Chad Finkelstein
Play
Partner
Chad is a partner and registered trademark agent at Dale & Lessmann LLP, as well as the founder and co-chair of the firm’s Franchise, Licensing & Distribution practice group, and founder and chair of the firm’s Cannabis practice group.
Alin Lewis
416-369-7818
alewis@dalelessmann.com
Chad is a transactional lawyer and practices in the areas of corporate law, M&A, franchise law, licensing, distribution, intellectual property law, cannabis law, information technology law, advertising/marketing law, and contest and gaming law.
Chad works across a broad spectrum of service sectors including retail, restaurant chains, cannabis, consumer packaged goods, apparel, health & wellness, beauty services, real estate and technology.
In 2018, Chad was selected as a winner of Lexpert’s Rising Stars award, recognizing Canada’s leading lawyers under 40 years old. He has been recognized by his peers as a ranked lawyer in franchise law and cannabis law in such publications as Lexpert, Who’s Who Legal: Canada, Chambers Canada, The Best Lawyers in Canada and Franchise Times. He has contributed regular columns on business, cannabis, franchising and branding legal issues to the National Post and The Globe & Mail, and has been an interview subject on these issues in the Globe and Mail, National Post, the Canadian Press, and on CTV, CBC, BNN, CityTV, CH News and numerous radio news programs. He is also a guest lecturer at the University of Toronto.
Recognition
Lexpert Rising Stars
Lexpert (Franchise)
Chambers Canada (Franchise Law, Cannabis)
The Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada
Who’s Who Legal: Canada (Franchise Law)
The Best Lawyers in Canada (Franchise Law, Cannabis, Corporate)
Franchise Times Legal Eagle
Recent Presentations & Publications
- 2022 Judicial Update – International – International Franchise Association, Annual Legal Symposium, 2022
- Why franchising cannabis stores in Ontario is legal, Globe & Mail November 19, 2018
- The wave of restaurant chain mergers and acquisitions in Canada is coming, Globe & Mail November 16, 2020
- One year after legalization, industry seeks clarity around promotions, Globe & Mail October 16, 2019
- Ontario retail lottery 2.0: A tightened process should benefit applicants, and brands, Globe & Mail, July 4, 2019
- Edibles: What to watch for as Ottawa crafts the final rules, Globe & Mail, April 24, 2019
- Quoted in Globe & Mail Article February 11, 2019, regarding Tim Hortons Potential Franchisees Settlement
- Ontario Caps Private Cannabis Stores Interview on BNN December 14, 2018
- Quoted in BNN Article December 14, 2018
- New Ontario regulations dash expansion hopes for some cannabis retailers, Globe & Mail November 15, 2018
- 2018 Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40 winner
- Regular column for the Financial Post on franchise, trademark and branding legal issues
- Cannabis in Restaurants, CTV Ottawa September 12, 2018
- The future of Smart Serve with legalization around the corner, Breakfast TV August 21, 2018
- "The Franchise Battle of the Next Decade: Brand Control or Legal Exposure? Balancing the Franchisor’s Need to Control the Brand with Vicarious Liability Concerns”, presented to the Ontario Bar Association Franchise Law Section, June 2018
- “The Legalization of Cannabis and How It May Affect Your Business”, presented to the Canadian Franchise Association, June 2018
- “Cannabis and the Foodservice Industry”, a panellist at the National Restaurant Association Show, May 2018
- “Cannabis in Foodservice”, presented to Restaurants Canada, May 2018
- “Be On the Lookout! How to Spot and Address the Accidental Franchise”, presented to the Ontario Bar Association Institute, February 2018
- "The Impact of Cannabis Legalization on Canada and the Restaurant Industry", delivered to the Board of Directors of Restaurants Canada, June 2017
- “Thinking of franchising your restaurant? Not knowing the law could cost you”, Restaurants Canada, June 2017
- “Marijuana and Foodservice – What You Need to Know”, Restaurants Canada, April 2017
- “Ask the Experts: Contributing to the Ad Fund”, Canadian Business Franchise, April 2017
- “Will my franchised restaurant make money?”, Restaurants Canada, February 2017
- "Design and Executing Effective Franchise System Advertising Programs", presented to the Canadian Franchise Association Law Day, 2016
