Franchise Law

Our franchising practice group includes lawyers from our business group, intellectual property group and real estate group.

Our expertise in franchising was recognized in the April 2005 edition of Franchise Times in which one of our lawyers, Javad Heydary, was designated as a "Legal Eagle" for 2005 by other lawyers as part of the magazine’s annual selection of top global franchise lawyers.

Extensive Experience in Franchising Law

Whether you are buying a single unit franchise, starting a new franchise system, or growing your existing system, look to our franchise lawyers to provide you with insightful legal advice that is tailored towards your business operations and mindful of the unique nature of the franchise relationship.

Our franchise lawyers are experienced in all facets of franchising:

Starting a franchise system including the registration of trade–marks and the preparation of the necessary documentation including:
- franchise agreements
- guarantees & indemnities
- software & trade–mark licenses
- general security agreements
Regulatory compliance including preparing the disclosure document required by Ontario law
Buying and selling of individual franchises or mergers & acquisitions of complete systems
Revision of foreign franchise documents including the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) to be used in Canada
Co–branding & licensing agreements
Real estate matters including drafting and/or reviewing commercial leases
International master franchise agreements
All technology & e–commerce related aspects of franchising
Assisting with the expansion of franchise systems into foreign countries including the United States

Franchise Litigation

Operating a franchise is not without its challenges. Unfortunately, there are times when the franchisee/franchisor relationship breaks down. Typically, the franchisee is at a disadvantage in such cases, given the deeper pockets of the franchisor.

Our experienced litigators can help you in your dispute with your franchisor. We work on behalf of franchisees in the following areas:

Termination of franchisees
Disputes over volume discounts, rebates and advertising allowances
Leasing disagreements
Insolvency
Encroachment
Royalties strikes
Injunctions
Class actions

A Reputation for Excellence

Heydary Hamilton is recognized for providing exceptional legal services at affordable rates. We offer low–cost initial consultations and special promotional rates for setting up new franchise systems and reviewing disclosure documents.

We will even match the written estimate from a competing law firm for setting up new franchise systems and reviewing and revising franchise agreements.

Our firm is as diverse as the communities we serve. Our lawyers reflect the cultural mosaic of the Greater Toronto Area and we are pleased to offer services in many languages from around the globe.

To learn more about purchasing a franchise or any other aspect of franchise law, contact our firm for a consultation with a franchise lawyer.