Practice Summary
John leads our firm’s automotive sector practice, drawing on his considerable experience working as lead counsel for one of Canada’s largest automotive manufacturers and numerous dealers. In addition to handling dealer development matters, he has acted in automobile dealership disputes and in proceedings under the National Automobile Dealer Arbitration Program. John also leads our trademark practice as a registered trademark agent and has extensive knowledge of intellectual property issues, and regularly acts in the procurement and licensing of trademarks. He is also an experienced practitioner in the restaurant, grocery, hotel, real estate and professional services sectors, advising businesses at every stage of franchising system development. John has particular expertise in the work out of distressed franchisees and in structuring transfers in the best interests of the franchise system. A significant portion of John’s practice is dedicated to providing strategic commercial advice on complex franchise defaults and disputes, enforcements, and terminations. John serves as co-managing partner of our firm.
BAR ADMISSION
Ontario, 2000
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor (J.D.), Osgoode Hall Law School, 1997
Masters of International and Comparative Law (Magna Cum Laude), Stockholm University, 2000
Registered Trademark Agent
More About John Yiokaris
Practice Areas
- Franchisor Services – All Sectors with a focus on automotive, personal services, professional services, and restaurants
- Trademarks and Intellectual Property
- International Franchising, Licensing and Distribution
- Franchise Associations and Advisory Counsels
- Corporate / Commercial, Mergers and Acquisitions and Finance
- Sector Leader – Automotive Sector
- Sector Leader – Professional Services
Recognitions
- Awarded the Lexology 2019 Client Choice Award for Franchising in Ontario
- Ranked in Chambers Canada – Franchising (2019-2021)
- Consistently listed in Best Lawyers in Canada (2015 – 2021)
- Recognized in Best Lawyers Global Business Edition (2016 – 2020)
- Listed in Canadian Legal LEXPERT Directory – Franchise (2013 – 2020)
- Named “Legal Eagle” by Franchise Times Magazine (2013 – 2020)
- Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Canada Franchise (2013 – 2020)
Professional Associations
- Canadian Bar Association
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canadian Franchise Association
- International Franchise Association
- Executive Member, Legal and Legislative Committee of the Canadian Franchise Association (current)
- American Bar Association – Forum on Franchising
- Intellectual Property Institute of Canada
- Honorary Director, Hellenic Canadian Lawyers’ Association
Selected Works
- Keep your distance! Navigating New Dealer Points and Relocated Dealerships, Canadian AutoWorld, November 2019
- Automobile Dealers and Privacy Law, Canadian AutoWorld, August 2019
- Do Dealership Agreements Really Last Forever? Canadian AutoWorld, January 2019
- Speaker – Legal Issues in Franchise Renewals, IFA Convention 2018, Phoenix (February 10-13, 2018)
- Franchise Advisory Councils, Canadian Business Franchise , March / April 2017
- Speaker – Ontario Bar Association 15th Annual Franchise Law Conference, (November 17, 2015)
- My franchisee rescinded its franchise agreement: What to look for in reviewing the franchisee’s calculation of damages, The Franchise Voice, Fall 2015
- Speaker – Buying and Selling a Business, Ukrainian Canadian Bar Association and the Hellenic Canadian Lawyers’ Association, (June 2015)
- Speaker – Franchising Law for Commercial Leasing Professionals, ICSC: International Council of Shopping Centre: Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference, Toronto (April 15, 2015)
- Compiled the Legal Digest (a review of important cases and other developments in franchise law), The Franchise Voice, Winter 2015 (Download)
- Investigations Beyond the Disclosure Document, Canadian Business Franchise, September 2014
- Speaker – Dealing with Issues in Franchise Renewals, IFA Convention 2014, New Orleans (February 22-25, 2014)
- Speaker – Material Changes, Ontario Bar Association 13th Annual Franchise Law Conference, (19 November 2013)
- Subleases and Additional Disclosure: What happens if I have signed a franchise agreement but haven’t yet found a location?, FranchiseCanada May / June 2013
- Speaker – “Key Issues When Representing a Small Franchisee”, Ontario Bar Association 3rd Annual Business Law Summit, Toronto, (May 15, 2013)
- What Happens Next? Dealing with Statements of Material Change and Additional Disclosure, The Franchise Voice, (Winter 2013)
- Speaker – “Hot Topics in Rescission”, Ontario Bar Association 12th Annual Franchise Law Conference: For Better or For Worse: Franchise Relationships over the Long Term, Toronto, (November 6, 2012)
- Getting comfortable with disclosure: What Franchisors should know about “Material Facts”, The Franchise Voice, Spring 2012
- How do I renew my franchise agreement?, FranchiseCanada, May / June 2012
- What are Franchisee Advisory Councils and Franchisee Associations?, FranchiseCanada July / August 2011
- Franchise Renewals: Issues Surrounding the Franchisor’s Right to Accept a Franchisee’s Exercise of a Renewal Option, Ontario Bar Association 10th Annual Franchise Law Conference, (November 2010)
Blogs
SOTOS LLP BLOG March 4, 2021Sotos Excels With 6 Lawyers Listed in the Who’s Who Legal – Franchise
SOTOS LLP BLOG August 27, 2020Alternatives to Bankruptcy
SOTOS LLP BLOG April 2, 2020John Yiokaris on Canadian Auto Dealer magazine
SOTOS LLP BLOG March 31, 2020Heading for the Offramp: Selling your Dealership
SOTOS LLP BLOG March 27, 2020Dealer Advertising: What do I need to know?
