{"id":280,"date":"2016-08-10T16:10:31","date_gmt":"2016-08-10T20:10:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.millerthomson.com\/industries\/franchising\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T18:16:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T23:16:38","slug":"franchising","status":"publish","type":"industries","link":"https:\/\/www.millerthomson.com\/en\/industries\/franchising\/","title":{"rendered":"Franchising and Distribution"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Home<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>

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Franchising and Distribution<\/h1>\n\n\n

Navigating the franchise landscape <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miller Thomson\u2019s Franchise & Distribution Law Group is dedicated to helping businesses thrive in the complex world of franchising. With extensive experience in Canadian franchise law, our team offers strategic guidance to both established and emerging franchisors. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Informed guidance for franchise businesses <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our multi-disciplinary team provides comprehensive legal support tailored to the unique needs of franchisors, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Franchise System Structuring: <\/strong>Advising on expansion strategies and structuring franchise systems. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Document Drafting:<\/strong> Drafting franchise agreements, disclosure documents, and compliance programs. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Litigation Support:<\/strong> Resolving disputes, including class actions, terminations, and enforcement of non-competition covenants. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Quebec-Specific Advice:<\/strong> Offering specialized guidance for franchising in Quebec. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Intellectual Property Protection:<\/strong> Securing and licensing trademarks and brand-specific intellectual property. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Compliance Services:<\/strong> Ensuring compliance with consumer protection, advertising, and privacy legislation. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Mergers and Acquisitions:<\/strong> Advising on mergers, acquisitions, and taxation matters affecting franchises. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Comprehensive franchise solutions <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Our team is well-versed in all franchise sectors, including food service, retail, education, hospitality, and commercial services. With a nationwide presence, we draw upon the full breadth of the firm\u2019s expertise to provide tailored solutions for franchisors across Canada. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Notable matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Drafting franchise agreements and disclosure documentation for Canadian and U.S. franchisors operating in Canada.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Drafting master franchise agreements for Canadian master licensees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Preparing national disclosure documentation, franchise agreements and providing tax and corporate structuring and compliance advice to new franchisors in Canada, US and internationally.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • “Canadianizing” foreign franchise documentation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Representing area developers with their expansion within their territory in Canada.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Acting for a multi-unit franchisee in establishing Canadian credit facilities for expansion of its Canadian QSR outlets pursuant to its area development rights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Assisting a Canadian franchisor with franchise resale issues in the context of the sale by receiver of an insolvent franchisee\u2019s assets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Advising a U.S. executive training franchisor with respect to Canadian franchise law, Canadian documentary requirements and the legal requirements for doing business in Canada.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Advising a major U.S. food service franchisor with regard to its Western Canadian operations and drafted appropriate Canadian documentation to assist in this expansion<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Advising a major Australian food service franchisor with respect to its Canadian expansion plans and drafted appropriate Canadian documentation to assist in this expansion<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Advising a cloud computing business with respect to business structuring and advised through angel and venture capital investment rounds<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Acting as counsel to an international chain of convenience stores for over 30 years on a number of franchising and operating matters in Western Canada, including Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Represented Petro-Canada in a class action brought by some of the franchisees. Our involvement also included litigation over close-out disputes, accounting discrepancies (including fraud); injunctions and involuntary termination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Negotiating master franchise agreements to assist U.S. based home maintenance franchisors in developing their international expansion plans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Pursuing an injunction against a franchisee in breach of its non-competition agreement and restrictive covenants<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Advising a large Canadian franchisor respecting its good faith obligations and its franchisees\u2019 right to associate under provincial franchise legislation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Assisting a foreign franchisor with deployment of its franchise concept in the province of Quebec<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Successfully defending a franchisor facing a rescission claim by a franchisee<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Administering franchise litigation in the enforcement of restrictive covenants against a competing former master-franchisee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Awards and accolades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Recognized by Best Law Firms\u2122<\/sup>\u00a0\u2013 Canada: Franchise Law<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Recognized by Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Franchise Law<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Miller Thomson\u2019s Franchise & Distribution Law Group is dedicated to helping businesses thrive in the complex world of franchising. With extensive experience in Canadian franchise law, our team offers strategic guidance to both established and emerging franchisors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13589,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-280","industries","type-industries","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFranchising Lawyers | Miller Thomson<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We're dedicated to helping businesses thrive in the complex world of franchising. 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