Engagement Letter
Engagement Letter — Sample
Preview only — Not a binding agreement • Last updated: April 2026
This document is a sample only. It is published so prospective clients can preview the terms of engagement before retaining Entcounsel, and so partner organizations (including CARFAC Ontario) can review the standard template. Your actual engagement letter will be personalized with your details, matter scope, and fee arrangement. Placeholder fields below (shown in brackets) will be replaced with your information upon quote acceptance.
Part I — Client
01 Client
[Client Name], [Client Address]; [Client Email]; [Client Phone].
02 Conflict of Interest
We have conducted a conflict of interest check in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Law Society of Ontario and are satisfied that no conflict exists that would prevent us from acting for you in this matter. If a conflict arises during the course of our engagement, we will notify you immediately and take appropriate steps in accordance with our professional obligations.
03 Client Identification and Verification
Entcounsel is required by the Law Society of Ontario to identify every client before substantive legal work begins. Where the retainer involves the receipt, payment or transfer of funds, Entcounsel is also required to verify your identity. As a virtual law firm, identity verification is conducted through Stripe Identity, a secure digital verification service that meets regulatory requirements for client verification.
You will be asked to present a valid, non-expired government-issued photo identification document. Examples of acceptable documents include:
- Federal: Canadian passport, Permanent Resident card, Citizenship card (issued prior to 2012), or Secure Certificate of Indian Status
- Provincial or territorial driver’s licence from any Canadian jurisdiction
- Provincial or territorial photo identification card from any Canadian jurisdiction, including the Ontario Photo Card (a non-driver photo ID issued by ServiceOntario, available to Ontario residents who do not hold a current driver’s licence)
- Foreign equivalents: A foreign government-issued photo identification document is acceptable if it is equivalent to a Canadian issued document
This is not an exhaustive list. Photo identification documents issued by a municipal government, whether Canadian or foreign, are not acceptable. The Ontario Health Card (OHIP) is also not accepted, as Ontario privacy law prohibits the use of an individual’s health card for verification purposes.
Stripe Identity does not permanently retain your identification document beyond the verification process. Entcounsel independently maintains a record of the verification — including the type of document presented and the date of verification — in our secure file system for the period required by the Law Society of Ontario.
04 Sole Representation
This engagement is for the client named above only. Entcounsel does not represent any other party in connection with this matter, and in particular, we are not acting for any of your directors, officers, or shareholders. If a conflict of interest arises involving another party, you will be notified immediately and the appropriate steps will be taken in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
05 Joint Representation
If two or more clients (such as artist couples, collectives, partners, or co-owners) wish to be represented jointly under this engagement letter, joint representation is permitted only with the informed written consent of each client and only where their interests are aligned, in accordance with Rules 3.4-2 and 3.4-5 of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Law Society of Ontario. By agreeing to joint representation, each client acknowledges and agrees that:
- No client receives preferential treatment over another;
- There can be no confidentiality between joint clients with respect to the matter — information shared by one client with Entcounsel may be shared with the other client(s);
- If a conflict of interest arises during the joint representation, Entcounsel may be required to withdraw from acting for one or both clients;
- Fees and disbursements are shared equally between joint clients unless otherwise agreed in writing, and each joint client is jointly and severally liable to Entcounsel for the whole of any account rendered;
- Each client has the right to seek independent legal advice before consenting to joint representation.
Part II — Legal Services & Scope
06 Legal Services
Schedules and future matters. Schedule A sets out the scope, fees and terms of your current matter. Each further matter is added by a new schedule, an accepted quote, or a written email confirmation setting out the scope, fees and key terms. On your written acceptance, that schedule, quote or confirmation is incorporated into this engagement letter by reference and is governed by all of its terms. No new engagement letter is required. A list of accepted schedules and active matters is available at any time in your portal at portal.entcounsel.com.
This engagement letter is the master framework that governs all current and future legal services provided by Entcounsel to the Client. It is intended to be signed once and to remain in effect for the duration of the lawyer-client relationship.
