On October 8, Chambers and Partners released their 2025 Franchising Global Practice Guide: Trends and Developments, featuring an article written by MLT Aikins lawyers Melissa Cattini and Ahmed Malik.
As Melissa and Ahmed note in their introduction, recent legal developments in the franchising space across Canada demonstrate that franchise law remains dynamic and ever evolving. Broader and more nuanced disclosure expectations and increased scrutiny on franchisors and franchise systems are driving a new level of complexity in franchise compliance for 2025. The current franchise environment is influenced by the growing interplay between changing economic trends and continued technological advances across the country and the globe, which demands franchise system adaptability and attention to detail to manage regulatory compliance.
The article continues on to discuss recent legislative updates to Saskatchewan’s Franchise Disclosure Act that bring the province more in line with other regulated provinces; Manitoba’s response to recent amendments to the federal Competition Act; two Ontario case studies that offer insight into how fact-specific contexts can qualify or exempt disclosure obligations; and the potential implications of the proliferation and mandate of technology and AI on franchise systems in 2025.
Read the complete article.
The MLT Aikins franchising group advises corporate and franchised brands on establishing, structuring, developing and expanding in Western Canada. They regularly provide meaningful assistance to new entrants into established franchises, international franchisors expanding into Canada and businesses looking to take the “next step” and convert into a franchise model.
They work closely with clients across a range of industries (from quick-service restaurants to regulated professions) at each of the stages of the “franchise cycle” – from launch, set-up for long-term growth and impact, ongoing management and operations, through to maturity, exit strategy planning and the sale of businesses.
Share
