When the Quebec Superior Court recently awarded toy maker Mega Brands Inc. $1.3 million following a legal tussle with a Chinese supplier, it highlighted the perils of doing business abroad, but also underscored the value of putting pen to paper to create a comprehensive, detailed and binding contract that clearly spells out the obligations of each party.

Protecting brand—name, image and product—is big business for lawyers and those they represent. In fact, it’s so big that one firm in the U.S. focuses exclusively on anti-counterfeiting, and a similar firm already exists in Canada.

Although the statement, 'behind every great man there’s a great woman,' is far too reminiscent of a 1950s housewife for a current 21st-century mentality, the idea that a successful person is not a singular tower but rather held up by a solid foundation of supporters still holds true.

Few lawyers would deny that only the best qualified jurists should be appointed to Canada’s top court — but what is best is partly in the eye of the beholder.

With three Supreme Court of Canada judges facing mandatory retirement over the next five years (2 from Quebec and 1 in Ontario) the government making the next appointments will have to decide what it wants, beyond impeccable legal credentials, good character and sound judgment.