The scope of each legal matter is defined in a separate quote issued through the Entcounsel client portal. Each quote specifies the services, applicable fees, expected timeline, key steps and responsibilities, fee assumptions, and any other matter-specific conditions. Upon acceptance of a quote through the portal, the scope of work, fees, and terms described therein are automatically incorporated into this engagement letter by reference, as if fully set out herein. New matters do not require a new engagement letter — only the acceptance of a new quote.
The current list of accepted quotes and active matters governed by this engagement letter is available at any time in the client portal at portal.entcounsel.com.
You agree to authorize us and any other lawyers we deem necessary to assist with each file to act for you in this engagement. The parties agree to use good faith reasonable efforts to keep costs and times to a reasonable level. Matter description: [Matter Description].
07 Limitation of Scope
Only the specific services described in an accepted quote are included in each engagement. Any additional legal services required beyond the stated scope will be discussed with you and confirmed through a separate quote issued via the client portal. Where the engagement includes a filing, application or registration with a government body or registry, the fee covers preparation of the filing, submission, and reporting the outcome to you. It does not include provision of working files, native or editable versions, or subsequent copies.
Limited scope engagement. By signing this engagement letter, you provide your informed consent to a limited scope engagement covering only the matter described in the accepted quote. You acknowledge that (a) Entcounsel is not your lawyer for any matter other than the one described in the accepted quote; (b) upon delivery of the work product for that matter, the engagement is concluded and Entcounsel is no longer your lawyer for any purpose unless and until you accept a new quote; (c) no ongoing or general engagement is created; and (d) Entcounsel may represent other clients in matters concurrent with or subsequent to this engagement, in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Law Society of Ontario. You have been advised of your right to seek independent legal advice about the limited scope of this engagement before signing.
Right to independent legal advice. You have the right at any time to seek independent legal advice about the terms of this engagement, the scope of the services, the fees, or any other aspect of the lawyer-client relationship. Entcounsel encourages you to exercise this right if you have any concerns or questions before signing. Your signature on this engagement letter confirms that you either have sought independent legal advice or have chosen to proceed without doing so after having had a reasonable opportunity to consider it.
Part III — Fees and Billing
08 Payment of Fees
Where an estimate is given, it is an estimate only and not a cap on fees. Estimates are based on the information available and the scope described at the time. If the work required changes materially, you will be told and given a revised quote for your approval before further fees are incurred.
If an advance retainer is not taken, Entcounsel bills for legal services after the work has been performed, in accordance with Law Society of Ontario requirements. Invoices are issued through the secure client portal or other electronic means and are payable on receipt.
Fees for this engagement may be calculated on one or more of the following bases, as set out in your accepted quote:
- Hourly rate: Time spent on the matter is billed at [Hourly Rate] per hour, exclusive of disbursements and applicable taxes.
- Flat fee (also called a block fee): A fixed amount for a defined scope of work, quoted and agreed in writing before the work begins. A flat fee is earned by Entcounsel as the services are performed under the accepted quote. If the engagement is terminated before the work is complete, Entcounsel will render an account for work performed to the date of termination.
- Contingency fee: Where permitted and agreed in writing, fees may be calculated as a percentage of the amount recovered, subject to the Solicitors Act and the Rules of Professional Conduct.
HST is added to all fees where applicable. Entcounsel HST Registration Number: [HST Number]. Disbursements and third-party costs are billed in addition to legal fees and are itemized on each account.
Accounts are rendered through the secure client portal and are payable upon receipt by credit card, debit card, or electronic bank transfer. Entcounsel does not accept cash or cheques.
Any advice we provide will be directed solely to you as our client and solely for the purpose for which we were instructed. Our advice may not be used or relied upon for any other purpose or by any person other than you without our express prior written agreement. We are entitled to retain deeds, documents, and any other items we may hold for you until our fees, disbursements, and charges are paid.
09 Services and Flat Fees
The specific services and fee amounts for your matter are set out in the quote you accepted:
- [Services and flat fees from your accepted quote]
10 Billing and Payment
Accounts will be rendered [billing frequency — e.g., monthly or on completion].
You agree to pay each invoice immediately upon receipt. Late penalties and interest will accrue on overdue amounts as set out below.
