Sotos LLP

At Sotos LLP, we have two distinct practices.

Franchise Law:

As Canada’s leading franchising, licensing and distribution law firm, with over 20 legal professionals dedicated to the industry, we provide a comprehensive range of franchise law, corporate, private equity financing, commercial, litigation, intellectual property, employment and real estate services to franchisors. For over 40 years, we have worked with regional, national and international franchisors in every sector of the franchise industry from launch to exit including with their international expansion.

We have influenced the legal framework of the franchise industry. We are highly ranked and rated in the field of franchise law, including in Chambers, Lexpert®, Who’s Who Legal Global and Canada, Best Lawyers and Legal Eagles.

Our clients come from all sectors of franchising—automotive (both OEMs and dealership side), cannabis—cultivation and retail distribution, personal services, grocery retailing, distribution and manufacturing, professional services, home services, restaurants, hotel and motel franchising, and retail chains. Catering to Canadian and international clients from start-ups to established systems, we assist both international franchisors wishing to expand into Canada (and their counsel) and Canadian franchisors wishing to expand abroad.

We are known for having a full-service shop—have trademark agents, labour and employment lawyers, real estate and leasing lawyers, corporate, including corporate financing, and commercial lawyers, litigation experts—all who operate in the franchise space and under Canada’s franchise legal framework.

Our core belief is that franchising works best when it works for both parties. For franchisors, our approach is to promote system growth, expansion and positive relations with franchisees, all the while strategically advancing and protecting their business rights and interests. That is the approach our commercial lawyers take and it similarly frames the advice provided by our litigators, who are responsible for many of the precedent-setting decisions in franchising in Canada. We also assist both franchisors and franchisees to establish franchisee associations across many industries for the benefit of their systems. Lawyers from some of Canada’s largest law firms regularly retain us to assist them with franchising matters affecting their clients.

Class Actions:

We are a recognized leader in class action litigation in Canada. We take on complex and challenging class actions across all industries, and prosecute them to conclusion. We act for consumers and businesses—large groups who have been wronged by major corporations or government.

Class action litigation requires a depth of resources and a breadth of experience. With a highly experienced team of professionals, we match resources against the largest defence firms in the country.

Unlike firms or professionals that have expertise in narrow practice areas, we have expertise across numerous subject-areas. We are also leaders in those areas, as opposed to just generalists. We take active roles in prosecuting the litigation to the end. We win challenging certification motions, we prosecute difficult summary judgment motions, we take cases to trial, and we take appeals to the Supreme Court of Canada if we need to. Our cases have been at the forefront of the law in many areas including employment (wage and hour litigation), antitrust (Competition Act), privacy, consumer protection and franchising and distribution.

We are highly ranked by the leading legal publications, Chambers and Lexpert®.