unique set of rules, permissions and legalities. Not only does an Ontario Professional Corporation have to comply with the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), RSO 1990, c.B16, but also with the College or governing body of your profession. Branton Law has extensive experience navigating these waters. Over the years we’ve dealt with the Law Society of Ontario, and virtually all the colleges associated with dental, health and Para health professions from doctors and surgeons to dentists, RMTs, and physiotherapists.
Having Branton Law complete all the various application materials on your behalf means you have a single point of contact throughout the process.
Business Consulting and Coaching
Recent Post: Notes for Entrepreneurs
Recently, I was asked to speak to a group of entrepreneurs in the community. The presentation went well and the audience was very engaged with the material, so I thought I’d place the highlights here, as I often get questions from people about starting a business. -read more
Branton Law is here for much more than just the legal transactions associated with your business. Our clients see us as their trusted business advisor, coming to us frequently with questions or seeking guidance in a particular area. From initial business plans for new ventures to growth strategies for established enterprises, our unique coaching perspective, driven and informed by best practice knowledge, puts our clients ahead of the pack. When you need assistance creating accountability for your plans or help breaking down the many tasks you have into coherent project steps, Branton Law has the experience that matters to your business.
Real Estate
We can assist with residential or commercial properties. When you come to Branton Law for your real estate needs, we will work with your realtor to ensure there is ongoing communication throughout the transaction. In the initial consultation we will outline everything you’ll need to know– the legal process, fees, taxes, insurance, investigating title, etc.
We’ll be with you every step of the way by:
-
Providing advice and information to you and realtor during the offer process, through the conditional period and throughout your transaction
-
Investigating title
-
Preparing closing documents
-
Negotiating documentation with seller’s/purchaser’s lawyer where necessary
-
Preparing mortgage documentation and communicating with your lender
-
Meeting with you for execution of documentation
-
Attending to the closing of the transaction
-
Reporting the transaction to you and your lender
Notary Services
Branton Law is happy to offer notary services to our clients, which includes commissioning or notarizing documents, travel letters and identification.
Our Team
Denise L. Branton
Barrister & Solicitor, Owner
Denise has been working in the legal services field for 20 years. Denise worked as a full-time law clerk in Toronto while attending university part-time. Denise obtained her law degree from Toronto’s Osgoode Hall Law School in 2005, and was called to the Ontario bar in 2006. Denise practiced in Toronto for 5 years prior to moving her law practice to Durham Region.
When Denise decided to establish her own practice, there was no question that it would be located in the community in which she lived. She is passionate about Durham Region and enjoys actively participating in, and influencing the growth of Durham Region’s personal and business communities. Denise is an active member of the local Chambers of Commerce, and enjoys mentoring and championing business owners in the community.
She is also very proud to be a member of the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise, where she is given the opportunity to serve her community through local projects and fundraising events.
Denise’s approach to client service is “grounded and practical” with a commitment to open communication.
Outside of the office, Denise enjoys spending time with her family, and enjoys traveling, cycling and hiking.
Organizations and Positions:
-
Ontario Bar Association
-
Durham Region Law Association – Board of Directors
-
Whitby Chamber of Commerce
-
Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce
-
Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
-
Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise
-
Member of the Station Gallery
Ruth Metcalfe
Senior Corporate/Commercial Law Clerk
(905) 493 6333 ext. 103
Ruth has been working in the legal profession for over 15 years working in real estate and corporate and commercial law.
Ruth has been working with Branton Law since it opened its doors and has enjoyed the challenges associated with developing systems and technology needed as the firm grows. Ruth truly enjoys bringing extraordinary care to all the work she undertakes for clients.
Prior to working for Branton Law, Ruth commuted to Toronto for 5 years. Ruth lives with her family in Durham Region, and welcomes the opportunity to work in her local community. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping, boating, hiking and mountain biking and is an integral part of her church community.