Accepted Payment Methods
All payments are processed through the secure client portal. Entcounsel accepts credit card, debit card, and electronic bank transfer. Entcounsel does not accept cash or cheques. This policy supports our compliance with anti-money laundering obligations and ensures a clear, auditable record of all transactions.
11 Late Payment and Suspension for Non-Payment
Accounts rendered by Entcounsel are payable upon receipt. Accounts unpaid for more than 30 days from the date of invoicing will bear interest at the Bank of Canada overnight rate plus 3%, calculated on an annualized basis, in accordance with the Solicitors Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.15.
Where an invoice remains unpaid past its due date, Entcounsel may suspend work on the matter and withhold delivery of final work product until the outstanding amount is paid, after giving you reasonable notice. Entcounsel will not do so in a way that prejudices a limitation deadline or a step in the matter that cannot reasonably be undone.
12 Disbursements and Other Charges
The costs and expenses we incur for any engagement (including disbursements paid or required to be paid to a third party by us on your behalf) will be included in the accounts we provide to you, along with our legal fees. Such disbursements and costs may include, but are not limited to, fees for filing and serving court documents, government fees for trademarks and copyrights, messenger, courier, and postal services, process servers, photocopying and other reproduction costs, investigation expenses, transcripts, and travel costs if required, such as parking, mileage, transportation, meals, and hotel costs, private mediation and expert witness fees. These include charges for telephone costs, in-house photocopying and printing, and flat fees for online searches and online research.
Part IV — Client Obligations
13 Necessity of Full Disclosure
You acknowledge that the best results will be obtained if there is full and candid disclosure between lawyer and client. You agree to disclose all relevant facts and documents to Entcounsel, to keep all notes and records requested, and to sign all necessary releases of information requested. Entcounsel will protect your information as confidential, except to the extent necessary to advance your interests in this matter or as otherwise agreed between the parties, and will keep you informed of developments in the matter and seek your instructions whenever applicable.
Any dispute regarding fees and disbursements may be reviewed by an officer of the court, including an assessment by the Superior Court of Justice. You are entitled to apply for an appointment for an assessment within 30 days of the delivery of any account from Entcounsel. After 30 days, you may bring an application to the Superior Court of Justice under the Solicitors Act to seek an order for assessment. After one year, such an application can only be obtained with proof of special circumstances.
14 Client Obligations
Deadlines and limitation periods. Certain rights are lost if they are not exercised within a fixed time. Tell Entcounsel immediately about any deadline, limitation period, contractual date or time limit you are aware of or have been given, and about the date on which you first became aware of the problem. Entcounsel is responsible for deadlines only within the scope of the work you have engaged it to perform. Where a matter falls outside that scope, or where the engagement has ended, responsibility for any applicable limitation period rests with you.
To enable Entcounsel to deliver legal services effectively, you agree to:
- Respond promptly to requests from Entcounsel for information, instructions, or documents;
- Provide accurate and complete information and notify Entcounsel of any material changes;
- Keep your contact information current in the client portal;
- Review drafts and other work product within reasonable timeframes;
- Cooperate with identity verification, conflict checks, and any other regulatory requirements;
- Pay invoices in accordance with the billing terms set out in this engagement letter.
Delays caused by failure to meet these obligations may affect the timeline, scope, and cost of the engagement, and may be grounds for withdrawal.
Part V — Termination and Withdrawal
15 Termination and Withdrawal
At all times you shall have the right, with or without cause, to terminate our services by giving us written notice to that effect and making arrangements for the payment of our fees and expenses. We reserve the right to terminate our services at any time, with or without cause. We would expect to withdraw under the following circumstances:
- If you fail to cooperate with us in any reasonable request or demonstrate that you have lost confidence in us;
- If continuing to act would be unethical, impractical, or could lead to a breach of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Law Society of Ontario;
- If this agreement is breached in any way;
- If the work is completed;
- If any interim or final bill remains unpaid for more than 30 days after the date it is issued, or such other period as expressly agreed upon by you;
- If we consider that it is not in our mutual best interests for us to continue to act for you;
- If you decide not to instruct us any longer;
- If you become, or we reasonably consider it likely that you will become, unable to pay our fees in accordance with our terms; or
- If we consider that we are unable to continue to act for professional reasons such as a conflict of interest, or where your instructions are unlawful, unethical, or impractical; or
- If we reasonably suspect that the matter involves proceeds of crime, terrorist financing, or other unlawful activity.
