Canada’s Leading Franchise Law Firm

Representing franchisors and franchisees, Sotos LLP is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs develop, grow, and protect their business in franchising, licensing, distribution, and almost every other commercial activity. We are Canada’s most experienced franchise law firm; widely recognized for having the country’s leading practitioners and litigators in the field of franchise law.

Franchise Industry Sectors

Automotive

We know automotive franchising and how to get you where you want to go. That’s why we’re Canada’s leading franchise law firm.

Read More

Cannabis

The legalization of cannabis in Canada has opened doors to new opportunities – and regulatory challenges. Trust Sotos to guide your way.

Read More

Grocery

There’s no simple recipe for success in the food business. We can help you achieve the right mix for success.

Read More

Personal Services

Looking to succeed in the health, fitness and personal care franchise sector? Whether you’re a franchisor or franchisee, Sotos knows your needs.

Read More

Home Services

Home service franchises in Canada operate in an environment that’s vastly different – and in many ways more challenging – than other sectors. Whether you’re a franchisor or franchisee, we’re here to help you thrive.

Read More

Hotel Franchising

Building a successful hotel or motel brand takes time and deep knowledge of the lodging industry. It’s time to welcome Sotos into your business.

Read More

Professional Services

Looking to succeed in the professional services industry? Let our professionals advance you through every stage of your business.

Read More

Restaurants

What’s on our menu? We bring to the table a deep knowledge of restaurant franchising and the experience to get you where you’re looking to go.

Read More

Retail

What challenges are in store for your business? Talk to Canada’s leading retail franchise experts at Sotos. Whether in store or online, let the retail team at Sotos accelerate your brand.

Read More

International Expansion

Into Canada

Whether you’re coming from the United States, Europe or any other part of the world, we have the business and legal expertise to ensure that you’re set for success in Canada.

Read More

Out of Canada

Ready to conquer the world? We have decades of experience guiding brand owners to international success.

Read More

Franchise Growth Stages

Building a franchised business is an exciting journey with many milestones and stages. Let the experts at Sotos guide you through every step of your franchise journey, from launch to exit.

Franchise Growth Stages

Services for Franchisors

Expand All

Franchise Law

Services Include

  • Conversion of a successful business to a successful franchise model
  • Area development and master franchising
  • Tailored drafting of disclosure documents and franchise agreements
  • Franchise system mergers, sales and acquisitions
  • Expansion and finance strategies, including international expansion
  • “Canadianizing” of foreign disclosure documents
  • IP and Trademarks
  • Real estate transactions, including leases, purchases and sales
  • Effective commercial litigation, dispute mediation and resolution, and arbitration
  • Related employment law
  • Personal wealth planning
  • Succession planning

Corporate and Commercial Law

Services Include

  • Advisory on business structures
  • Incorporations, shareholder agreements, partnership and similar agreements
  • Secured and unsecured financings
  • Tailored drafting of disclosure documents, franchise agreements, license and distribution agreements
  • Employment agreements
  • Regulatory compliance
  • M & A transactions
  • International expansion
  • Supplier agreements
  • Franchisee associations
  • Marketing law and CASL compliance
  • Corporate governance
  • Corporate reorganizations

Intellectual Property

Services Include

  • Audit of existing registered and unregistered marks
  • Availability opinions
  • Applications to register marks in Canada and abroad
  • Interaction with trade-marks office
  • Opposition proceedings
  • Copyright advice
  • Intellectual property litigation
  • Drafting and litigation of non-compete and non-solicit agreements
  • Patent litigation
  • Counterfeit proceedings
  • Data sharing agreements
  • Technology transfers
  • Trade secret protection

Team Leader

View Profile

JOHN YIOKARIS
P: 416-977-3998
E: jyiokaris@sotos.ca

  • 20+ years of experience
  • Expert in all aspects of trademarks
  • Registered trademark agent for Canada
  • Advisor to brands looking to establish and protect their trademarks

READ MORE

Litigation

Services Include

  • Franchising licensing and distribution
  • Commercial contracts
  • Commercial leasing
  • Corporate and partnership disputes
  • Trade-marks
  • Insurance
  • Copyrights
  • Employment
  • Regulatory charges
  • Competition law including price-fixing
  • Privacy
  • Professional negligence
  • Defamation and anti-SLAPP
  • Franchise terminations
  • Franchise law expert witnesses
  • Opinions
  • Class and group actions
  • Local and international arbitrations
  • Mediations
  • Appeals
  • Appearances before all Canadian courts
  • Consumer complaints

Mergers and Acquisitions

Services Include

  • Private equity advisory and transactions
  • Asset and share sales
  • Unit franchise transfers
  • Franchise system purchases and sales
  • Franchise system due diligence
  • Cross-border mergers and acquisitions
  • Competition law

Real Estate

Services Include

  • Hotel/motel development and financing
  • Retail and industrial plaza financing and leasing
  • Commercial leasing
  • Joint ventures advisory and drafting
  • Landlord consents
  • Mortgage financing and enforcement
  • Construction financing and agreements
  • Construction lien registration and enforcement
  • Residential purchase and sales
  • Condominiums

