Franchise Agreement Disputes

The first step is to book a complimentary intake call with one of our intake specialists. During this initial conversation, we’ll gather some preliminary details about your matter, identify the nature of the dispute, and determine whether it falls within our areas of practice.

If we believe we can assist, we’ll then proceed with a conflict check to ensure there are no conflicts of interest under the Law Society of Ontario’s Rules of Professional Conduct. Once cleared, we can schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers, where we will review your situation in more detail, discuss potential legal strategies, and outline next steps for formal engagement.

This process ensures that every inquiry is handled carefully, ethically, and efficiently—so that we can provide you with informed guidance right from the outset.

Our process is designed to be clear, efficient, and transparent from start to finish.

1. Initial Intake Call:
   We begin with a complimentary intake call to understand the general nature of your matter, confirm it falls within our areas of practice, and gather preliminary information.
2. Conflict Check:
   Before receiving any detailed or confidential information, we conduct a conflict of interest check as required by the Law Society of Ontario. This ensures we can represent you without any professional conflicts.
3. Consultation with a Lawyer:
   Once cleared, we schedule a formal consultation — either in person or remotely — where we review your situation in detail, answer your questions, and outline preliminary legal options or next steps.
4. Retainer and Engagement:
   If you decide to proceed, we provide a Retainer Agreement outlining the scope of work, estimated costs, and billing structure. Upon execution and receipt of the retainer, we officially open your file.
5. Case Strategy and Next Steps:
   Your lawyer will then prepare a strategy plan and begin working on your matter — whether that involves drafting pleadings, engaging in negotiations, or preparing for court proceedings — while keeping you informed throughout.

At every stage, we emphasize clarity, communication, and transparency so you always know what to expect and how your case is progressing.

Efforts to avoid conflicts of interest are required by the Law Society of Ontario and form a fundamental part of legal ethics and professional regulation.

A conflict check ensures that our firm has never represented—or is not currently representing—any party whose interests may be adverse to yours. This process protects both you and our firm by confirming that we can act for you with full independence and loyalty.

The duty to avoid conflicts applies to past, current, and prospective clients and is set out in the Rules of Professional Conduct (the Model Code) as well as by decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada, including R. v. Neil and Canadian National Railway Co. v. McKercher LLP.

In practice, we conduct conflict checks before receiving detailed information about your matter. This step is an essential safeguard to uphold professional integrity and client trust.

In most cases, we can schedule your consultation within 24–48 hours after completing the initial intake and conflict check process. This ensures that your matter is properly screened and assigned to the most suitable lawyer on our team.

To learn more about what happens next — from intake to engagement — please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, where we’ve outlined each step in detail and answered the most common questions new clients have.