We will not cease to act for you without good reason, and we will provide reasonable notice where appropriate.
16 Solicitor’s Lien
If this engagement is terminated, Entcounsel may assert a solicitor’s lien in respect of unpaid fees, disbursements and expenses, to the extent permitted by law. A lien will not be exercised so as to prejudice a limitation period, a court or filing deadline, or any step in the matter that cannot reasonably be undone.
On withdrawal or termination, reasonable notice will be given and documents belonging to you will be made available to you or to successor counsel in accordance with Rule 3.7-8 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
If you are no longer our client: If you are no longer our client, we may represent clients whose interests are adverse to yours in any matter other than one on which we have represented you. However, we will continue to protect your relevant confidential information from our prior retainers with you.
Part VI — Confidentiality
17 Confidentiality and Solicitor-Client Privilege
All communications between you and Entcounsel in connection with this engagement are protected by solicitor-client privilege. This means they cannot be disclosed to any third party without your consent, and cannot be compelled by government authorities in most circumstances. This privilege survives the termination of the retainer and does not expire.
Please treat all matters and correspondence between us as confidential. Do not share our legal advice, opinions, or work product with third parties without consulting us first. The absence of a “Privileged and Confidential” marking on any communication does not mean that privilege does not apply.
The information we receive from you will be kept confidential except to the extent you agree otherwise, or we are required to disclose it by law or our professional obligations. We owe the same duty of confidentiality to all our clients.
Acting adverse to you: While you are a client, we will not represent another client whose interests conflict with yours in this matter unless you provide written consent. After you cease being a client, we may represent other clients whose interests may be adverse to yours in unrelated matters, provided we continue to protect your confidential information.
To whom duties are owed: Our confidentiality and conflicts duties are owed only to you and not to related corporations or individuals. Limited client information (names and nature of engagements, without substantive content) may be used internally for conflict checking purposes only.
If you are an organization, please ensure that all persons who give us instructions are properly authorized to do so. If you have specific confidentiality requirements within your organization, please let us know.
Part VII — Communication and Practice
18 Virtual Law Practice
Entcounsel operates as a fully virtual law firm. We do not maintain a physical office for client meetings. All client interactions, document exchanges, and meetings take place through the secure client portal and via video conference or telephone, which allows us to serve clients across Ontario efficiently and securely.
19 Communication
All communications regarding this matter will occur through the secure client portal at portal.entcounsel.com. Email notifications will be sent for new messages, documents, and status updates. The typical response time is 2-3 business days. Urgent matters should be flagged as such in the portal.
Entcounsel will provide proactive status updates on active matters at least every 30 days, or at the completion of each key step (whichever comes first). You may also request a status update at any time through the client portal.
Authorized Third Parties: If you wish to authorize Entcounsel to communicate about this matter with a specific third party (such as a spouse, business partner, accountant, or agent), please notify us in writing through the client portal. Entcounsel will not discuss your matter with anyone other than you (or your authorized representatives) without your express written consent.
Email Security Notice: Please be aware that email communication is not fully secure and may be subject to interception. By proceeding with this engagement, you consent to electronic communication through both the secure portal and email. Sensitive documents will be shared through the encrypted client portal whenever possible.
Part VIII — Privacy and Data Protection
20 Data Protection
We will use any personal information that you provide to us (‘Personal Information’) to provide legal services to you, maintain our client records, analyze and manage our practice, and ensure statutory returns and legal and regulatory compliance. We may also use the Personal Information to keep you informed about legal developments and other services we offer. Where third parties are not bound by existing duties of confidentiality, we will take appropriate steps to ensure confidentiality. If we intend to use Personal Information you provide to us for any other purpose, we will seek your permission beforehand.
