Biography: Franchise

Norman Issley, partner in the Montreal office at Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, is a well-known consultant and adviser renowned for his unique expertise in the area of franchising and has a wealth of experience in commercial law, including acquisitions, real estate and commercial leasing. With a 30-year career in law, he advises numerous prominent Canadian, US and foreign franchise systems on day-to-day commercial operations involving purchase agreements, leases, real estate offers, franchising agreements, shareholder agreements, employment contracts and distributorship agreements.

Norman's expertise in pharmacy and pharmacology enables him to offer unique advice to commercial clients in the pharmaceutical and retail pharmacy industries. He is also counsel to several funeral home and cemetery chains.

In addition to his inclusion in Who's Who Legal: Canada 2010, Norman has acted as the exclusive Canadian contributor of the Canadian franchise law update section of the International Law Office's electronic newsletter. He has published numerous articles and newsletters, and has lectured both in Canada and the US on franchising and leasing issues. He has been a roundtable facilitator at Annual International Franchise Association (IFA) annual conventions, and a speaker at the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) annual conventions. He has also been a panellist at conferences presented by the Canadian Institute.

Norman is a member of the Quebec Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Franchise Association, the American Bar Association forum on franchising and the International Franchise Association.