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...

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’ ...

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.

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...

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...

Geoff Lyster is a corporate Partner in Fasken’s Vancouver office. Geoff’s primary areas of practice are mergers and acquisitions, franchising, and general corporate and governance matters for for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

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...

David is corporate counsel at Macdonald Sager Manis LLP, who has a broad based business law practice involving two complementary areas. One being franchise law and the second being corporate/commercial law. David’s franchise law practice involves representing franchisors, franchisee associations, franchisor advisory councils and franchisees in the areas of franchising, licensing and distribution. David provides legal advice with respect to the structure and preparation of franchise agre...

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...

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...

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...

Richard Leblanc is a partner in the firm’s business law group. His practice focuses on business transactions including secured lending, acquisitions, and franchising and distribution law. Richard is a former executive of the Franchise Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association and is a member of the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee of the Canadian Franchise Association. Richard leads the firm’s franchise and distribution law practice. Richard advises on all aspects of franc...

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...

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.

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...

Martin Palleson practices in the areas of general commercial litigation, with an emphasis on insolvency and restructuring disputes. Martin also has significant experience in franchise, construction, and insurance litigation as well as environmental/natural resource law, and aboriginal law. Martin has appeared frequently at all levels of British Columbia and Federal Courts. Martin also has experience in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. Called to the British ...