Our Team

About Our Franchise, Licensing & Distribution Group

Our Franchise, Licensing & Distribution Group is made up of a group of highly - specialized solution - oriented lawyers who practice in the areas of franchise, licensing, distribution and intellectual property. We have integrated leading - edge technology into the collaboration with our clients to an extent that we believe is unparalleled - anywhere.

Solutions For You

From its offices in London, Toronto, Windsor and Québec City, the Franchise, Licensing & Distribution Group works closely with its clients anywhere on the globe to provide timely and responsive solutions to their needs. The services of the Franchise, Licensing & Distribution Group are complemented by the firm's extensive expertise in other areas of the law, including debt recovery, dispute resolution, immigration, labour and employment, taxation, mergers and acquisitions, class action litigation, and real estate, resulting in a full range of services to completely meet the needs of our clients. When needed, we collaborate with local counsel to effect on - the - ground implementation of global strategies.

What We Do

Our Franchise, Licensing & Distribution Group drafts all forms of documents including anything relating to franchising, product and service distribution, manufacturing agreements, product licensing, and all aspects of intellectual property, including trademarks, patents and copyright. The Group has extensive experience acting on behalf of both franchisors and franchisees in franchise default and termination situations including lease terminations, realization on assets and security, receiverships, bankruptcy and injunctions to enforce non - competition provisions of franchise agreements. The Group represents mature Canadian and American franchise and distribution systems operating internationally. We also have extensive experience and enjoy working with start - up systems.

View Our Franchise, Licensing & Distribution Team

What We've Done Recently

Recent matters in which we have been involved include:

• Obtaining the first - ever Ministerial Exemption in Alberta from the Franchises Act.
• The expansion of six franchise concepts into the United States, including the completion of all state Registrations under the UFOC format.
• Development of a Staff Advisory Opinion with Federal Trade Commission staff in relation to a particular client issue.
• The expansion of franchise concepts into the United Kingdom, South America, Australia and the Middle East.
• Completion of dozens of disclosure documents in compliance with Ontario and Alberta Franchise Laws.
• The acquisition of six franchise systems.
• A $16 million merger of two competing systems.
• Venture capital financings exceeding $10 million.
• Bank financings exceeding $20 million.
• Product patenting and licensing agreements for Canada, North America and Europe.
• Trademark applications in over 16 jurisdictions.
• Commencement and prosecution of litigation on behalf of clients in Ontario, as advising counsel in other Canadian, American and European jurisdictions.

Our Strategic Alliances

The goal of our Franchise, Licensing & Distribution Group is to provide our clients with innovative, timely and cost - effective legal services that exceed their expectations. In order to meet this goal, we focus our legal practices in the areas of franchise, licensing, distribution and intellectual property and employ leading - edge communication and document production technology. This allows us to stay "ahead of the curve" on the rapidly developing legal and business aspects of these industries.

In order to provide as much assistance to our clients as possible, we have formed relationships with various service providers who have experience with these industries. These service providers include: management consultants, sales agents, accountants, insurance brokers, marketing consultants, graphic designers, information technology consultants, law firms in other Canadian jurisdictions, U.S. law firms , and law firms and other service providers operating globally.

We are also members of the Canadian Franchise Association, the International Franchise Association and the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising. These affiliations allow us not only to stay well informed on current issues, but also to develop a network of relationships across North America and globally that we can call on in order to obtain the best possible results for our clients.