Your Resource for CFA Member Lawyers from Coast to Coast
As part of the due diligence process, it’s imperative that you work with a franchise lawyer, who can help you understand the legal elements of franchising. But where do you find the right lawyer with the appropriate franchise experience? Franchise Canada is here to help!
In this resource article, we highlight our Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) member lawyers from coast to coast. Whether you’re in the city or in the remote corners of Canada, we introduce you to the lawyers who can help you navigate the legal aspects of franchising. Check out the profiles below to learn more!
Alepin Gauthier Avocats Inc., Attorneys at Law
Since its establishment in 1978, Alepin Gauthier has built its reputation on the quality and strength of its interventions within many fields of practice, particularly in matters directly and indirectly affecting franchising. Its team represents franchisors as well as franchisees. Alepin Gauthier has been involved in franchise law since 1979, making the firm one of the key players in this field.
Learn more about Alepin Gauthier Avocats Inc., Attorneys at Law
Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP
Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP is a leading Vancouver-based Canadian law firm providing a wide range of litigation/dispute resolution and business law services. Its franchise practice assists clients in all facets of Canadian franchise law. It acts primarily for franchisors and master franchisees. Services span the spectrum from initial structuring of new or expanding franchise systems, to ongoing operational advice and litigation and dispute resolution and advocacy where required. It is well recognized for its franchise litigation expertise.
Learn more about Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP
AUDAXLAW PC
AUDAXLAW is a boutique law firm providing experienced and cost-effective representation to franchisors, individual franchisees, and master franchisees in all aspects of franchising. Complimented by a strong background in business and real estate law, it works on a personal level with each of its clients in order to provide them with both the practical and legal advice best suited to achieving their particular business objectives and strategies.
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
As one of Canada’s top business law firms, Blakes provides exceptional legal services to leading businesses in Canada, the U.S., and around the world. It provides practical advice to franchisors and master franchisees on all aspects of their business and franchise system, with experience advising clients in various industry sectors including: hotels, automotive, restaurants (including QSR), retail, financial, corporate training, educational, and other business, household and personal services.
Learn more about Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blaney McMurtry LLP
Full-service law firm providing legal services for all aspects of franchising.
Learn more about Blaney McMurtry LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
It begins with service – Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is a major full-service national law firm with offices in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. It provides practical legal advice and assistance in the preparation and negotiation of franchise documentation and the resolution of franchise disputes.
Learn more about Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Cassels is a full-service business law firm with offices in Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary. Its lawyers provide knowledgeable advice on all legal and practical aspects of franchising, including franchise agreements, disclosure law compliance, dispute resolution, and litigation. The Chair, Larry Weinberg, is past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Franchise Law Section and received Who’s Who Legal’s worldwide award for ‘Franchise Lawyer of the Year’ multiple years in a row.
Learn more about Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Dale & Lessmann LLP
Dale & Lessmann LLP represents Canadian and international franchisors in the drafting, review, and negotiation of all franchise agreements, disclosure documents, and other related franchise documentation. Their team advises on all matters relating to franchising, including corporate, real estate, litigation, distribution, supply chain, brand protection, franchise relationships, tax, contests, advertising, and trademarks.
Learn more about Dale & Lessmann LLP
David Kornhauser c/o Macdonald Sager Manis LLP
David Kornhauser c/o Macdonald Sager Manis LLP provides a broad range of legal services for franchisors, individual franchisees, groups of franchisees, and franchise associations. Its seasoned lawyers draw on many years of experience in franchise law, and a deep understanding of the complexities of the legal and business relationship created by the franchisor and franchisee, including the enforcement of the rights afforded to either party through either the legal proceedings.
Learn more about David Kornhauser c/o Macdonald Sager Manis LLP
Dentons Canada LLP
Dentons is the world’s largest law firm, delivering quality and value to clients around the globe. Dentons is a leader on the Acritas Global Elite Brand Index, a BTI Client Service 30 Award winner, and recognized by prominent business and legal publications for its innovations in client service, including founding Nextlaw Enterprise. Dentons’ polycentric approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenges the status quo to advance client interests in the communities in which they live and work.
