Jennifer Dolman

Partner, Litigation Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

  • Toronto ON

Commercial litigator with deep expertise in advising Canadian and international franchisors with all manner of business disputes.

Contact

Social

Biography

Jennifer’s litigation practice focuses on disputes involving franchising and other commercial matters, employment, defamation, intellectual property and privacy. Jennifer has particular expertise in injunctions and emergency applications. She has represented companies in a broad range of industries including some of the world’s best known brands. Prior to joining Osler in 1992, she clerked for the Chief Justice of the Ontario Court.

Jennifer has written over 30 articles in a regular online Franchise Focus column for the FP Entrepreneur in the National Post.

Industry Expertise

Legal Services

Areas of Expertise

Class Actions
Defamation Law
Franchise Law
Employment & Labour Law
Hospitality and Leisure
Intellectual Property
Internet
Privacy and Data Management
Retail

Accomplishments

Recognized as a leading franchise lawyer in:

Best Lawyers in Canada (2008-2017)
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (2011-2017)
Chambers Canada: Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (2016-2017)
Who's Who Legal Canada (2015)
Who's Who Legal: Franchise (2015)
Franchise Times Legal Eagle (2011-2014)
Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Corporate Lawyers in Canada (2013-2014)

Education

McGill University

LL.B

1989

University of Toronto

B.A.

1986

Affiliations

  • American Bar Association (including Franchise Law Journal Editorial Board)
  • Advocates’ Society
  • Canadian Franchise Association
  • Ontario Bar Association (current Chair of Franchise Law Section)
  • Intellectual Property Institute of Canada
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Languages

  • English

Media Appearances

Jennifer has written over 30 articles in a regular online Franchise Focus column for the FP Entrepreneur in the National Post.

Financial Post  online

Jennifer Dolman is a litigation partner with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Toronto. A frequent speaker and writer on franchise law, Jennifer has particular expertise representing franchisors on franchise disputes.

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Canada still scores as franchise destination

Canadian Lawyer InHouse Magazine  online

2016-10-31

A recent article in Canadian Lawyer InHouse discusses some of the legislative and regulatory limitations and inconsistencies that currently exist in the Canadian franchise landscape and how those challenges are affecting the franchising of U.S. brands in Canada.

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‘Joint-employer’ status could rattle franchise industry: 'It will be a game-changer'

Financial Post  online

2016-06-14

According to an article by Julius Melnitzer in the Financial Post, a new concept called “joint employer status” could have a significant impact on the Canadian franchise industry. The notion of joint employer status is supported by unions and other employee advocates who maintain that franchisees and franchisors have such a close relationship that they should be deemed to be “joint employers” of a franchisee’s employees.

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Event Appearances

BC’s New Franchises Act (Speaker)

The Continuing Legal Education Society  

2016-12-05

16th Annual Franchise Law Conference (Speaker)

The Role of Equity in Franchise Law  

2016-11-17

Duties of Good Faith: Recent Developments in the Law and Practical Implications

Lexpert Professional Development  

2016-06-09

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Articles

Who's Who Legal Franchise 2016 Roundtable (Co-author)

Who’s Who Legal

2016-11-01

Who’s Who Legal brings together Lee Plave of Plave Koch, Penny Ward of Baker & McKenzie and Jennifer Dolman of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt to discuss issues facing franchise lawyers and their clients today.

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Best practices: Including mediation and arbitration clauses in franchise agreements (Co-author)

Osler Franchise Review

2016-04-14

Mediation offers particular advantages for disputes between franchisors and existing franchisees where there is a mutual interest in preserving an ongoing franchise relationship.

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Restrictive covenants cannot prevent franchisees from operating in areas where the franchisor has no intention of operating (Co-author)

Osler Franchise Review

2016-04-14

In MEDIchair LP v. DME Medequip Inc., 2016 ONCA 168, the Ontario Court of Appeal confirmed that a franchisor is not entitled to enforce a restrictive covenant where there is clear evidence it has no intention of operating within the protected geographic area.

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