Sotos LLP
Canada Guide 2024
About
Sotos LLPoffers a comprehensive range of legal services, including, franchise law, corporate and commercial law, trademark representation, labour and employment law, real estate and leasing, litigation, private wealth management, and class action litigation.
Sotos Class Actions is recognized as a leader in class action litigation in Canada. Their team comprises experienced trial lawyers with extensive experience in class actions across multiple practice areas. Their cases have been at the forefront of the development of the law in diverse areas, including employment (wage and hour litigation), antitrust (Competition Act), privacy, consumer protection, social justice, and franchising and distribution. Among their most notable class actions is their role in securing the largest settlement in Canadian history. After years of litigation, in October 2023, the Federal Court approved a settlement agreement of $23.34 billion in compensation for impacted First Nations individuals and some of their family members. In the employment arena, they wrapped up a landmark case against one of the largest banks in Canada, CIBC, for uncompensated overtime affecting over 31,000 employees. After 15 years of litigation (including success on liability affirmed on appeal) and months of negotiation, they reached a $153 million settlement in 2023. This is one of the largest employment class action settlements/judgments globally. This case exemplifies their team’s ability to achieve favourable outcomes in long and challenging legal battles.
As Canada’s leading and largest franchising, licensing and distribution law firm, Sotos LLP provides a comprehensive range of services to franchisors. Since its inception in 1980, the firm has guided hundreds of franchise systems to success, from launch to growth to exit. Sotos team includes over twenty lawyers dedicated to the industry, serving clients from all franchising sectors, including automotive, cannabis, personal services, grocery retailing, distribution and manufacturing, professional services, home services, restaurants, hotel and motel franchising, and retail chains. They also provide significant services to dealers in the telecommunications industry. Sotos LLP caters to Canadian and international clients, from start-ups to established systems, and assists international franchisors wishing to expand into Canada and Canadian franchisors wishing to expand abroad.
Ranked Offices
Provided by Sotos LLP
- Toronto180 Dundas Street West, Suite 1200, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1Z8
- Tel: 416.977.0007
- Fax: 416.977.0717
- View ranked office
Sotos LLP rankings
Articles, highlights and press releases
19 items provided by Sotos LLP
Dealership Agreements: They’re Not for as Long as You Think
When a dealer enters into an agreement with an automaker, it may be contemplating a forever, “till death do us part” kind of relationship. In the early stages of the relationship, both parties are inevitably optimistic and likely expect that they will carry on happily ever after.
How Franchised Restaurants Can Adapt to a Post-Pandemic World
This article will explore three of the Pandemic’s enduring impacts on franchised restaurant operations, and present recommendations franchisors can follow to best position themselves for future prosperity.
Bad Faith and the Importance of Trademark Registration
In Beijing Judian Restaurant Co. Ltd. v. Wei Meng, 2022 FC 743, the Federal Court struck a trademark from the register because it was registered in bad faith.
Financial performance representations and franchise disclosure in Canada
Franchisees want to know their earning potential within a franchise system, how should franchisors prepare their franchise performance representation documents to stay within the rules?
Canadians’ Saving(s) Grace – Introducing the FHSA
The First Home Savings Account (“FHSA”) was introduced in the federal budget of 2022. The proposed FHSA would permit eligible Canadians to contribute up to $40,000 in a tax-free savings account for the purposes of purchasing a home.
Don’t Let Your Next Injunction Go To Pot
Lightbox Enterprises Ltd. v. 2708227 Ontario Inc. provides some interesting insights relating to injunctions at the budding intersection of franchising and retail cannabis.
Update on Proposed Filing Requirements for Trusts
Taxpayers should be aware of proposed changes to federal trust filing and reporting measures and other significant draft tax legislation updates. On February 4th, 2022 the federal government of Canada (the “Government”) released an extensive package of draft legislation to implement various new tax
Updates to Ontario Corporations Annual Maintenance Requirements
On January 1, 2023, amendments to the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA) addressing continuing disclosure requirements for privately-held Ontario corporations will come into effect. From that date forward, Ontario corporations will be required to create and maintain a register of ISCs.
The Government of Canada’s draft regulations prohibiting the use of certain single-use plastics has been published for public comment in the Canada Gazette.
Tokyo Smoke and the Threshold Required to Establish Bad Faith
Tokyo Smoke reaffirms that the conduct of the parties under an ongoing relationship contract must be viewed in context and that a contextual analysis is necessary to determine both the parties’ rights and obligations under the contract, as well as whether a breach of such rights did in fact occur.
Big Changes to Estate Planning in Ontario Have Arrived
Significant changes to Ontario’s Succession Law Reform Act (“SLRA”) and the Substitute Decisions Act (“SDA”), among others, came into force on January 1st, 2022.
This article summarizes the test for economic duress, how it has been applied in the franchise context, what questions remain unresolved, and some takeaways.
Are You Registered? The New Blue Box Scheme and its Impact on Franchisors
Ontario is fundamentally restructuring its recycling system. Ontario’s municipalities set up the world’s first curbside recycling systems in Kitchener in 1981. Since 2002 producers of recyclable blue box materials have been required to fund up to 50% of municipal net operating costs.
Trademark Research and Protection Services
Various amendments to the Trademarks Act (RSC, 1985, c. T-13) (the “Act”) came into force in the summer of 2019.