21 Privacy and Data Rights
Entcounsel collects, uses, and discloses your personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy legislation. You have the right to access, correct, and request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention obligations. Data access requests can be submitted through the Privacy section of your client portal. Requests will be responded to within 30 days.
Certain records must be retained and cannot be deleted on request. These include records of identity verification, the record of the conflict check, the documents you provide together with the advice, correspondence, drafts and other work product created for your matter, financial records, and anything Entcounsel reasonably requires in order to respond to a claim, complaint or regulatory proceeding, or to comply with a court order or other legal obligation. Information retained for these reasons is used only for the obligation that requires it to be kept.
Entcounsel’s retention and deletion practices are set out in full in the Privacy Policy at entcounsel.com/privacy. The retention period for your matter file is set out under File Retention and Destruction below. Where you complete an intake and no engagement follows, Entcounsel will delete, on request, any information that is not subject to a retention obligation, and will tell you what has been retained and why.
22 File Retention and Destruction
Files are generally retained for 10 years from the date the matter closes. A file may be retained longer, up to 15 years or more, at Entcounsel’s discretion. Circumstances in which a longer period may apply include where the client was a minor or an incapable person, where the matter concerned a will or estate, intellectual property or an ongoing agreement, where the matter was complex or contentious, where the area of law is one in which claims tend to arise later than average, or where retention is prudent for the defence of a claim. Entcounsel does not undertake to retain your file beyond 10 years, and where a file is held longer it is held for Entcounsel’s own purposes and not on your behalf. On or after the applicable destruction date the file may be destroyed without further notice, and Entcounsel is under no obligation to produce documents from it. Financial records are retained for a minimum of 7 years as required by the Canada Revenue Agency.
Original documents you provide remain your property and will be returned on request at the conclusion of the matter, or at any time before the file is destroyed. The balance of the file, including advice, research, drafts, notes and internal correspondence, is Entcounsel’s record of the work performed and is retained at Entcounsel’s discretion.
Before a file is closed it is reviewed and stripped of duplicate copies, draft documents whose creation history is unlikely to be relevant, and material that can be obtained from another source. Closed files are stored securely, whether physically or electronically, to maintain confidentiality and protect against damage or loss.
Each file is reviewed before its destruction date, and destruction is suspended where circumstances require, including an actual or potential claim against Entcounsel, a discovery request, a dispute about fees, a complaint to the Law Society, an audit or a government investigation. A record of destroyed files is maintained. After the applicable retention period, and subject to that review, the file may be destroyed by secure digital deletion and/or shredding without further notice.
Files are moved to archive storage approximately seven years after a matter concludes and are held there for the balance of the retention period. Original documents you provide will be returned without charge at the conclusion of the matter. Where documents or copies are requested from archived storage after a matter has concluded, an administrative fee of $175 plus HST applies, payable in advance, and at least 30 days’ notice is required. That fee covers up to one hour of retrieval, review and reproduction. Time beyond one hour is billed at the applicable hourly rate. Third-party storage, courier and reproduction costs are charged at cost.
Retrieval is available only while the file is retained. Once the file has been destroyed in accordance with this section, Entcounsel is under no obligation to produce documents from it.
When your matter closes you will receive a letter confirming that the matter is complete, that documents and property belonging to you have been returned or how they will be held, how the file will be stored, that an administrative fee applies to retrieve documents from storage, and the date on or after which the file may be destroyed without further notice.
Documents are delivered through the secure client portal, which forms the record of your matter. Where a document is made available by a link or shared folder outside the portal, you should download and retain your own copy within 30 days. Access to external links is temporary and may be withdrawn or expire without notice, and Entcounsel has no obligation to maintain, restore or re-issue any such link. Delivery is complete when the documents are first made available to you. A further copy may be requested afterwards and is produced from archived storage on the terms set out above.
Part IX — Intellectual Property
23 Intellectual Property
Unless we agree otherwise in writing, Entcounsel retains the copyright and all intellectual property rights in any documents, templates, legal opinions, contracts, and other materials we prepare for you. You are granted a non-exclusive licence to use such documents solely for the purposes for which they were prepared.