- “Ask the Experts: Terms for the resale of a franchise”, Canadian Business Franchise, November 2016
- “Human Rights & the Restaurant Industry in Canada”, Restaurants Canada, July 2016
- “Key legal issues for the foodservice industry”, RestoBiz, July 2016
- “What do you mean your restaurant doesn’t have a shareholders’ agreement?”, Restaurants Canada, June 2016
- “How Canada’s New Trademark Laws Affect Restauranteurs”, Restaurants Canada, May 2016
- “Developing the franchise model for your restaurant”, Restaurants Canada, May 2016
- “Items to consider before franchising your restaurant”, Restaurants Canada, May 2016
- "Tweet, Like, Share, Repeat - Effective Management of a Franchise Brand's Social Media Program", presented to the International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, May 2016
- "Introduction to Canadian Franchise Law"
- “Reading the Fine Print: Introduction to Food Aggregators”, Restaurants Canada, April 2016
- “Ask the Experts: Changes to trademarks laws”, Canadian Business Franchise, March 2016
- "Regulatory Nation - A Look at New and Potential Regulatory & Legislative Development Impacting Franchising (Menu Labelling)"
- "Healthy Menu Choices Act", presented to the Canadian Franchise Association Law Day 2016
- “Ask the Experts: Developing franchise legislation in British Columbia”, Canadian Business Franchise, August 2014
- "Legal & Business Aspects to Consider When Purchasing a Franchise", presented to the Canadian Franchise Association Franchise Show
- "Don't Gamble With the Law: How to Run a Legal Contest and Promotional Giveaway", presented as a Canadian Franchise Association webinar, 2015
- "Data Security Issues for Franchise Systems", presented to the Canadian Franchise Association Law Day 2015
- Co-Chair, Canadian Franchise Association Law Day, 2014
- “Ask the Experts: Franchisee freedom”, Canadian Business Franchise, June 2014
- Co-Chair Ontario Bar Association Institute, Franchise Law, February 2013
- “Ask the Experts: Finding a franchise lawyer”, Canadian Business Franchise, September 2012
- “When Your Franchise Agreement Ends”, Canadian Business Franchise, December 2011
- “Non-Competition Covenants in A Canadian Context”, International Journal of Franchising Law, Volume 9, Issue 3, 2011 (co-author)
- “Franchising and Social Media”, presented to the Ontario Bar Association Annual Franchise Law Conference, 2011
Recent Media
- 'Illegal cannabis market won't go away overnight': Lawyer on Ontario scrapping lottery system
- Expect an oversaturation and robust M&A market for cannabis stores: Lawyer
- 'No small miracle' few pot stores now open in Ontario: Cannabis lawyer
- Ontario caps initial rollout of private cannabis retail stores
- Ontario's second pot retail lottery to have 'fewer applicants for double the stores': Lawyer
- Cannabis in Restaurants
- BNN Bloomberg: Ontario caps initial rollout of private cannabis retail stores
- CBC News: Why Canadian sports gamblers bet billions offshore
- Sportsnet: MLSE signs 4-year promotional deal with DraftKings
- Dale and Lessmann: Online Fantasy Sports Leagues: A Canadian Legal Analysis
- National Post: Canada could be susceptible to daily fantasy scandals like those in the U.S. if industry not regulated, experts warn
- Canadian Business: Fantasy Feud is betting that fans want to play every day
- CTV News: Governments getting stiffed on revenue by online sports betting: experts
- BNN Bloomberg: Tim Hortons heirs face backlash after cutting worker benefits: Legal perspective
- CTV News: Montreal woman arrested after posting graffiti photo
- News Talk 1010: Let's Eat with Zane Caplansky
- CBC News: Online sports gambling thrives in Canada's legal 'grey zone'
Related News & Updates
Why Franchising Cannabis Stores in Ontario is Legal
Cannabis Retail Strategy Will Likely Pivot to Franchising
System Changes are Hard But are Mcdonald’s Franchisees ‘lovin’ It’?
Service Areas
Advertising, Marketing, Endorsements & Contests
Franchising, Licensing & Distribution
Education
- LL.B., University of Western Ontario, 2005
- B.A., University of Western Ontario, 2002
- Admitted to the Ontario Bar (Law Society of Ontario), 2006
Professional Membership(s)
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Restaurants Canada
- Canadian Franchise Association
- International Franchise Association
- Past Member, Ontario Bar Association, Executive of Franchise Law Section (Public Affairs Liaison)