New Ontario Tax Disclosure Obligations – Corporate Ownership Tracking Requirements for “Individuals
According to the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, released on November 4, 2021 by the Minister of Finance, Ontario is proposing legislative amendments to the Ontario Business Corporations Act (the ‘OBCA’) in order to combat financial crimes.
AI Inventors: Do They Exist, And Does It Matter?
Recent cases in five jurisdictions have opined on whether an artificial intelligence system (“AI”) can be an “inventor” in an application for a patent. This article summarizes the inventions at issue, the relevant cases, and what these developments may mean for Canadian patent law.
Your Text is Your Signature: Understanding the Implications of the Edges Contracting v Ghtobi
In our rapidly expanding technological era, important questions arise on how to properly interpret statutes to accurately reflect technological advancements.
What do I need to know about using “Cookies” on my website?
A cookie is essentially a small storage unit that gathers data or information about you when you are on a website. Cookies are used to monitor your activity on a website to allow the website to remember things about you for the next time you visit that website.
Distinctiveness in Registered Trademarks
Registered trademarks are different from common law trademarks where you have rights to trademarks if you can show you have established use and recognition. The point of registration is that it gives you rights and remedies that are above those available at common law.
Dealership Agreements: They’re Not for as Long as You Think
When a dealer enters into an agreement with an automaker, it may be contemplating a forever, “till death do us part” kind of relationship. In the early stages of the relationship, both parties are inevitably optimistic and likely expect that they will carry on happily ever after.
How Franchised Restaurants Can Adapt to a Post-Pandemic World
This article will explore three of the Pandemic’s enduring impacts on franchised restaurant operations, and present recommendations franchisors can follow to best position themselves for future prosperity.
Bad Faith and the Importance of Trademark Registration
In Beijing Judian Restaurant Co. Ltd. v. Wei Meng, 2022 FC 743, the Federal Court struck a trademark from the register because it was registered in bad faith.
Financial performance representations and franchise disclosure in Canada
Franchisees want to know their earning potential within a franchise system, how should franchisors prepare their franchise performance representation documents to stay within the rules?
Canadians’ Saving(s) Grace – Introducing the FHSA
The First Home Savings Account (“FHSA”) was introduced in the federal budget of 2022. The proposed FHSA would permit eligible Canadians to contribute up to $40,000 in a tax-free savings account for the purposes of purchasing a home.
Don’t Let Your Next Injunction Go To Pot
Lightbox Enterprises Ltd. v. 2708227 Ontario Inc. provides some interesting insights relating to injunctions at the budding intersection of franchising and retail cannabis.
Update on Proposed Filing Requirements for Trusts
Taxpayers should be aware of proposed changes to federal trust filing and reporting measures and other significant draft tax legislation updates. On February 4th, 2022 the federal government of Canada (the “Government”) released an extensive package of draft legislation to implement various new tax
Updates to Ontario Corporations Annual Maintenance Requirements
On January 1, 2023, amendments to the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA) addressing continuing disclosure requirements for privately-held Ontario corporations will come into effect. From that date forward, Ontario corporations will be required to create and maintain a register of ISCs.
The Government of Canada’s draft regulations prohibiting the use of certain single-use plastics has been published for public comment in the Canada Gazette.
Tokyo Smoke and the Threshold Required to Establish Bad Faith
Tokyo Smoke reaffirms that the conduct of the parties under an ongoing relationship contract must be viewed in context and that a contextual analysis is necessary to determine both the parties’ rights and obligations under the contract, as well as whether a breach of such rights did in fact occur.
Big Changes to Estate Planning in Ontario Have Arrived
Significant changes to Ontario’s Succession Law Reform Act (“SLRA”) and the Substitute Decisions Act (“SDA”), among others, came into force on January 1st, 2022.
This article summarizes the test for economic duress, how it has been applied in the franchise context, what questions remain unresolved, and some takeaways.
Are You Registered? The New Blue Box Scheme and its Impact on Franchisors
Ontario is fundamentally restructuring its recycling system. Ontario’s municipalities set up the world’s first curbside recycling systems in Kitchener in 1981. Since 2002 producers of recyclable blue box materials have been required to fund up to 50% of municipal net operating costs.
Trademark Research and Protection Services
Various amendments to the Trademarks Act (RSC, 1985, c. T-13) (the “Act”) came into force in the summer of 2019.
New Ontario Tax Disclosure Obligations – Corporate Ownership Tracking Requirements for “Individuals
According to the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, released on November 4, 2021 by the Minister of Finance, Ontario is proposing legislative amendments to the Ontario Business Corporations Act (the ‘OBCA’) in order to combat financial crimes.
AI Inventors: Do They Exist, And Does It Matter?
Recent cases in five jurisdictions have opined on whether an artificial intelligence system (“AI”) can be an “inventor” in an application for a patent. This article summarizes the inventions at issue, the relevant cases, and what these developments may mean for Canadian patent law.
Your Text is Your Signature: Understanding the Implications of the Edges Contracting v Ghtobi
In our rapidly expanding technological era, important questions arise on how to properly interpret statutes to accurately reflect technological advancements.
What do I need to know about using “Cookies” on my website?
A cookie is essentially a small storage unit that gathers data or information about you when you are on a website. Cookies are used to monitor your activity on a website to allow the website to remember things about you for the next time you visit that website.
Distinctiveness in Registered Trademarks
Registered trademarks are different from common law trademarks where you have rights to trademarks if you can show you have established use and recognition. The point of registration is that it gives you rights and remedies that are above those available at common law.