How a Franchise Agreement and a Franchise Disclosure Document differ
There are two documents that are of vital importance...
The Importance of Retaining Good Counsel:
Franchise law in this Province of Ontario has become much more complex since the passing of the Arthur Wishart Act (Franchise Disclosure), 2000, Ontario’s franchise disclosure statute. Under this relatively new law, a franchisor is required to provide a prospective franchisee with a disclosure document containing all material facts regarding the franchise to be sold to the franchisee, along with the franchise agreement and all other agreements to be executed by the franchisee. The preparation of the franchise documentation and a disclosure document (from the franchisor’s perspective) and the review and analysis of the documentation (from the franchisee’s perspective) requires certain legal expertise that is rarely found among lawyers who do not practice franchise law.
Recommendation:
Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to franchise your business, an existing franchisor or a prospective franchisee looking to purchase a franchise, you will inevitably require the assistance of a lawyer to help you manage and deal with the wide range of legal issues surrounding your venture. Franchising has now legitimately become its own area of expertise. Often, franchisors and franchisees have hundreds of thousands of dollars at risk, so retaining your family lawyer or general corporate and commercial lawyer to address your franchising legal issues is therefore not recommended. I have all too often seen businesses which due to their failure to retain expert franchise counsel either generated unwanted litigation or have regretted their investment or their lack of resolve to retain franchise counsel when they needed such expert counsel most.
Questions you should ask your lawyer before retaining him or her should include the following:
1. What experience do you have in advising prospective
franchisees, entrepreneurs looking to franchise their businesses
and existing franchisors?
2. Is franchise law your principal area of expertise?
3. Will you do the work yourself or will the work be handled
by someone else within your firm?
4. Do you communicate clearly when explaining legal issues
and legal documentation to your clients?
5. What are your billing practices? Will you consider
flexible billing arrangements and do you bill regularly so as to
not surprise your clients?
6. How connected are you to the franchising industry and can
you introduce the appropriate franchise professionals such as
franchise consultants, brokers and accountants familiar with the
unique issues involved with franchising?
7. Do you have access to an experienced litigator within
your office who could assist you to defend or launch an action
should the need arise?
8. Are you a deal-maker or a deal-breaker?
9. Do you have interests outside of the law that may make
you a better-rounded legal practitioner?
10. Are your offices conveniently located near and
accessible to the subway system and major thoroughfares?
Joseph Adler has dedicated his professional life to becoming a top business lawyer. His expertise in franchise, licensing and distribution law enables him to provide insight and guidance on the business of franchising, including on matters involving commercial agreements, leasing, licensing and intellectual property. Joseph is also a Trade-Mark Agent who assists his clients to file, prosecute, maintain, and protect trade-marks around the world.
Joseph Adler can be reached at:
Hoffer Adler LLP
“Lawyers Focused on the Needs of Their Clients”
#300 - 425 University Ave
Toronto, ON M5G 1T6, Canada
Phone: (416) 977-3444
Fax: (416) 977-3332
Web: http://www.hofferadler.com
Email: jadler@hofferadler.com