For greater certainty, your pre-existing intellectual property (including your creative works, trademarks, patents, and other IP assets) remains your sole property at all times. Nothing in this engagement transfers any ownership of your intellectual property to Entcounsel. Our work is to protect and advance your intellectual property rights, not to acquire them.
During the course of our work, we will provide you with originals or copies (which may include electronic copies) of documents as needed. Copies will be retained in our files.
File Ownership. Ownership of documents in your file is determined by law and by the arrangement below, which applies except where the Law Society of Ontario requires otherwise.
Documents belonging to you: documents you provided to Entcounsel; documents prepared by Entcounsel for you and paid for by you, including executed agreements, filed documents, legal memoranda and drafts prepared for you; and documents prepared by third parties during the engagement and sent to Entcounsel at your expense. These are made available to you at the conclusion of the engagement.
Documents belonging to Entcounsel: documents prepared by Entcounsel for its own benefit or protection, including time records, accounting records, internal memoranda, working notes, research and engagement documents; instructions and correspondence you send to Entcounsel during the engagement; and Entcounsel’s file copies. Entcounsel owns all intellectual property rights in its templates, precedents, source files and working materials, and nothing in this engagement transfers any of those rights to you. Nothing in this section limits Entcounsel’s right to a lien.
Form of delivery. Documents prepared for you are provided in final form. Native, editable and source files, together with working drafts, precedents and templates, are not part of the deliverable, are not included in the fee, and remain Entcounsel’s property. They may be made available under a separate written agreement.
Marketing and Publicity. Entcounsel will not use your name, logo, brand, image, or any details of your matter in case studies, testimonials, marketing materials, social media, website content, or other publicity without your prior written consent. This restriction does not prevent Entcounsel from disclosing the existence of an engagement (without substantive details) for the purpose of conflict checks, regulatory reporting, or as required by law.
Part X — Risk and Liability
24 Limitation of Liability
Subject always to the paragraph below, Entcounsel’s total liability in connection with any matter under this engagement shall not exceed the fees actually paid by you for the specific legal service giving rise to the claim.
This limitation does not apply to, and nothing in this engagement letter limits or excludes, liability for negligence, gross negligence, fraud, or breach of fiduciary duty, or any obligation imposed on Entcounsel by the Law Society of Ontario or by applicable law. Where any part of this limitation is unenforceable, the remainder continues to apply.
24a Scope of Advice, Reliance and Liability
Advice is given to you alone, for the matter described in the accepted quote, and on the basis of the facts, documents and instructions you provide. Entcounsel does not independently verify the information you give it.
Advice speaks as at the date it is given. Entcounsel is not obliged to update advice for changes in the law or in your circumstances after a matter concludes, unless separately engaged to do so.
Advice may not be relied upon by any other person, or for any purpose other than the matter for which it was given, without Entcounsel’s prior written consent.
Entcounsel is responsible only for the work within the scope you have engaged it to perform. It is not responsible for matters outside that scope, for tax, accounting, business, insurance or other non-legal advice, or for the acts or omissions of third parties.
Entcounsel maintains professional liability insurance through the Lawyers’ Professional Indemnity Company (LAWPRO) in accordance with Law Society of Ontario requirements.
25 Third Party Reliance
Legal advice is provided for your use in the matter described and may not be relied upon by any other person. You agree to indemnify Entcounsel against claims brought by third parties arising from their reliance on advice provided to you, where that reliance occurred without Entcounsel’s prior written consent.
Part XI — General Provisions
26 General Provisions
Amendment. This engagement letter may be amended only in writing, signed or confirmed in writing by both parties. An accepted quote, schedule or written email confirmation is not an amendment of these terms; it adds a matter governed by them.
Entire Agreement
This agreement expresses the parties’ entire understanding concerning the matters covered herein and supersedes any prior agreements relating to its subject matter. It cannot be modified except in writing signed by each party. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, it shall be severed from this agreement and the remaining provisions shall not be affected.
Related Documents
By signing this engagement letter, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to be bound by Entcounsel’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, which are incorporated into this engagement letter by reference. In the event of any conflict between this engagement letter and the documents referenced above, this engagement letter governs with respect to the specific matter being undertaken.
