Dentons announced that Helen Fotinos has joined the firm as a partner in its corporate group and will lead the firm’s national franchising and distribution practice in Canada.
Her practice focuses on all aspects of franchise and distribution law, related to corporate and commercial contracts and disputes.
“I’m thrilled to be welcoming Helen to our growing Toronto office. Together with her vast industry experience and her dedicated ability to advise clients on practical business solutions, Helen is the right leader to expand our national franchising and distribution practice, while also strengthening our practice on a global scale,” said Blair McCreadie managing partner of Dentons’ Toronto office. “We look forward to working alongside Helen as she will continue to grow her practice and implement advanced legal solutions for our clients.”
Having also served as general counsel to domestic and international franchisors, manufacturers and distributors in the quick-service and casual dining, food and beverage, hospitality and automotive industries, Fotinos brings a client and value-focused perspective to the practice and business of law. This is reflected in her commitment to legal service innovation. She also has extensive experience working with clients to develop integrated risk management strategies and business solutions that assist clients in managing both their day-to-day operations as well as the strategic long-term growth of their businesses.
Fotinos is equally active in and outside the office. She writes and speaks regularly on franchise law issues and trends, sits on the board of the Ontario Bar Association’s Franchise Law Section, the Canadian Franchise Association’s Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee and is an active member of the International Franchise Association and the American Bar Association’s franchise forum. In addition, she is a member of the Hellenic Lawyers Association and has recently joined the board of the Hellenic Heritage Foundation. Fotinos is also multilingual, speaking English, Greek and is proficient in French.
She earned her bachelor of arts with distinction in political science in 1998 from York University. In 2000, she earned her bachelor of laws from the University of Windsor. She was called to the bar in Ontario in 2002.