Laura Patel
Law Clerk
(905) 493-6333 ext. 106
Born and raised in Whitby, Laura has worked in the Durham Region throughout her legal career. Laura has over 15 years of Legal Assistant experience and joined Branton Law in 2018.
Laura assists with real estate transactions, as well as sharing corporate and administrative duties. Over the years working in the legal field, Laura has always strived to provide excellent customer service and ensure every client’s experience is a positive one.
In her spare time Laura enjoys gardening, hiking and a good cup of coffee with a friend, but most of all spending time with her family.
Marilyn Branton Short
Senior Bookkeeper
Marilyn has been working in the legal profession since 1988 as a legal Bookkeeper.
Marilyn is Denise’s sister and has been working with Branton Law since it opened its doors in 2014. Marilyn manages the day to day accounting and financial needs of the firm. Marilyn is a strategic thinker, creative problem solver, with intelligence, sound judgment and great diligence.
Prior to working for Branton Law, Marilyn worked for a firm in Pickering for 18 years and prior to that, a firm in Toronto for 10 years. Marilyn now enjoys working closer to home.
Marilyn enjoys spending time with her family, boating, reading and meditating.
Sydney Aquino
Student-at-Law
Sydney is currently an articling student at Branton Law. In 2022, she completed a Master of Laws in Canadian Common at Toronto’s Osgoode Hall Law School. During her studies, Sydney volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada on their Immigration and Refugee Project. She also obtained a Bachelor of Laws from City, University of London in the United Kingdom in 2020.
Although new to the legal field, Sydney has learned from previous work experiences that the best customer service is served with understanding and empathy.
Sydney enjoys spending her free time with friends and family, reading, watching movies and travelling.
Our Culture
Branton Law focuses on creating work flow systems and structures that are customer-centric; that work for our clients and in their best interests. We want the firm to facilitate our clients’ interactions with us, while being effective and pro-active. At its core, our team’s responsiveness is the result of a collaborative, supportive, workplace where we focus our energy on providing quality services for our clients and are driven to succeed. Having taken the time to recruit the right people, we believe the dedicated team at Branton Law is uniformly committed to serving the needs of our clients.
A Healthy Workplace
Our desire to be the best reaches all areas of our business. We strive to create a healthy workplace and as a team we are working toward the Eco-Business Certificate of Commitment through the Ajax Pickering Board to Trade. It’s important to us to operate an eco-sensitive business and no effort is too small to help reduce our environmental footprint, from centralized waste collection and paper-reducing print practices to using environmentally friendly office supplies such as toner and cleaning products. It is an issue we discuss regularly at staff meetings and everyone contributes ideas and innovations to the cause.
And a healthy workplace includes proper Health and Safety measures so Branton Law has fire safety practices in place to protect our employees and our clients. We maintain an accessible work area for our clients who require accommodation. We have undertaken to have CPR training across our team and we have emergency preparedness plans in place. These efforts are not only good for our business, they are team activities that strengthen the supportive bonds across our team and underpin the concept of genuinely caring for our clients and each other.
Community Commitments
This culture of caring doesn’t end with the client and the environment, but ripples beyond the walls of our workplace into our community. Branton Law is a frequent and eager participant in many local events such as food drives and the charity collection of goods such as clothing. Denise believes it is very important to foster an awareness of community responsibility in her team. In this area, she leads by example giving time and money to many community initiatives in addition to her affiliation with the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise and her commitment to organizations such as Girls Inc. As a member of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, the Ajax-Whitby Board of Trade and the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Denise supports small business in the community furthering the prosperity of the region.
At Branton Law, the care and support of our clients is our primary purpose and this commitment is mirrored in our efforts to make the world around us a better place.
Contact
Branton Law Professional Corporation
113 Byron Street, North
Whitby, Ontario L1N 4P5
phone: (905) 493-6333
fax: (905) 432-8367
email: admin@brantonlaw.ca
Let's talk.
Please feel free to call or email
to schedule an appointment.