Changes to Incorporated Documents
Entcounsel may update its Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and any other documents incorporated by reference from time to time as required by changes in law, professional obligations, or operational needs. The current version of each document will always be available at the corresponding URL on entcounsel.com. Material changes affecting an active engagement will be communicated through the client portal. Continued use of the portal or services after notice constitutes acceptance of the updated documents.
Audit Trail and Certificate
Once signed, this engagement letter and a signing audit certificate (including signature timestamps, signer IP address, and document hash) will be available in your client portal at portal.entcounsel.com under the corresponding matter.
Professional Conduct Prevails
All legal services provided under this engagement are subject to the Rules of Professional Conduct and By-Laws of the Law Society of Ontario. In the event of any conflict between any term of this engagement letter and Entcounsel’s professional obligations under those Rules and By-Laws, the Rules and By-Laws shall prevail.
Referrals and Outside-Scope Matters
Where a legal matter requires expertise outside Vandana Taxali’s scope of practice or professional competence, Entcounsel may recommend or coordinate with other qualified professionals. Any such involvement shall be governed by a separate engagement between you and that professional.
Concerns or Complaints
If you have any concerns about the quality of our services or the conduct of any lawyer at Entcounsel, we encourage you to raise them with us directly so we can address them promptly. Nothing in this engagement letter restricts your right to raise concerns with the appropriate regulatory authorities or to seek assessment of any account under the Solicitors Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.15.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This agreement is governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Entcounsel is licensed to practise law in Ontario only and cannot provide legal advice on matters governed by the laws of other jurisdictions without appropriate arrangements. Any disputes arising under this engagement will be resolved by the courts of Ontario.
No Ongoing Obligation
Upon completion of a matter, Entcounsel has no ongoing obligation to monitor changes in law, regulations, or circumstances that may affect the advice previously provided. If you require updated advice, please submit a new request through the client portal.
Scope of Advice
Any legal question, issue, or request that falls outside the scope of an accepted quote constitutes a new matter and will require a separate quote. Informal questions posed during meetings or via messages may not constitute legal advice unless confirmed in writing. Legal advice, opinions, and work product are provided solely for the benefit of the named client. No third party may rely on Entcounsel’s advice, opinions, or work product without Entcounsel’s prior written consent, and Entcounsel disclaims all duty of care to any non-client who relies on its work without that consent.
Recording Consent
Meetings conducted via video conference or telephone may be recorded for quality assurance and file documentation purposes. By participating in a meeting, you consent to recording. All recordings are treated as confidential solicitor-client communications.
Service Delay or Interruption
Entcounsel is not liable for delays or inability to provide services due to circumstances beyond reasonable control, including illness, technology failures, natural disasters, or other force majeure events. Reasonable efforts will be made to notify affected clients and reschedule as soon as practicable.
No Guarantee
Legal matters often involve uncertainty and risk. No assurance can be given that a particular outcome, result, or objective can be achieved. There is no guarantee that you will recover damages or other funds for your claims, or that opposing parties will accommodate demands.
Electronic Signature
The parties agree that electronic signatures shall have the same legal effect as original signatures in accordance with the Electronic Commerce Act, 2000 (Ontario). By signing this letter electronically, you confirm the terms of this engagement.
Part XII — CARFAC Member Legal Services
If you are a CARFAC Ontario member, the following applies in addition to Parts I–XI. This engagement is provided at a special rate pursuant to the CARFAC Ontario Legal Services Program. Standard rates apply to services outside the scope of this program.
A summary of the intake process is published at entcounsel.com/carfac. The detailed Client Intake Guide, together with the current fee schedule, is published at entcounsel.com/carfac-member-rates; select the Intake Guide tab. These are provided for information only. They do not form part of this engagement letter, do not vary its terms, and may be updated from time to time.
