Miles Backhouse, a business and corporate lawyer, graduated in Science in 1977, and after devoting 18 years to a business career in manufacturing sector, joined the Osgood Law School in 1995 and graduated in 1999 with a Law degree from University of Toronto. He was called to the Bar in 2003.

Miles opened up his law practice primarily to serve privately owned businesses and help them gain competitive advantage by proper corporate governance; due diligence in drawing up contracts and business negotiations; protection of trademarks, patents and copyrights; and helping clients defend their “turf” by avoiding legal action and representing them when needed.

Miles is a corporate lawyer with a difference. Backed by 25 years of business experience in managing, owning and restructuring businesses, he knows business. He has experience in dealing with financial, employment and legal issues of a business, as well as in restructuring business; buyouts of shareholders; negotiating and structuring sale of business; succession planning.

A first-generation Canadian, Miles grew up in Greater Toronto Area in a family of three sisters and one brother. Happily married for 20 years, Miles lives in Mississauga with his wife, Elizabeth, and three children. An avid player of Hockey, Football and Golf, he has been volunteering as a hockey coach for seven years. He also served the community as vice-president of Meadowvale Village Heritage Association (2000-2003).

Corporate & Business Legal Services

Miles’ Law practice has seen rapid growth dealing primarily with privately owned businesses.

His mission is to assist privately owned businesses to be proactive in dealing with legal issues in a cost effective manner.

Having a business background, Miles is quite familiar with the challenge, pressures and vulnerability of small and mid-size businesses in the fast-pace business climate. He assists businesses by providing the following range of business and corporate legal services:

• Startup issues:
• Incorporation
• Shareholder agreements
• Drafting initial contracts
• Operational issues:
• Consumer contracts
• Purchase and sale contracts
• Employment contracts
• Finance agreements
• Mergers and acquisitions:
• Sale and purchase of businesses
• Shares vs. Assets
• Tax planning
• Succession planning

Miles Backhouse – Business background

After graduating (B.Sc. degree) from University of Toronto in 1977, Miles assisted in the startup of a textile business in 1977. This business catered primarily to hospitality industry. He was vice-president of the Manufacturing Division from 1982 to 1989. Over this seven-year period, he took initiatives to modernize manufacturing equipment and operational systems; this improved productivity by almost 50%.

From 1989 to 1991, he took charge of sales as vice-president of Sales and Marketing for sales outside of Ontario, and he opened up offices in Vancouver and Dallas, Texas. Over the two-year period prior to the recession of 1992, sales increased by approx 35%. Working in conjunction with fabricators from England and Quebec, he also introduced a revolutionary product into North America.

In 1992 the recession hit one-third of the hotels in Southern Ontario; they went either in receivership or filed for bankruptcy. Sales dropped by over 60%; company became over- extended, and stress adversely affected the health of the two owners. At that time, Miles stepped in to assist the two owners -- Negotiated buyout of one of the majority owners, negotiated with banks and suppliers, and restructured the new business.

In 1993, part owner and manager of the new business, Miles orchestrated restructuring of the business into three smaller (butterfly) businesses — manufacturing, sales and investment, and took over the roles of president of the Manufacturing business, vice- president of Finance for both the sales and marketing and the investment companies.

His job duties included negotiating with the banks for bank financing; negotiating with Federal Govt for assistance in financing growth in the States, Caribbean and Central America; negotiating insurance of receivables for export sales; negotiating contracts for exclusivity with suppliers and agents; overseeing tax planning for business and shareholders; and directly dealing with legal and financial issues and with the various Govt agencies.

During the seven-year period of 1993-2000, sales grew from $1.2 Million to over $8 Million. During 1995 –1996, he organized a buyout of non-related partners, and exclusive ownership by family members.

Miles entered the Law School in 1995, and completed the law degree by 1999. In 2002 he left business and articled at O’Connor Macleod Hanna LLB. In 2003, he was called to the bar.

In 2003-2004, he returned to business and oversaw operations — closed deal with a California firm to purchase the business, and negotiated long term employment contracts for remaining shareholders and guarantees for manufacturing operations continuing in Canada.

In summary, Miles has accumulated 25 years of practical experience in managing and owning a manufacturing business. His primary experience has been in dealing with financial, employment and legal issues of a business, and also in restructuring business; buyouts of shareholders; negotiating and structuring sale of business; succession planning.

This first-hand business experience is his asset in his business and corporate legal practice where he is giving the right advice to his business clients based on experience.