SOTOS LLP BLOG March 24, 2020Managing the Impact of Coranavirus on your Dealership
SOTOS LLP BLOG September 20, 2019Sotos LLP ranked in Band 1 by Chambers Canada
SOTOS LLP BLOG August 21, 2019The Best Lawyers in Canada (2020 edition)
SOTOS LLP BLOG June 26, 2019Who’s Who Legal: Franchise 2019
SOTOS LLP BLOG April 18, 2019Legal Eagles 2019
SOTOS LLP BLOG February 14, 2019John Yiokaris awarded Client Choice Award by Lexology
SOTOS LLP BLOG November 2, 2018What you need to know about mandatory reporting of breaches of security safeguards
SOTOS LLP BLOG October 23, 2018Sotos ranked lawyers put us in the Top 10 franchise law firms in the world.
SOTOS LLP BLOG October 22, 2018Do Dealership Agreements Really Last Forever?
SOTOS LLP BLOG September 28, 2018Top-ranked Franchise Firm by Chambers Canada - once again!
SOTOS LLP BLOG August 21, 2018Sotos recognized by Best Lawyers® in Canada 2019
SOTOS LLP BLOG May 17, 2018Sotos LLP is "Most Frequently Recommended" in Franchise law
SOTOS LLP BLOG April 2, 2018Sotos LLP team is recognized yet again for their experience and expertise by the Franchise Times Legal Eagles 2018
SOTOS LLP BLOG December 1, 2017Should you trade-mark your logo, name, or both?
SOTOS LLP BLOG October 12, 2017Once again Who’s Who Legal ranks Sotos as the top firm in Canada for Franchising
SOTOS LLP BLOG September 28, 2017Chambers Canada recognizes Sotos as Top in Franchise law
SOTOS LLP BLOG August 22, 2017Best Lawyers in Canada (2018 Edition)
SOTOS LLP BLOG May 10, 2017Lexpert Ranks Sotos as Top Franchise Law Boutique
SOTOS LLP BLOG April 11, 2017The Franchise Times Legal Eagles 2017 saw the Sotos LLP team soar to the top again this year as Canada’s largest and most experienced franchise law group.
SOTOS LLP BLOG December 14, 2016Sotos ranked as “Canada’s foremost franchise law firm"
SOTOS LLP BLOG November 17, 2016Who’s Who Legal ranks Sotos as the top firm in Canada for Franchising
SOTOS LLP BLOG September 19, 2016The Devil is in the Details: what you need to know about your Franchise Agreement
SOTOS LLP BLOG August 10, 2016Sotos LLP recognized as “Top Listed” firm by Best Lawyers®
SOTOS LLP BLOG June 30, 2016Lexpert names Sotos LLP as top boutique firm for franchising law. Seven lawyers listed in Lexpert.
SOTOS LLP BLOG May 31, 2016Should franchisors create a franchisee advisory council?
SOTOS LLP BLOG April 6, 2016Sotos LLP once again tops Franchise Times Legal Eagles
SOTOS LLP BLOG November 15, 2015My franchisee rescinded its franchise agreement: What to look for in reviewing the franchisee's calculation of damages
SOTOS LLP BLOG August 25, 2015Sotos LLP leads The Best Lawyers in Canada 2016 franchise law rankings
SOTOS LLP BLOG June 29, 2015Lexpert names Sotos LLP as top boutique firm for franchising law. Seven lawyers listed in Lexpert.