Learn more about Dentons Canada LLP
Dickinson Wright LLP
Dickinson Wright is a full-service law firm offering seamless, cost-effective franchise legal services across Canada and the United States. Its team of experienced, responsive, and dedicated legal professionals is respected by its peers and honoured by numerous industry endorsements. With over 500 lawyers, practicing across more than 40 practice areas, its lawyers have an unwavering focus on providing unmatched client service and the highest quality legal advice.
Learn more about Dickinson Wright LLP
Dipchand LLP
Toronto-based law firm representing both franchisees and franchisors. Experienced with the establishment of franchise systems, including disclosure packages and operational manuals, as well as trademarks and litigation surrounding the Arthur Wishart Act.
Fasken
Fasken is one of Canada’s leading business law firms, with over 700 lawyers located across Canada, Europe, and Africa. Darrell Jarvis has been identified as one of Canada’s Best Lawyers for Franchise Law and as Repeatedly Recommended for Franchise Law by Lexpert. Prior to joining Fasken, Darrell Jarvis was an executive with one of Canada’s leading franchisors. He is a member of the CFA’s Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee and the OBA Franchise Law Section Executive.
Feltmate Delibato Heagle LLP
Feltmate Delibato Heagle LLP is a full-service corporate/commercial-based law firm with offices in Burlington and Oakville. It offers experience and practical advice in all areas of franchising, intellectual property (including trademarks), and corporate/commercial law. A team of dedicated professionals with diversified expertise, creating innovative and timely solutions.
Learn more about Feltmate Delibato Heagle LLP
Garfinkle Biderman LLP
Garfinkle Biderman LLP has been practicing law since 1948. What started as a one-man operation back then has since grown to a full-fledged firm. It has specialists in every area of law who make a point of staying connected with their clients. There will be an entire team of lawyers dedicated to your case, but you don’t ever have to worry about being bounced around: you can rely on the same, human point of contact from start to finish.
Learn more about Garfinkle Biderman LLP
Goldman Hine LLP
Goldman Hine LLP has been legal advisor to both franchisors and franchisees in more than 150 systems. Steven Goldman, past CEO of Speedy Muffler, and Jonathan Mesiano-Crookston are both Lexpert®-rated leading Toronto franchise lawyers and the firm is a leading firm. They both speak and write frequently about franchise law and sit on the Franchise Section of the Ontario Bar Association. Jonathan is also a patent & trademark agent and handles franchise-related intellectual property issues.
Learn more about Goldman Hine LLP
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG is one of Canada’s largest national full-service law firms, with multiple offices across Canada, offering expertise in franchising, licensing, distribution, and intellectual property law, both domestically and internationally. It has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo Region, Hamilton, Montreal, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, China, Singapore, Russia, and the Middle East.
Hodgson Russ LLP
Hodgson Russ is one of only a few full-service U.S. law firms with offices in Canada. It specializes in advising Canadian companies and individuals on a wide variety of U.S. legal matters, including franchise and distribution law. Hodgson Russ regularly provides Canadian franchisors with advice concerning U.S. franchise law compliance (including disclosure document preparation and registration), intellectual property, cross-border structuring, state and local tax issues, and immigration matters.
Learn more about Hodgson Russ LLP
Hoffer Adler LLP
Hoffer Adler LLP has represented franchisors, master franchisees, franchise associations, and franchisees of over 495 franchise systems. Joseph Adler acted as Secretary/General Counsel of the CFA (2011-2015), was an executive member of the CFA Board of Directors (2007-2015) and is listed by LEXPERT as one of the leading franchise lawyers in Canada. His partner, Lloyd Hoffer, is an experienced franchise litigator and is also listed by LEXPERT as one of the leading franchise lawyers in Canada.
Learn more about Hoffer Adler LLP
Jones Law Professional Corporation
Law practice focuses on the national and international distribution of goods and services, particularly in China and Eastern Europe. Internationally recognized for experience and expertise in franchising, trademark, privacy law, and general Chinese matters. Mr. Jones also provides advice on copyrights, licensing, competition law, and e-commerce, and obtained the first internet liquor licence in Canada.
