Best Lawyers in Canada for Franchise Law

Since 1978, Me François Alepin has carried on his law practice at the Alepin Gauthier law firm in Laval, which today includes approximately twenty lawyers and where he is in partnership with Me Brigitte Gauthier. He assists his clients, who for the most part are businessmen operating small and medium sized enterprises, in the drafting and analysis of all kinds of contracts touching upon their needs in the ordinary course of their businesses. This has led to his acting with respect to t...

Matthew Swanson is a leading litigation and disputes lawyer in BLG’s Vancouver office. He has extensive experience acting for companies and individuals in critical business and personal disputes. Matthew is known for his strategic approach to challenging cases. He regularly appears as counsel in complex matters and has conducted numerous trials, arbitrations, and appeals. He handles transactional disputes, contract disputes, real estate, and construction disputes, franchise disputes, an...

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...

Bruce Geiger is a corporate commercial lawyer with expertise in intellectual property. Bruce advises businesses at all stages of development in relation to startups, shareholder and loan capitalizations, shareholder and partnership agreements, employee and shareholder compensation and equity plans, acquisitions, family transition and restructurings (both within estate plans and during ownership or generational transitions), debt and equity financings, and sales and divestitures.

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...

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...

Glen Lekach is a well regarded corporate and commercial lawyer with decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions, securities, real estate, commercial contracts, business structures, secured lending and franchises. He has frequently been recognized by directories and third-party surveys for his expertise and client service. Glen acts as counsel to a diverse group of businesses across several industries, and he has been involved in many significant business transactions in Saskatchewan.

Jacques S. Darche is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Franchise Law and International Arbitration. Jacques S. practices law in Montréal, Quebec Best Lawyers has recognized Jacques S. Darche since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jacques S. Darche is held by other lawyers.

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...

Guy Poitras is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Franchise Law and Product Liability Law. Guy practices law in Montréal, Quebec Best Lawyers has recognized Guy Poitras since 2016. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Guy Poitras is held by other lawyers.

Janine is a partner in the McKercher LLP Saskatoon office where she advises and represents companies in financial distress, lenders and court officers in restructuring and insolvency proceedings as well as clients in commercial litigation matters. Janine obtained her Bachelor of Laws in 2002 from the University of Saskatchewan. Prior to this, Janine obtained her Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, Magna Cum Laude, from Florida State University located in Tallahassee, Flor...

Christine Provencher is a partner in Fasken’s Commercial Litigation group. With extensive experience in civil and commercial litigation, Christine represents the firm’s clients in any type of contractual dispute, primarily in the areas of construction and procurement. In her construction practice, she represents different stakeholders in the industry, such as owners, professionals, general contractors, subcontractors and major manufacturers in matters involving construction defect...

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...

Craig Mills is a thoughtful commercial litigator with a focus on commercial disputes, creditors’ remedies, insolvency law, and franchise law. Working with Miller Thomson’s insolvency and restructuring lawyers across Canada, Craig’s litigation background has proven to be a valuable tool in strategically advising clients on commercial debt enforcement and recovery, restructuring and insolvency matters, litigation, and claims resolution management under Canada’s insolvenc...

Debi is a Partner at Sotos LLP and recognized as one of Canada’s leading franchise lawyers. With more than 30 years of experience, she advises Canadian and international franchisors across all industries on every aspect of Canadian franchise law, including franchise regulatory compliance and best practices for establishing and maintaining successful franchise systems and relationships. Debi also advises on managing cross-border transactions, supply and distribution agreements, corporate...

Lloyd Hoffer is a civil litigator with experience in a broad variety of courts and administrative tribunals in multiple jurisdictions within Canada. He has a broad perspective not only on how judicial and administrative decision-makers actually make decisions, but also on how clients of differing needs and characteristics can best define and achieve their goals within the confines of judicial and administrative decision-making processes. Lloyd's case experience includes trials, appeals and ad...