Osler’s translation team, based in its Montréal office, is made up of seasoned lawyers and legal translators. The team, headed by a lawyer with close to 20 years of experience in the industry, is skilled in all relevant areas pertaining to the translation of legal and commercial documents. It is one of the most experienced and integrated translation teams in the industry that distinguishes itself by rendering all translations in‑house rather than by outsourcing. All team members work in close collaboration and proactively and provide high quality and timely service to our national and international clients involved in growth-critical transactions. In addition, our clients take advantage of the guidance and advice provided by our lawyers in the Translation Department on their obligations pursuant to language laws and any issue relating to securities legislation.
The Translation Department also draws upon its outstanding administrative support team, whose members are carefully selected on the basis of their language and technical skills. Moreover, the Department makes use of the most sophisticated translation and drafting support tools on the market, in order to provide a consistent, timely and efficient service.
Takeover Bids
A takeover bid is a crucial step in our clients’ growth and development. They often need their documents translated within extremely tight deadlines and, as the due dates get nearer, the requests and requirements usually increase. In this environment, our clients need a team of translators and lawyers who can deal with the unexpected and meet all types of demands without giving in to pressure. At Osler, each and every task is done as it should be, in the proper sequence and within the time limits.
Corporate Finance
Issuers and investment dealers planning a public offering in Québec must comply with the province’s language laws. This means that certain disclosure documents must also be prepared in French.
The Osler translation team has the experience, the skills and the resources to help issuers and investment dealers fulfil their language-related obligations. The team members possess the required knowledge in a wide range of sectors (in particular technology, financial services, investment funds, oil and natural gas, mining, gaming, real estate, retail, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and manufacturing). They can manage and complete translation assignments for all types of financing.
Continuous Disclosure
Companies and other issuers in Canada are required to file numerous documents within prescribed deadlines, including annual information forms, proxy circulars and material change reports, with securities authorities in each province and territory in which they are reporting issuers.
Although translation is not required as long as the documents are not incorporated by reference in a prospectus, many issuers of all sizes systematically have their continuous disclosure documents translated, thereby ensuring they are always reaching all investors in the market and are ready to seize market opportunities as they arise.
Contracts & Other Documents
Parties seeking to transact with Québec residents are regularly required to draft agreements in French, either to comply with Québec language laws or simply to accommodate one or several parties to a transaction. As well, companies carrying on business in Québec are required to have business forms and employment-related documents available in French in order to comply with Québec language laws.
The Web and Social Networks
Technology is now an integral part of business. Websites and social networks are fantastic marketing and showcase tools that play a key role in maintaining a good reputation and good client relations. Therefore, it is important to use clear and precise language that readers will understand and relate to. For many years now, our Translation Department has been helping clients communicate clearly in the language of their target market, through websites and social networks alike.