Secured Transactions

Services Include

  • Secured loan structuring and agreements
  • Registrations and enforcement
  • Debt consolidation
  • Government-sponsored small business loans
  • Refinancings
  • Trustee-in-bankruptcy opinions
  • Insolvencies

Trademarks

Services Include

Trademark

  • Applications and registration of trademarks
  • Due diligence
  • Licensing of trademarks
  • Transactions involving IP

Litigation

  • Trade secret litigation
  • Trademark litigation
  • Defending trademark rights
  • Trademark opposition matters

Team Leader

View Profile

JOHN YIOKARIS
P: 416-977-3998
E: jyiokaris@sotos.ca

  • 20+ years of experience
  • Expert in all aspects of trademarks
  • Registered trademark agent for Canada
  • Advisor to brands looking to establish and protect their trademarks

READ MORE

Employment Law

Services Include

  • Executive compensation and agreements
  • Employment agreements
  • Termination advisory
  • Wrongful dismissal litigation
  • Collective bargaining negotiations
  • Employee benefit plans
  • Labour grievances
  • Employment standards
  • Human rights complaints
  • Occupational health and safety

Team Leader

View Profile

LOUIS SOKOLOV
P: 416-572-7316
E: lsokolov@sotos.ca

  • 25+ years of experience
  • First-rate counsel in employment law

READ MORE

Services for Master Franchisees

Expand All

Franchise Law

Services Include

  • Master franchise disclosure document review
  • Master franchise agreement negotiation
  • Tailored unit franchise agreement drafting
  • Master franchisee disclosure document drafting
  • Master franchisee advisory
  • Entity structuring
  • Agreement enforcement and dispute resolution
  • Intellectual property protection
  • Finance strategies
  • Shareholder agreements
  • Real estate transactions including leases, purchases and sales
  • Employment law
  • Marketing law

Corporate and Commercial Law

Services Include

  • Advisory on business structures
  • Incorporations, shareholder agreements, partnership and similar agreements
  • Secured and unsecured financings
  • Tailored drafting of disclosure documents, franchise agreements, license and distribution agreements
  • Employment agreements
  • Regulatory compliance
  • M & A transactions
  • International expansion
  • Supplier agreements
  • Franchisee associations
  • Marketing law and CASL compliance
  • Corporate governance
  • Corporate reorganizations

Litigation

Services Include

  • Franchising licensing and distribution
  • Commercial contracts
  • Commercial leasing
  • Corporate and partnership disputes
  • Trade-marks
  • Insurance
  • Copyrights
  • Employment
  • Regulatory charges
  • Competition law including price-fixing
  • Privacy
  • Professional negligence
  • Defamation and anti-SLAPP
  • Franchise terminations
  • Franchise law expert witnesses
  • Opinions
  • Class and group actions
  • Local and international arbitrations
  • Mediations
  • Appeals
  • Appearances before all Canadian courts
  • Consumer complaints

Real Estate

Services Include

  • Hotel/motel development and financing
  • Retail and industrial plaza financing and leasing
  • Commercial leasing
  • Joint ventures advisory and drafting
  • Landlord consents
  • Mortgage financing and enforcement
  • Construction financing and agreements
  • Construction lien registration and enforcement
  • Residential purchase and sales
  • Condominiums

Secured Transactions

Services Include

  • Secured loan structuring and agreements
  • Registrations and enforcement
  • Debt consolidation
  • Government-sponsored small business loans
  • Refinancings
  • Trustee-in-bankruptcy opinions
  • Insolvencies

Trademarks

Services Include

Trademark

  • Applications and registration of trademarks
  • Due diligence
  • Licensing of trademarks
  • Transactions involving IP

Litigation

  • Trade secret litigation
  • Trademark litigation
  • Defending trademark rights
  • Trademark opposition matters

Team Leader

View Profile

JOHN YIOKARIS
P: 416-977-3998
E: jyiokaris@sotos.ca

  • 20+ years of experience
  • Expert in all aspects of trademarks
  • Registered trademark agent for Canada
  • Advisor to brands looking to establish and protect their trademarks

READ MORE

Employment Law

Services Include

  • Executive compensation and agreements
  • Employment agreements
  • Termination advisory
  • Wrongful dismissal litigation
  • Collective bargaining negotiations
  • Employee benefit plans
  • Labour grievances
  • Employment standards
  • Human rights complaints
  • Occupational health and safety

Team Leader

View Profile

LOUIS SOKOLOV
P: 416-572-7316
E: lsokolov@sotos.ca

  • 25+ years of experience
  • First-rate counsel in employment law

READ MORE

Unit Franchisee Services

Services Include

  • Disclosure document review
  • Franchise agreement negotiation
  • Incorporations, shareholders agreements
  • Franchisee associations
  • Transfers
  • Commercial leases
  • Real estate purchases and sales
  • Government-sponsored small business loans
  • Secured loans
  • Wills, estates and succession planning
  • Litigation and arbitration of disputes
  • Employment law