27 Information Shared with CARFAC Ontario
By proceeding with this engagement, you consent to Entcounsel sharing the following information with CARFAC Ontario for program reporting and rate verification purposes:
- Your full name and contact information (email, phone)
- The type of legal service provided (e.g. contract review, consultation)
- The fee charged and whether a special rate was applied
- The date and duration of the service
- Your CARFAC membership number for rate verification
28 Information Never Shared with CARFAC Ontario
Entcounsel will never share the following with CARFAC Ontario:
- The substance or details of your legal matter
- Any documents you provide to your lawyer
- The identity of any opposing parties
- Any communications between you and your lawyer (protected by solicitor-client privilege)
- Your personal financial information beyond the fee charged
- Any notes, strategies, or legal advice provided
29 CARFAC Standards and Guidelines
Entcounsel is committed to providing legal services that are informed by and consistent with the standards developed by CARFAC for the benefit of visual artists in Canada. When advising on matters involving artist compensation, exhibition fees, reproduction royalties, and professional services, Entcounsel will be guided by the CARFAC-RAAV Minimum Recommended Fee Schedule (carfac-raav.ca) and CARFAC Best Practice Standards (carfac.ca/en/best-practice-standards).
30 Artist and Gallery Dual Representation
Where both an artist and an institution with whom the artist has a professional relationship are members of CARFAC Ontario, Entcounsel will conduct a conflict of interest assessment in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Law Society of Ontario. Entcounsel cannot represent both parties in the same matter where their interests conflict or may reasonably be expected to conflict.
Where both an artist and an institution are CARFAC Ontario members and their interests are aligned, Entcounsel may act for both parties with the informed written consent of each party, in accordance with Rules 3.4-2 and 3.4-5 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, provided that the engagement supports and is consistent with CARFAC guidelines and standards, including the CARFAC-RAAV Minimum Recommended Fee Schedule and CARFAC Best Practice Standards. If a conflict arises during the course of joint representation, Entcounsel will withdraw from acting for one or both parties as required by professional obligations.
When advising on contracts or negotiations between an artist and a gallery or institution, Entcounsel will be guided by CARFAC guidelines to ensure that artists are fairly compensated and that agreements reflect industry best practices for the visual arts sector.
31 Fees and Administrative Charges
For matters provided through the CARFAC Member Legal Services Program, legal fees are invoiced by Entcounsel directly to the client and paid through Entcounsel’s secure client portal. CARFAC Ontario does not collect, hold, or process client payments.
CARFAC Ontario does not receive any referral fee, commission, or percentage-based compensation from the legal fees, and does not charge members any administrative fee in connection with the Program.
32 Rate Eligibility
Special rates are contingent upon active CARFAC membership in good standing at the time of service. Entcounsel reserves the right to verify membership status and apply standard rates if membership has lapsed or cannot be confirmed.
Special rates are part of a pilot program and may change at any time at the sole discretion of Entcounsel, with or without notice. Rate changes will apply to new engagements only and will not affect services already in progress under an executed engagement letter. For the most current program details and rates, please visit the CARFAC Ontario website (carfacontario.ca) and entcounsel.com/carfac.
33 CARFAC Member Legal Services Agreement
By signing this engagement letter, you acknowledge and agree that your participation in the CARFAC Member Legal Services Program is subject to the CARFAC Member Legal Services Agreement published at entcounsel.com/carfac, which is incorporated into and forms part of this engagement letter.
Key terms include but are not limited to:
- Legal services are provided by Entcounsel (Vandana Taxali), not by CARFAC Ontario. CARFAC Ontario facilitates access to legal services for its members but does not control, direct, or assume responsibility for the outcome of those services.
- Entcounsel is an independent legal practice and is not engaged as an employee or in a partnership with CARFAC Ontario.
- Services are limited to brief, non-litigation legal services within the scope of the pilot project. Litigation, tribunal proceedings, court applications, and extended legal representation are not included.
- Services are subject to availability, conflict of interest checks, and active membership in good standing.
- All requests for legal services must be submitted through the Entcounsel client portal at portal.entcounsel.com.
- By receiving legal services through this program, you release CARFAC Ontario from any claims in relation to legal services received.
- Any concerns regarding legal services should be directed to Entcounsel. Fees are non-refundable.
The full CARFAC Member Legal Services Agreement may be updated from time to time. The most current version is always available at entcounsel.com/carfac. In the event of a conflict, the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy shall prevail.