Learn more about Jones Law Professional Corporation
Juriscorp Law Offices
Juriscorp Law Offices specializes in corporate commercial law in Edmonton and area with a growing clientele of the franchise community. It has a vast array of franchisee clients, from the medical to the food industry, including a master franchisee client in Alberta. Shounak Mehta has been practicing law in Canada since October 2014.
Learn more about Juriscorp Law Offices
Keyser Mason Ball, LLP
Keyser Mason Ball, LLP is a business law firm with 40+ years of experience assisting clients on a wide range of legal services. It assists franchisors and franchisees in all facets of the franchise relationship. Keyser Mason Ball, LLP has extensive experience providing advice in all legal and business aspects of franchising, including franchise agreements, supplier agreements, and disclosure documents.
Learn more about Keyser Mason Ball, LLP
Lapointe Rosenstein Marchand Melançon, LLP
Lapointe Rosenstein Marchand Melançon LLP is one the largest independent law firms in Quebec specializing in business & corporate law, insurance, franchising, licensing, intellectual property, tax, finance, real estate, bankruptcy & restructuring, mergers & acquisitions, labour & employment, and civil, commercial, and class action litigation. With high service standards and practical insights, LRMM has been fulfilling and exceeding its clients’ expectations for expertise, creativity, and reliability.
Learn more about Lapointe Rosenstein Marchand Melançon, LLP
Lavery, de Billy LLP
Lavery, de Billy LLP Franchise and Distribution Section professionals are advisors of choice for structuring, launching, and guiding franchise and distribution systems of all industries. They provide Canadian and U.S.-based franchisors, master franchisees, distributors, retailers, and manufacturers with all the services they need to set up and improve their network across Quebec and Canada. Their expertise makes them efficient when advising their clients on any legal matter related to domestic or international distribution.
Learn more about Lavery, de Billy LLP
Law Works PC
Law Works PC is a boutique law firm with expertise in franchise and business litigation, arbitration, and mediation.
Lawrence, Lawrence, Stevenson LLP
As part of Lawrences’ Business Law Group, Louis advises both franchisors and franchisees on all aspects of franchising, such as compliance with franchise laws and regulations, including preparing or updating disclosure documents and franchise agreements, buying and selling of franchises, franchise disputes, renewal and termination of franchises, franchisee associations, intellectual property, and commercial leasing. Lawrences has been providing exceptional legal services for over 90 years.
Learn more about Lawrence, Lawrence, Stevenson LLP
Likewise Law
John Rogers has over 30 years experience in franchise, licensing, and distribution law. He advises franchisors, franchisees, licensors, licensees, suppliers, and distributors on a broad range of legal matters. Mr. Rogers is a member of the International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers and is consistently recommended in franchising by L’Expert Legal Directory. He has been personally involved with CFA since 1986 and has acted as a CFA Director, Secretary, and General Counsel.
Lintott Law
Lintott Law is an experienced law firm practicing in Calgary, Alberta. Cass Lintott devotes a significant amount of time to representing both franchisees and franchisors on all legal aspects of franchising.
Mann Lawyers LLP
Mann Lawyers LLP is a full-service law firm and provides a broad range of legal services and representation to a diverse clientele. It offers full business and franchise law services including incorporations, contract drafting and negotiation, sales and acquisitions, and commercial real estate acquisitions and leasing. It takes pride in offering professional, timely, and innovative legal services and works collaboratively between departments to provide a holistic approach to your legal needs.
Learn more about Mann Lawyers LLP
McCarthy Tetrault LLP
McCarthy Tetrault LLP’s Franchise & Distribution team advises and represents private and public companies in Canada and the U.S. in all areas of law that affect franchise and distribution networks, including corporate-commercial, intellectual property, competition, real estate, tax, product liability, litigation, privacy, and regulatory compliance. It has extensive expertise assisting manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, franchisors, and master franchisees across diverse sectors.
Learn more about McCarthy Tetrault LLP
McInnes Cooper
McInnes Cooper is among the 25 largest business law firms in Canada. It advises franchisors on all aspects of franchise law and routinely assists with the preparation of franchise agreements and franchise disclosure documents and with administration of its clients’ franchise disclosure and contracting processes. It assists clients with master franchising and area development transactions, franchise-related M&A, and franchise start-ups. It also routinely manages franchisor-franchisee disputes and franchise litigation. It serves clients across Canada and abroad from offices in Halifax, Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, Charlottetown, and St. John’s.
