Blakes has extensive experience in the commercial leasing area both in shopping malls and on the high street. Similarly, we are able to provide employment and labour advice that is focused on some of the unique features and risks specific to employers in the retail sector, including ensuring compliance with both part-time and overtime employment standards requirements.
We also have broad-based expertise in sector-specific issues, including brand protection, packaging and labelling, consumer product safety, product recalls, advertising, privacy, anti-spam and the applicability of French language laws to retail operations in the province of Quebec. We are also able to advise clients on all aspects of franchising in Canada, including whether a particular relationship could, contrary to the expectations of the parties, be found to be a franchise under Canadian law. We are able to provide advice on all aspects of e-commerce, including website content, language law requirements, privacy, anti-spam, payment and credit card considerations and logistics, and fulfilment contracts.
In addition to new entrants into Canada we have many long-standing retail clients who look to us for advice on maintaining and expanding their Canadian business.