LEXPERT • June 2014 | www.lexpert.ca | 93
FRANCHISING LAW
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Partner ‒ Franchising. Expertise in all matters relating to franchising, licensing and
distribution. Current Chair of Ontario Bar Association Section on franchise law and
serves as Secretary to the Canadian Franchise Association's (CFA) Legal and Legislative
Committee. First Canadian Co-chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Forum
on Franchising's annual meeting (2009). Second Vice-Chair and sole Canadian member
of the International Franchise Association's Supplier Board. Co-editor of the ABA
Forum on Franchising's Fundamentals of Franchising‒Canada, editor and co-author of
the chapter on Canada for ABA's International Franchise Sales Laws text, and co-author
and co-editor of CFA's How to Franchise Your Business. Former Director of the ABA
Forum on Franchising's international division and only Canadian member of the ABA
Forum's Governing Committee. Frequent speaker at Canadian and international
franchise law and business seminars. Repeatedly listed as one of the top 100 franchise
lawyers in North America by Franchise Times. Called to the Ontario Bar in 1989.
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Partner ‒ Commercial Litigation. Signifi cant experience in the resolution of franchise
law disputes through trial, appeal, mediation or arbitration. Frequent speaker at
Canadian and international franchise and distribution law seminars. Over 40 reported
decisions. Regularly retained to defend franchisors in class actions. Recognized as a
leading franchise lawyer by ! e Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory and ! e Best Lawyers
in Canada. Contributes articles to various trade and legal publications on franchise
and tax law. Past instructor at the Bar admission course (civil procedures section), the
Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop at Osgoode Hall Law School (expert testimony
and cross-examinations), and guest lecturer at the University of Western Ontario Law
School's franchise law course. Member of the Canadian Franchise Association legal and
legislative committee and government aff airs committee, ABA Forum on Franchising,
e Advocates' Society and the American Trial Lawyers Association. Obtained LLM
(ADR) in 2011 from Osgoode Hall Law School. Called to the Ontario Bar in 1986.
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Debi Sutin is a partner in Gowlings' Hamilton offi ce, where she is a member of the
Business Law Group and the Franchise and Distribution Law National Practice Group.
She practices general commercial law with expertise in all matters relating to franchising,
licensing and distribution. Sutin advises Canadian and international franchisors across
all industries on the establishment and ongoing operation of their franchise systems
throughout Canada. She is a frequent author on franchise-related matters and speaks
regularly at conferences, seminars and other franchise industry events. Sutin is a member
of the Canadian Franchise Association, American Bar Association, International
Franchise Association and an Executive member of the Ontario Bar Association
Franchise Law Section. She is recognized for her franchise expertise in ! e Best Lawyers
in Canada, Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, Who's Who Legal: Canada, Who's Who
Legal: International and as a legal eagle by Franchise Times magazine.
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Leonard H. Polsky is a partner in Gowlings' Vancouver offi ce, practicing in the areas
of domestic and international franchising, licensing, product distribution, dealerships
and intellectual property (principally in trade-marks and copyrights). Polsky is the
Founder and past chair of Gowlings' Franchise and Distribution Law Practice Group.
Polsky has practiced law in British Columbia since 1971 and as a Registered Canadian
Trade-Mark Agent since 1972. He is a frequent author and speaker on domestic and
international franchising.
La rry M.
Weinberg
Cassels Brock &
Blackwell LLP
Tel: (416) 860-2987
Fax: (416) 640-3043
Toronto
Geoff rey
B. Shaw
Cassels Brock &
Blackwell LLP
Tel: (416) 869-5982
Fax: (416) 350-6916
Toronto
Debi M.
Sutin
Gowling Lafl eur
Henderson LLP
Tel: (905) 540-3259
Fax: (905) 528-5833
Hamilton
Leonard
H. Polsky
Gowling Lafl eur
Henderson LLP
Tel: (604) 443-7627
Fax: (604) 683-3558
Vancouver
lweinberg@casselsbrock.com
gshaw@casselsbrock.com
debi.sutin@gowlings.com
leonard.polsky@gowlings.com