SOTOS LLP BLOG April 15, 2015John Yiokaris and Andy Seretis speaking at ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference in Toronto
SOTOS LLP BLOG April 9, 2015Sotos LLP top Canadian firm in Franchise Times Legal Eagles.
SOTOS LLP BLOG October 20, 2014Sotos LLP in Who's Who Legal: Canada 2014
SOTOS LLP BLOG September 29, 2014Franchise Basics: Investigations Beyond the Disclosure Document
SOTOS LLP BLOG September 10, 2014Sotos LLP leads the 2015 Best Lawyers in Canada in Franchise Law
SOTOS LLP BLOG July 10, 2014Sotos LLP in the 2014 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
SOTOS LLP BLOG June 2, 2014Thinking the unthinkable: dealer succession planning is key to ensuring an orderly transition
SOTOS LLP BLOG April 8, 2014Sotos LLP tops Franchise Times’ 2014 Legal Eagles
SOTOS LLP BLOG November 5, 2013Sotos Leads Way In New “Who’s Who Legal”
SOTOS LLP BLOG August 19, 2013Sotos lawyers lead list of “Who’s Who” in franchising
SOTOS LLP BLOG July 8, 2013Sotos LLP in the 2013 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
SOTOS LLP BLOG June 17, 2013John Yiokaris at OBA 3rd Annual Business Law Summit
SOTOS LLP BLOG April 3, 2013Seven Sotos LLP lawyers named to Franchise Times’ 2013 list of Legal Eagles
SOTOS LLP BLOG February 21, 2013John Yiokaris and Christine Jackson in The Franchise Voice
SOTOS LLP BLOG February 21, 2013What happens next? Dealing with statements of material change and additional disclosure
SOTOS LLP BLOG January 17, 2013Watch today: CFA Webinar “Sell Franchises, Avoid Rescission.”
SOTOS LLP BLOG November 8, 2012Register now: CFA webinar "Sell Franchises. Avoid Rescission."
SOTOS LLP BLOG September 4, 2012Peter Viitre and John Yiokaris at OBA Franchise Law Conference
SOTOS LLP BLOG June 1, 2012Sotos LLP at IFA 2012 Legal Symposium
SOTOS LLP BLOG April 12, 2012How do I renew my Franchise Agreement?
SOTOS LLP BLOG April 5, 2012Sotos LLP at Canadian Franchise Association Annual Convention
SOTOS LLP BLOG March 7, 2012Trade-mark update: What you need to know about your trade-marks
SOTOS LLP BLOG March 2, 2012John Yiokaris in the Globe & Mail
SOTOS LLP BLOG October 24, 2011Disclosure documents and franchise resales: what franchisors should know
SOTOS LLP BLOG June 26, 2011What are Franchisee Advisory Councils and Franchisee Associations?
SOTOS LLP BLOG May 23, 2011Key Issues in Franchise Transfers and Renewals: Part 1 - What Every Franchisor Should Know About Renewal
SOTOS LLP BLOG March 5, 2011“Material Changes” to a Disclosure Document – What do they mean?
SOTOS LLP BLOG March 5, 2011Confusing Renewal Clauses and the Duty of Fair Dealing – Ontario Court of Appeal Addresses Both
SOTOS LLP BLOG February 27, 2011Canadian Franchise Association Legal Day
SOTOS LLP BLOG February 8, 2011Sotos LLP at International Franchise Association Annual Convention
SOTOS LLP BLOG November 9, 2010Sotos LLP at OBA Franchise Law Conference
SOTOS LLP BLOG September 25, 2010Manitoba Introduces Franchise Legislation
SOTOS LLP BLOG June 25, 2009Sotos LLP at a Forum on Franchising
SOTOS LLP BLOG March 21, 2009What every Franchisor should know about Franchisee Advisory Councils and Franchisee Associations – Part 2
SOTOS LLP BLOG January 1, 2009What every Franchisor should know about Franchisee Advisory Councils and Franchisee Associations – Part 1
Personal Statement
My focus has always been to help my clients achieve their goals and add value to everything I do. It always starts with gaining a thorough understanding of my client’s business and their strategic objectives; that insight allows me to use my expertise to solve their issues in a practical and efficient manner. I work closely with all of my clients – yes, being responsive and understanding are a must, but it also means that I become a trusted partner to my clients, especially as they seize opportunities and resolve challenges. United. Fierce. Resolute.