Learn more about McInnes Cooper
McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP
The authors of the bestselling franchise textbook, Canadian Franchise Law Handbook, McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP represents franchisors of all sizes and in all stages of development and franchisees in most major franchise systems. Its clients range in size from individuals investing in franchised businesses to franchisors operating and expanding internationally. All of its clients benefit from its dedication to client service, and its effective, efficient, and innovative legal services, with offices in Ontario and British Columbia.
Learn more about McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP
McMillan LLP
McMillan is a leading business law firm serving public, private and not-for-profit clients across key industries in Canada, the US and internationally. We have expertise in litigation, competition, financing, environmental, insolvency, labour and employment, securities and tax law. Our franchise and distribution lawyers are experienced in all aspects of franchising, from drafting franchise agreements and disclosure documents to litigating and resolving franchise and distribution disputes.
Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP
Miller Nash Graham & Dunn attorneys work with franchise systems in a broad range of specialty industries. They have helped many Canadian brands expand into the U.S. market and they are familiar with the common questions and concerns that arise when deciding to expand internationally. They help you create legal strategies to achieve your business objectives. Everything they do is aimed at helping you get as much value as possible out of your system.
Learn more about Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP
Miller Thomson LLP
Miller Thomson is a national business law firm with some 550 lawyers working from 12 offices in each of Canada’s major markets. With the broadest geographic footprint of any Canadian law firm, Miller Thomson advances the interests of domestic and international franchise clients nationally and locally. Its industry team advises on disclosure and compliance issues, and provides practical and insightful counsel to franchise clients in all areas of business.
Learn more about Miller Thomson LLP
Miller Titerle + Company
MT+Co. is a group of forward-thinking lawyers who have built a new kind of law firm based on the passionate and personal practice of law. The MT+Co. Franchise Team services franchisor and franchisee domestic and international clients, offers franchise disclosure compliance products for all Canadian provinces, and licensing and product distribution advice. Braden is a franchise lawyer with a background in accounting, tech, and business.
Learn more about Miller Titerle + Company
Mills & Mills LLP
Established in 1884, Mills & Mills LLP believes in forming lasting relationships. For generations, it has served as a trusted partner and advisor to its clients. It provides legal services in a comprehensive range of practice areas, including franchise law. It represents both established franchisors and franchisees across Canada. Its lawyers have extensive experience overseeing franchise transactions, managing ongoing business concerns, and representing its clients in litigation if necessary.
Learn more about Mills & Mills LLP
Morrison Brown Sosnovitch LLP
Morrison Brown Sosnovitch is a business law firm with extensive experience providing value-added legal services to both franchisors and franchisees in all aspects of franchising. Its franchise advisory team is dedicated to helping its clients find the right business/legal solution. In doing so, it provides top-notch skills with a good range of experience to meet all circumstances so that its franchise clients receive information and practical advice with good value.
Learn more about Morrison Brown Sosnovitch LLP
Nerland Lindsey LLP
Nerland Lindsey LLP is Western Canada’s premier tax and business law boutique. It has broad experience working with start-up and established franchisors and franchisees on a wide variety of franchising matters. Nerland Lindsey LLP typically acts for progressive commercial clients, high-net worth individuals, entrepreneurial families, and public and private enterprises across all industry sectors and the capital providers that finance them. It approaches your business and legal concerns in a pragmatic, cost-effective, and creative way.
Learn more about Nerland Lindsay LLP
Ogilvie LLP
Ogilvie LLP is a well-established, successful, and progressive firm home to some of the province’s top lawyers. It provides service to clients across six major practice areas: Administrative Law, Corporate and Commercial Law, Franchising, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, and Personal Estate Services & Real Estate. It supports its clients in building successful businesses and franchises.
Osler, Harkin & Harcourt LLP
Osler’s National Franchise Group has the unmatched legal expertise to help you build and protect your franchise system. It continually adapts to meet its clients’ commercial and litigation needs, from extending its expertise to new legal frontiers to adopting innovative technologies to streamlining the way it provides its services. Osler Dash™, its automated end-to-end solution to the franchise disclosure and contracting process, is yet another example of its commitment to innovation and evolution.
