Franchises Update 2025

Course Chairs
Marta C. Davidson — Embarq Law at Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver
Tony Wilson, KC — Embarq Law at Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver

About the Course Chairs
Marta Davidson is a business lawyer with a simple and practical approach: what are the business objectives of our clients, and how can we help you achieve them? Marta's view is that law is a tool that should be used to achieve your goals—not stand in your way. Lawyers shouldn't tell clients all the reasons why they "can't do" something. Rather, as counsel, they should creatively problem solve and find an innovative solution to assist in accomplishing your business goals.

This starts with proper set up and structure of your business, evolves to managing and administering daily operations and routine transactions, and includes compliance and maintenance. Your ultimate goal may be to build a successful business and run it forever—or your end game may be to sell it and make a lucrative exit. Helping you navigate the legal issues simply and effectively is Marta's goal.

Tony Wilson, KC practices in the areas of franchising, licensing and IP law and is regularly ranked as one of Canada's leading franchise lawyers by LEXPERT, Who's Who Legal and Best Lawyers in Canada. Most recently, Tony was recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada for Franchise Law.

Between 2014 and 2016, he served as a special advisor to the BC Ministry of Attorney General concerning franchise law in BC, and advised on BC's Franchises Act and Regulations which came into force in 2017.

Tony regularly speaks and writes on franchising and other legal matters and is often interviewed by CBC, Global News and other broadcasters.

He has been course chair of CLEBC's Franchise Law in BC program in 2016 and 2020. He represents national and international franchisors and prepares Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), Franchise Agreements, Master Franchise Agreements, and related documents to enable businesses to franchise in BC and other Canadian provinces. He also assists franchisees with negotiating their agreements and is the author of "Buying a Franchise in Canada: Understanding and Negotiating Your Franchise Agreement"; the only comprehensive legal guide for persons seeking to buy franchised businesses in Canada. Together with other members of the firm, he also assists in the resolution of franchise disputes. Tony is the author of Manage Your Online Reputation, a book written to guide individuals and businesses on how to monitor and protect their personal and corporate reputations on social media.

Additionally, Tony has been a regular business columnist for the Globe and Mail and his articles have appeared in Maclean's magazine, BC Restaurant News, Franchise Entrepreneur, and other publications. He also writes a widely read opinion column for Bartalk magazine.

In addition to his franchise practice, he advises clients on intellectual property matters such as copyright, trade secrets, confidentiality, privacy, and online reputation law.

He is an Adjunct Professor at Thompson Rivers University Law School where he taught Legal Ethics between 2015 and 2022.

He has been a Bencher of the Law Society of BC since 2012 and is now a Life Bencher. Given his many years with the Law Society, he is available to advise on professional discipline matters for lawyers and other professionals.

He was appointed Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel) in 2016 to recognize his exceptional merit and contribution to the legal profession in BC.

Faculty
Blair A. Rebane — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver
Judy A. Rost — Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP, Vancouver
Peter V. Snell — Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Vancouver

Click here for full faculty bios

Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:05)

Raymond Lee — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Marta C. Davidson — Embarq Law at Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver
Tony Wilson, KC — Embarq Law at Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver

96 Months Later—The BC Franchises Act (9:05 – 9:35)

Moderator: Tony Wilson, KC — Embarq Law at Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver
Marta C. Davidson — Embarq Law at Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver
Blair A. Rebane — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver
Judy A. Rost — Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP, Vancouver
Peter V. Snell — Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Vancouver

Statutory Claims (9:35 – 10:05)

Judy A. Rost — Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP, Vancouver

Standards of Practice, Best Practice, and Ethics (10:05 – 10:35)

Peter V. Snell — Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (10:35 – 10:45)

Interesting Franchise Contract Provisions (10:45 – 11:20)

Blair A. Rebane — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Advising Franchisees—Key Issues and Top Franchisee Questions (11:20 – 12:05)

Marta C. Davidson — Embarq Law at Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver

Franchises Legislative and Case Law Update (12:05 – 12:50)

Moderator: Tony Wilson, KC — Embarq Law at Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver
Marta C. Davidson — Embarq Law at Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver
Blair A. Rebane — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver
Judy A. Rost — Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP, Vancouver
Peter V. Snell — Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Vancouver

Closing Remarks (12:50 – 1:00)

Marta C. Davidson — Embarq Law at Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver
Tony Wilson, KC — Embarq Law at Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver