Toronto Contract
Lawyer.
Need a Contract Lawyer in Toronto? Jonathan Kleiman assists individuals and businesses with contract drafting, agreement reviews, and contract disputes. Whether you are negotiating a new contract, seeking advice on your legal obligations, or dealing with a breach of contract, Jonathan provides clear, practical, and results-oriented legal representation tailored to your needs.
· Reviewed by Jonathan Kleiman, J.D.
Ontario Bar
200+ reviews
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Toronto contract lawyer for drafting, review, and negotiation
Jonathan Kleiman is a contract lawyer in Toronto who drafts, reviews, and negotiates the agreements businesses and individuals depend on every day.
Whether you need a new contract written from scratch, an existing agreement reviewed before you sign, or strategic advice on a deal in progress — Jonathan provides plain-language counsel that protects your interests and prevents costly problems before they start.
Every engagement begins with a free 30-minute consultation.
Why you need a contract lawyer in Toronto
Most disputes are preventable
A contract is only as strong as the thought that went into drafting it.
Every year, Toronto business owners lose thousands of dollars in avoidable disputes that trace back to poorly worded agreements, missing clauses, or terms copied from generic templates that were never designed for their specific situation.
What a contract lawyer actually does
A contract lawyer does more than fill in blanks on a form. Jonathan examines the business relationship, anticipates where problems are likely to arise, and writes specific protections into the agreement before those problems surface.
The cost of a properly drafted contract is a fraction of the cost of litigating a poorly drafted one.
How Ontario courts interpret contracts
Ontario courts interpret contracts strictly. If a term is ambiguous, a court may apply the contra proferentem rule — interpreting the clause against the party who drafted it.
Precision matters. Having a contract lawyer on your side before you sign is always better than hiring one after a dispute begins.
Looking for help with a contract dispute or breach of contract? Read more about contract disputes and litigation, and recovering unpaid debts, learn about your options with a breach of contract lawyer, or read what to do when an agreement falls apart. For businesses with intellectual property, Jonathan also advises on trademarks and copyright protection in Ontario.
What I've learned drafting contracts — and fighting over them
None of this comes from a textbook. It's the handful of patterns that show up again and again, on both sides of the table, after years of drafting agreements in Toronto and litigating the ones that fell apart.
The deals that blow up are the ones nobody wrote down
I've lost count of how often the ugliest disputes I see are between people who trusted each other too much to put anything in writing — business partners, family, two friends who didn't want to make it weird. A verbal agreement can be binding in Ontario, but binding and provable aren't the same thing. With nothing on paper, you're asking a judge to choose between two honest people who remember the same conversation differently. The handshake feels like trust. In practice it just moves the argument to a courtroom two years later, once the relationship is already gone and the money at stake is bigger.
The contract said one thing; everyone acted like it said another
The pattern is almost always the same: two parties sign a clean agreement, then spend the next year doing things differently — a payment accepted late every month, a deadline quietly extended over email, a clause nobody bothered to enforce. Then something breaks, and one side wants to hold the other to the letter of a contract neither had been following. Ontario law won't always allow it: after months of accepting late payment, a court can find you waived the right to suddenly demand it on time without notice. If you're going to run the deal differently than the paper says, change the paper — or at least keep the emails showing both sides agreed.
The clauses nobody reads are the ones that decide who's ruined
People will argue over price and delivery dates for an hour, then sign the limitation-of-liability and indemnity clauses without reading a word. Those are exactly the clauses that decide who absorbs the loss when a project goes sideways — and they're usually buried in the boring middle of the agreement, where attention has already drifted. I've watched a fair-looking deal turn one-sided entirely because of an indemnity nobody questioned. The exciting parts of a contract are rarely the dangerous parts. The real money lives in the dull clauses that quietly put you on the hook for someone else's mistake.
"Our standard agreement" is a negotiating position, not a fact
Nine times out of ten, when someone hands you "our standard agreement," they say it like it's the weather — fixed, neutral, not up for discussion. It isn't. The party who writes the draft writes it to protect themselves, and "standard" usually just means "standard for them." This comes up constantly with commercial leases and vendor contracts, where the version you're handed is an opening position dressed up as a final one. Almost everything is negotiable before you sign, and almost nothing is after. Whatever leverage you have disappears the moment your signature hits the page.
Everyone plans the start of a deal; almost no one plans the end
By the time someone calls me about getting out of a deal, the question usually isn't whether they can — it's how much it's going to cost. People plan the beginning of a relationship in detail and the end not at all, so the termination clause ends up an afterthought or missing entirely. That's the clause I care about most. How do you give notice? What happens to deposits and work already done? Can either side walk away for convenience, or only for cause? Get that right and a bad fit ends with a letter. Get it wrong and it ends in a contract dispute you never budgeted for.
