Receivership, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Litigation

ME Law tailors communication to the needs and stage of each matter. Clients can expect regular updates by phone, email, or video conference, with more frequent communication during active litigation phases. As a general baseline, the firm’s current practice is to provide monthly updates while also communicating when material developments require attention.

The frequency of communication is not necessarily the same throughout a case. Civil litigation often moves through periods of relative inactivity followed by periods where decisions, evidence, deadlines, or court appearances require much closer contact. The objective is therefore not to generate communication for its own sake, but to make sure you understand what is happening, what requires your input, and what the next meaningful step is.

For an overview of those procedural stages, see What is civil litigation in Ontario?.

How will ME Law communicate with me?

Depending on the matter and your preferences, communication may take place through:

• Email, particularly for written updates, documents, scheduling, and issues that benefit from a clear written record;
• Telephone calls, where a point can be addressed more efficiently through direct discussion;
• Video conferences, where a more detailed strategic discussion is appropriate but an in-person meeting is unnecessary;
• Meetings with counsel, where the complexity or importance of the issue makes direct discussion more useful.

The communication method may also change as the litigation progresses. Routine administrative matters may be handled by email, while significant strategic decisions may require a call or meeting with the lawyer responsible for the file.

When should I expect more frequent communication?

Certain stages of litigation naturally generate more contact.

For example, communication may become more frequent when ME Law is preparing or responding to a Statement of Claim or Statement of Defence, reviewing documentary production, preparing you for an Examination for Discovery, dealing with a Notice of Motion, preparing for mediation, or approaching a Pre-Trial Conference or trial.

During discovery, for example, counsel may need your assistance identifying documents, explaining records, preparing for examination, or responding to undertakings. ME Law’s Discovery & Documentary Production page explains why that stage can require substantial client participation.

By contrast, there may be periods where the next procedural event depends on another party, a court timetable, completion of document review, or another external step. During those periods, less frequent communication does not necessarily mean that the file is inactive.

Will I receive an update even if nothing major has happened?

ME Law’s current FAQ states that clients can generally expect monthly updates, with more frequent communication during active phases. Clients are also welcome to contact the firm directly with questions rather than waiting for the next scheduled update.

The purpose of those updates is to provide useful information: what has happened, what is outstanding, what the next procedural step is, whether the timetable has changed, and whether a decision or instruction is required from you.

This is particularly important in longer-running proceedings. As explained in How long does civil litigation take in Ontario?, a case can move through discovery, motions, settlement discussions, mediation, pre-trial steps, and potentially trial over an extended period.

How quickly will ME Law respond when I contact the firm?

ME Law’s current published practice is to aim to respond within one business day. The existing FAQ also recognizes that there may be exceptions — for example, where the lawyer is in court — in which case the lawyer may indicate when they will be available.

That is an important distinction. A response-time objective should not require counsel to interrupt a hearing, examination, or other professional commitment simply to meet an artificial deadline. Where immediate attention is genuinely required, the urgency of the issue should be identified clearly so the matter can be handled appropriately.

Why doesn’t ME Law communicate constantly?

Communication in an hourly-billed litigation matter has a cost. ME Law’s current FAQ expressly states that the firm focuses on meaningful updates and avoids unnecessary communication that may increase fees without adding value to the case.

That does not mean limiting access to counsel. It means distinguishing between communication that advances your understanding or the litigation strategy and repetitive correspondence that does not materially assist the file.

ME Law’s approach is to keep clients informed enough to make decisions, understand risk, provide necessary instructions, and know what is happening in their case while keeping the communication proportionate to the work being performed.

The frequency and format can therefore be adjusted to the needs of the client and the matter. A document-heavy commercial dispute approaching discovery may require a very different communication rhythm from a case waiting for a scheduled procedural event.

Contact ME Law if you have questions about communication, reporting, or what to expect during your litigation matter.

Before retaining ME Law, you should understand how the firm approaches communication, costs, litigation strategy, client involvement, and the lawyer-client relationship. ME Law’s objective is to provide clear information from the outset so that you understand the legal process, the work being undertaken, the financial implications, and what will be expected from you as the matter progresses.