Learn more about Osler, Harkin & Harcourt LLP
Pitblado Law
Pitblado Law offers franchisors and franchisees a broad range of services and strategic legal advice with respect to: franchise disclosure law compliance; negotiating and drafting franchise agreements, including single and multi-unit agreements; purchase and sale of franchises and franchise systems; and franchise default and termination. With competitive Manitoba rates and broad expertise, Pitblado is well positioned to assist you.
Plave Koch PLC
Plave Koch PLC is a small entrepreneurial law firm in Washington, DC with a practice focused on franchise law, distribution, litigation and arbitration, domain names, trademarks, copyrights, FTC matters, technology, and cross-border transactions. The firm represents 325+ brands in a wide range of industries. With 11 experienced “big law” partners (each with 20+ years of experience representing franchisors), it has one of the largest franchise transactional and litigation practices in the U.S. Over 275 clients entrust their franchise matters to its deep bench of seasoned attorneys and paralegals.
Learn more about Plave Koche PLC
Robins Appleby LLP
Robins Appleby LLP is a trusted and highly regarded law firm focused on helping clients face important issues. That is why it takes a client-centric approach, striving to gain an intimate understanding of your business, industry and company culture, and your personal goals. No matter how complex the issue, its personalized approach, responsive service, strong interpersonal skills, and sophisticated legal expertise translate into favourable results in both the boardroom and in the courtroom.
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Sherrard Kuzz LLP, Employment & Labour Lawyers
Sherrard Kuzz LLP is one of Canada’s leading employment and labour law firms (Canadian Lawyer®, Chambers Global®, Legal 500® and Lexpert®), exclusively representing employers. The firm has extensive experience acting for a broad range of franchise organizations in a variety of industries including: retail, hospitality, healthcare, service, transportation, etc.
Learn more about Sherrard Kuzz LLP, Employment & Labour Lawyers
Shields Harney
Greg Harney has provided legal advice to franchisors and franchisees in British Columbia, nationally, and internationally for over 30 years. Greg and his legal team advise a wide variety of franchised businesses from offices in Vancouver and Victoria.
Learn more about Shields Harney
Sotos LLP
A CFA member for over 30 years, Sotos LLP is Canada’s leading franchise law firm, with over 20 legal professionals dedicated to franchising, Sotos LLP provides a comprehensive range of franchise law, corporate, commercial, litigation, intellectual property, employment, and real estate services to franchisors. It is celebrating its 40th year working with regional, national, and international franchisors in every sector of the franchise industry from launch to exit, including with their international expansions. Sotos LLP has a complete understanding of the business issues facing franchisors of every size and helps its clients make tailored decisions to promote and accelerate their success.
Stikeman Elliott LLP
Stikeman Elliott is recognized internationally for the sophistication of its business law practice. It is ranked as a top firm in domestic and international M&A and corporate-commercial law, and is widely regarded as a leader in business litigation. The firm has knowledge of a wide range of industries including food and beverage, hospitality, communications, and technology. Stikeman Elliott maintains offices in Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, London, New York, and Sydney.
Learn more about Stikeman Elliott LLP
Teplitsky, Colson LLP
The franchise team is led by partners Ian Roher and David Altshuller, who have been repeatedly recognized by Lexpert, Martindale & Hubbell, Best Lawyers, Franchise Times Magazine, Who’s Who Legal, and Chambers and Partners as experienced respected franchise litigators. They are advisors and problem-solvers, but are also known as creative and fearless advocates for the interests and rights of their clients. They also have extensive franchising related expertise in commercial leasing, real estate, construction, employment, and professional negligence disputes.
Learn more about Teplitsky, Colson LLP
Wises
Wises is Oakville’s business and trademark law firm. It acts for franchisors and franchisees, serving their corporate, franchising, leasing, and trademark needs.
Witten LLP
Witten LLP is an Alberta business law firm. We offer advice and support in all areas of franchising matters including agreements and disclosure document preparation; compliance with the Alberta Franchises Act; leasing, trademark registration, franchise litigation and dispute resolution. We advise and assist a broad range of franchising clients representing international, national and locally-based franchisors and franchisees.