Contract drafting services in Toronto
Contract drafting is the foundation of preventive legal work. Jonathan drafts agreements from scratch, tailored to the specific needs and risks of your transaction.
Every clause is written with two questions in mind:
- Does it accurately reflect the deal?
- Will it hold up if challenged in an Ontario court?
Business and commercial contracts
Service agreements, supply agreements, distribution agreements, licensing agreements, and master service agreements for Toronto businesses across every industry.
Partnership and shareholder agreements
Profit sharing, decision-making authority, dispute resolution, exit strategies, and what happens when the relationship breaks down. Partnership agreements and shareholders' agreements each require different protections.
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements
NDAs and confidentiality agreements for employers, contractors, joint ventures, and M&A due diligence — protecting trade secrets and proprietary information.
Employment and contractor agreements
Clear terms covering scope of work, compensation, IP ownership, non-compete restrictions, and termination — compliant with Ontario employment standards.
Contract review services
Before you sign any agreement, have it reviewed by a contract lawyer. Jonathan identifies the risks, missing protections, unfavourable terms, and clauses that could expose you to unexpected liability.
What's covered in a contract review
- Obligations and deliverables — clearly defined for both parties?
- Payment terms — fair, specific, and enforceable?
- Limitation of liability and indemnification — who bears the risk?
- Termination and exit clauses — can you get out if you need to?
- Dispute resolution — where and how will disagreements be resolved?
- Assignment — can the other party transfer the agreement?
- Governing law — does Ontario law apply?
When contract review matters most
Contract review is especially important for commercial leases, franchise agreements, loan agreements, and any contract where the other side provided the draft.
The party who drafts the contract controls the terms — and those terms are written to protect them, not you.
Types of contracts we handle
Toronto businesses and individuals come to Jonathan for help with:
- Service and retainer agreements
- Supply and distribution agreements
- Partnership and joint venture agreements
- Shareholder agreements (USAs)
- Non-disclosure agreements
- Employment contracts
- Independent contractor agreements
- Commercial lease agreements
- Franchise agreements
- Loan agreements and promissory notes
- Asset and share purchase agreements
- Licensing and IP agreements
- Consulting agreements
- Terms of service and website terms
If your agreement involves obligations, consideration, and potential risk — a contract lawyer should look at it.
It can take many years before anybody has to rely on the specific terms of an agreement in court. Your lawyer should be able to predict the issues that arise down the road — and write around them.
The contract drafting and review process
Working with Jonathan on a contract matter is straightforward:
Free consultation
Describe the agreement, the parties, and what you need. Jonathan identifies the key legal issues and recommends an approach.
Drafting or review
Jonathan drafts the contract from scratch or reviews the draft you've received with a detailed markup of recommended changes.
Negotiation
If the other party pushes back, Jonathan handles the back-and-forth — keeping your interests protected through every revision.
Execution
Once both sides agree, Jonathan ensures the agreement is properly signed and delivered, with all schedules and exhibits attached.
Most contract drafting and contract review matters are handled on a flat-fee basis. You'll know the cost before the work begins.
When a contract dispute arises
Even well-drafted contracts can lead to disagreements. When a dispute arises, Jonathan pursues resolution in the most cost-effective way available — starting with a demand letter, moving to mediation or arbitration if needed, and proceeding to litigation when necessary.
Small Claims Court (under $50,000)
Contract disputes under $50,000 are handled in the Ontario Small Claims Court.
Ontario Superior Court (over $50,000)
Disputes above the Small Claims threshold proceed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Jonathan represents clients in both courts.
Have a contract you'd like reviewed?
Free 30-minute consultation. No fee, no obligation.
Contract Drafting Lawyer Toronto
As a contract drafting lawyer in Toronto, Jonathan builds agreements that are clear, enforceable, and tailored to your specific transaction.
Every contract is drafted with both day-one performance and worst-case enforcement in mind. The clauses that matter most are written with precision so the agreement holds up under scrutiny in an Ontario court.
Clauses Jonathan focuses on
- Termination — clear exit terms for both parties
- Limitation of liability — capped exposure to predictable amounts
- Indemnification — fair allocation of risk
- Dispute resolution — Ontario courts or specified arbitration
- Governing law — Ontario law, where applicable
Toronto businesses come to Jonathan when generic templates aren't enough. Most drafting matters are quoted on a flat-fee basis, with delivery in 3 to 5 business days for standard agreements.
Contract Review Lawyer Toronto
A contract review lawyer in Toronto is your second set of eyes on any agreement before you sign it.
