Best Lawyers in Canada for Franchise Law

Jean-Marc is a partner at Sotos LLP. He is valued by our franchise clients for his expertise in commercial litigation particularly in competition, privacy and cross-border matters, and for his extensive experience in multi-party and class proceedings. Jean-Marc advises clients across our industry sectors. Jean-Marc taught appellate advocacy at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., and acts pro bono to argue cases on behalf of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association including at the Sup...

Adrienne is a partner in the litigation department, with a practice that focuses on all aspects of franchise litigation and dispute resolution. She is widely recognized by her peers as a leading practitioner of Canadian franchise law. Adrienne is a trusted advisor to her clients. She provides legal and strategic advice to franchise businesses in all sectors, including the hotel, restaurant, retail cannabis, and grocery sectors, and is well-known for providing practical and business-oriented l...

Pascale Cloutier holds the position of Miller Thomson’s General Counsel. She is also a commercial and civil litigator with specialized expertise in competition and consumer law, product liability, and franchising. As the firm’s General Counsel, Pascale acts as its principal legal counsel and advises the Chair, members of the Executive Committee, and other senior management with respect to matters of firm policy, practice and risk management. She also provides advice and counsel to...

Paul-André is a seasoned lawyer and trademark agent, with over 35 years of experience in franchising and nearly 40 years as a lawyer. During his career, he has developed solid expertise in professional and disciplinary law, in dispute management and resolution, in mergers and acquisitions, as well as in intellectual property. Distinguished by his skills as a trademark agent, Paul-André is an expert in establishing franchise networks, and more particularly networks that offer pro...

Lara has built a broad corporate and commercial litigation practice with an emphasis on contract and shareholder disputes, construction disputes, property/leasing, franchise disputes, and estate matters. As part of her franchise practice, she advises both franchisors and franchisees on business-related and litigation matters. Lara is known for finding creative and practical solutions to complex matters. She places a high degree of importance on her relationships with clients and takes the tim...

Edward (Ned) Levitt is a partner at Dickinson Wright LLP, Toronto, Canada and a Certified Franchise Executive. He served as General Counsel to the Canadian Franchise Association from 2000 to 2007. Ned is a frequent lecturer at preeminent franchise events in Canada and the United States. As a member of the Ontario Franchise Sector Working Team, Ned was instrumental in the creation of Ontario’s franchise legislation and has had significant input in the franchise legislative process throug...

Judy Rost is a senior litigator practising in civil litigation with an emphasis on business and franchise disputes, and estate matters. Judy is the group leader of the firm’s Business Disputes and Franchise Practices and a member of the Intellectual Property + Technology and Wills, Estates + Trusts Practice Groups. She has acted for plaintiffs and defendants in all types of business disputes including shareholder, partnership, real estate, and franchise matters. Judy has been recognized...

James Renihan is a partner on our litigation and disputes team based in Toronto. He is a highly effective, creative, and skilled commercial litigator, with significant courtroom experience. James' practice encompasses a broad range of commercial and civil litigation matters. He has experience representing corporate and individual clients in matters involving contracts, director and officer liability, fraud, shareholder rights, commercial real estate and franchise relationships, as well as emp...

Guy Poitras is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Franchise Law and Product Liability Law. Guy, who practices law in Montréal, Quebec, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Guy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Idan Erez is a member of the Bar in the Province of Ontario and in the State of Georgia. He practices in Sotos' litigation department focusing on a variety of subject matter including franchising and other commercial disputes, professional liability/personal injury defense, and other types of civil litigation. His experience includes shareholder disputes, commercial contract disputes, injunctive proceedings and real estate litigation, as well as class action work in the areas of pharmaceutica...

Frédéric Gilbert is an excellent litigator and Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers who specializes in franchise and real estate law. Frédéric is one of the most involved and recognized Canadian lawyers in the franchise industry. He regularly participates on different panels and authored the latest reference work on franchise law in Quebec. Frédéric successfully pleaded some of the leading franchise cases in Canada, including Dunkin’ ...

John is a partner at Sotos LLP. He is dean of the franchising, licensing and distributing bar – a recognition that caps a 40-year career acting for franchisors regionally, nationally and globally. Today, he continues to provide counsel to franchisors in all aspects of their businesses, including in franchise system or distribution chain design and implementation, system restructuring, international and domestic transactions, and franchise disclosure. He offers strategic support to franc...

John Yiokaris is a partner at Sotos LLP. John leads our firm’s Automotive Sector practice, drawing on his considerable experience working as lead counsel for several of Canada’s largest automotive manufacturers and numerous dealers. In addition to handling dealer development matters, he has extensive experience in acting in automobile dealership disputes and in proceedings under the National Automobile Dealer Arbitration Program. John is also the Head of our Trademark practice and...

Described by his peers as ‘the gold standard in this space, a phenomenal litigator’, for more than thirty years Jonathan has won landmark decisions across a broad variety of subject matter including competition law, constitutional law, liability of public authorities, professional liability, criminal law, financial services, franchise law and contract disputes. He has tried over 90 cases to judgment and argued over 60 appeals in provincial appellate courts and the Supreme Court of...

Peter Viitre is a partner at Sotos LLP. He is the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Group and the leader of the Home Services and Retail practice areas. Working extensively with franchises in those sectors as well as clients in the restaurant and automotive industries, he oversees all merger and acquisition transactions, primarily the purchase and sale of franchise systems including those with a cross-border component. Peter provides advice on all aspects of franchising, from the preparati...

Allan Dick is a partner at Sotos LLP. Allan is a trusted primary advisor to many top franchisors, with more than three decades practising law in the franchising, licensing and distribution industry. He is recognized as one of Canada’s leading franchise litigators and has extensive experience at every level of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada as well as before national and international arbitration tribunals. Allan regularly provides expert opinions to other counsel. As a tra...