Arthur Trebilcock - Sotos LLP

Practice Summary

Arthur has long been recognized as an outstanding advisor to franchisors in all aspects of the development of their franchise systems. He applies more than 40 years of experience working in the industry to provide trusted counsel to Canadian businesses taking their franchises to global markets, and to foreign franchisors seeking to expand into Canada. Arthur helped to shape the country’s franchise industry, representing Canada on the Franchise Industry Advisory Committee of the North American Securities Administrators Association and participating in the drafting of the Association’s Model Franchise Investment Act as well as in the revisions to its Uniform Franchise Offering Circular and associated Guidelines. The UFOC and Guidelines were adopted by all U.S. jurisdictions that regulate franchise sales, and provided most of the current disclosure content requirements of all Canadian franchise legislation. As a Dean of the Canadian franchise bar, Arthur has been called upon to speak and write extensively on franchise topics, including structuring unit and multi-level domestic and international franchise systems, strategic partnerships, protecting intellectual property, and enforcement and dispute resolution techniques.

BAR ADMISSION

Ontario, 1979

EDUCATION

LL.B, University of Toronto

Registered Trade Mark Agent

More About Arthur Trebilcock

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Practice Areas

• International Franchising, Licensing and Distribution
• Canadian Franchise Disclosure Compliance
• Franchisor Services – All Sectors
• Trademarks and Intellectual Property
• Commercial Services – Private Sector
• Franchise Associations

Recognitions

Consistently listed in Best Lawyers in Canada (2006 – 2021)
Listed as “Lawyer of the Year – 2013” by Best Lawyers in Canada
Recognized in Best Lawyers Global Business Edition (2016 – 2020)
Listed in Canadian Legal LEXPERT Directory – Franchise (1997 – 2019)
Named “Legal Eagle” by Franchise Times Magazine (2008 – 2019)
Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Canada Franchise (2011 – 2019)
Listed in International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers (2011 – 2018)

Professional Associations

Canadian Bar Association
Law Society of Ontario
Canadian Franchise Association
International Franchise Association
American Bar Association

Selected Works

Served as General Counsel to the Canadian Franchise Association from 1983 to 1993
Represented Canada on the Franchise Industry Advisory Committee of the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) from 1985 to 1993, participating in the drafting of NASAA’s Model Franchise Investment Act and the revisions to NASAA’s Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) and the UFOC Guidelines
Past Executive Member, Ontario Bar Association, Franchise Law Section and its predessor
Written and spoken throughout North America on such subjects as structuring unit and multi-level franchise systems, international master franchising, strategic partnering, protection of intellectual property, franchise registration/disclosure laws and compliance techniques, franchise relationship laws, contract enforcement and alternative dispute resolution methods