Transparency is central to the relationship. From the initial consultation onward, ME Law aims to explain the legal process, the available options, the principal risks, and the potential consequences of different strategies in clear terms. Legal proceedings can involve uncertainty, so the firm’s role is to provide a candid assessment based on the available facts, evidence, and law rather than promise a particular outcome.

For more information about the initial assessment, see What is a consultation at ME Law?.

Costs and billing should also be understood at the outset. Depending on the engagement, you may be required to provide retainer funds, and legal fees and disbursements may arise as the matter develops. ME Law aims to communicate clearly about costs and billing practices so that financial considerations can be incorporated into litigation strategy rather than treated as an afterthought.

Client involvement is an important part of effective representation. You may be asked to provide documents, explain the factual history, identify relevant evidence, respond to questions, review materials, and provide instructions at key stages. In an active civil proceeding, this can include assisting counsel with pleadings, documentary production, preparation for an Examination for Discovery, mediation, or other procedural steps.

The client-lawyer relationship is therefore collaborative. ME Law provides legal analysis, strategic advice, and advocacy, while the client contributes the factual knowledge, business context, objectives, and instructions required to move the matter forward.

Communication should remain clear and proportionate throughout the file. ME Law’s approach is to keep clients informed about meaningful developments, upcoming procedural steps, decisions requiring instructions, and issues that may affect strategy or cost. For more detail, see How will ME Law communicate with me during my case, and how often will I receive updates?.

Professionalism, competency, and time management are also part of the firm’s stated approach to client service. The objective is to manage the legal work efficiently, respond to developments appropriately, and deliver legal services that are proportionate to the needs and financial circumstances of the client.

Before retaining ME Law, you should therefore be comfortable with the proposed scope of representation, anticipated costs, communication approach, your own role in the matter, and the strategic objectives of the engagement.

For the broader process of becoming a client, see How do I become a client of ME Law?.

Contact ME Law if you would like to discuss a potential litigation engagement.

If you are dissatisfied with ME Law’s services, contact the firm directly and explain your concern. ME Law takes client feedback seriously and will work to understand the issue, clarify any misunderstanding, and determine whether the approach to the matter should be adjusted.

Concerns can arise for different reasons. You may have questions about communication, the direction of the litigation strategy, how a particular development has been handled, or whether you and the legal team have the same understanding of the case and its objectives. Raising those concerns promptly gives both you and counsel an opportunity to address them before they affect the working relationship.

If your concern relates primarily to communication or the frequency of updates, see How will ME Law communicate with me during my case, and how often will I receive updates?.

When a concern is raised, the first step is to identify exactly what is causing the dissatisfaction. Depending on the circumstances, that may involve:

• clarifying facts or developments in the case;
• explaining the reasoning behind a litigation strategy or procedural decision;
• adjusting the way the legal team communicates with you;
• reviewing whether expectations about the scope or direction of the representation are aligned; or
• considering an alternative strategy where the circumstances of the case support one.

Where the concern relates to a specific stage of the proceeding — such as an Examination for Discovery, mediation, a Notice of Motion, or obligations under the Retainer Agreement — ME Law can address the issue in that procedural context and clarify what is required next.

The objective is not to dismiss concerns or assume that every disagreement can be resolved in the same way. Litigation can change as evidence develops, procedural events occur, or the positions of other parties evolve. A strategy that was appropriate at one stage may need to be reassessed as the record changes.

ME Law’s approach is to address concerns through direct communication and candid discussion. Client feedback can help identify where additional explanation is required, where expectations need to be clarified, or where a different approach should be considered.

For the expectations ME Law sets at the beginning of the lawyer-client relationship, see What should I know before retaining ME Law as my litigation counsel?. For the broader onboarding process, see How do I become a client of ME Law?.

If something about the service or representation is not meeting your expectations, the most useful first step is to raise the issue directly so that it can be understood and addressed.

Contact ME Law or email office@melaw.ca to discuss your concern.