Jonathan reviews contracts presented by the other side — commercial leases, franchise agreements, vendor contracts, loan agreements, employment offers, partnership terms, and asset purchase agreements — and identifies the risks, missing protections, and unfavourable clauses that non-lawyers consistently miss.
What you get with a contract review
- Detailed markup with proposed revisions
- Legal reasoning behind each recommended change
- Risk assessment of unchanged terms
- Negotiation leverage you can use
- Delivery in 2 to 4 business days
- Flat-fee pricing, quoted upfront
Business Agreement Lawyer Toronto
A business agreement lawyer in Toronto handles the contracts that define how your company operates and how you do business with partners, customers, employees, and investors.
Jonathan drafts and reviews business agreements that align with your commercial objectives while complying with Ontario's Business Corporations Act, the Sale of Goods Act, and other provincial and federal statutes that govern commerce in Toronto.
Common business agreements we handle
- Shareholder and unanimous shareholder agreements — decision-making, share transfers, exits
- Partnership and joint venture agreements — roles, contributions, profit sharing
- Asset and share purchase agreements — buying or selling a Toronto business
- Commercial lease agreements — reviewed before multi-year obligations
- Franchise agreements — reviewed under Ontario's Arthur Wishart Act disclosure framework
- Service and supply agreements — for ongoing commercial relationships
- Loan agreements and promissory notes — for business financing or shareholder loans
Whether you're forming a new business, expanding an existing one, or documenting a commercial relationship — having an experienced business agreement lawyer involved from the start prevents the disputes that come from ambiguous terms and missing clauses. Jonathan serves clients across the GTA, including Brampton, Mississauga, North York, and Vaughan.
Why Toronto businesses choose Jonathan Kleiman
Jonathan earned his B.A. (with distinction) at McGill University and his J.D. at Queen's University. He has been a member of the Law Society of Ontario since 2011.
Your contract lawyer should be someone you can call when a question comes up — not someone you have to schedule weeks in advance to reach. Read client reviews to see why Toronto businesses trust Jonathan with their contracts.
Talk to a contract lawyer in Toronto today
Bring the contract — drafted, partly drafted, or just an idea — and get an experienced read on it.
Call 416-554-1639 or book a free consultation.
FAQs.
The questions Toronto business owners and individuals ask most often about contract drafting, contract review, and working with a contract lawyer.
01 How much does a contract lawyer cost in Toronto?
Most contract drafting and review matters are handled on a flat-fee basis. Jonathan quotes the fee before work begins, so there are no surprises.
Complex agreements or ongoing retainer work may be billed hourly, with a budget agreed upfront.
02 Do I need a lawyer to review a contract before signing?
You should always have a contract reviewed before you sign — especially for commercial leases, franchise agreements, partnership agreements, and any agreement involving significant financial obligations.
A contract lawyer catches risks and unfavourable terms that non-lawyers typically miss.
03 What is the difference between contract drafting and contract review?
Contract drafting means creating a new agreement from scratch, tailored to your specific needs and risks.
Contract review means examining an agreement that someone else has prepared — identifying risks, unfavourable terms, and missing protections before you sign.
04 Can a verbal agreement be legally binding in Ontario?
Yes. Under Ontario law, verbal agreements can be legally enforceable if they meet the basic requirements of a contract: offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations.
However, certain agreements — such as those involving land — must be in writing under the Statute of Frauds.
05 What should I do if someone breaches a contract?
Contact a contract lawyer immediately. Jonathan will review the agreement, assess the strength of your position, and recommend the most cost-effective path to resolution.
Options include a demand letter, negotiation, mediation, or litigation through the Small Claims Court or Superior Court.
06 How long does it take to draft a contract?
Most standard contracts can be drafted within 3 to 5 business days.
Complex agreements involving multiple parties, detailed schedules, or specialized terms may take longer. Jonathan provides a timeline during the initial consultation.
07 Can I use a contract template from the internet?
Templates are generic by design and rarely account for the specific risks and requirements of your business or transaction.
A contract drafted or reviewed by a lawyer protects you against the issues a template cannot anticipate — and the cost of a proper contract is far less than the cost of a dispute.
08 What types of contracts does Jonathan Kleiman handle?
Jonathan handles all types of business and commercial contracts including service agreements, partnership agreements, shareholder agreements, NDAs, employment contracts, independent contractor agreements, commercial leases, franchise agreements, asset purchase agreements, and licensing agreements.
Book a free consultation to discuss your specific needs.
Your contract decides who wins later.
Get it drafted right the first time, or get it reviewed before you sign. Free 30-minute consultation with a Toronto contract lawyer.