Both women strengthen the firm's corporate and commercial group
Sotos LLP has bolstered its corporate and commercial group with the appointments of Debi Sutin as partner and of Ashley Caldwell as senior associate.
Sutin has worked on matters related to franchising, licensing, distribution, and mergers & acquisitions for over 30 years. She has assisted Canadian and international franchisors with all aspects of Canadian franchise law, such as franchise regulatory compliance and best practices for establishing and maintaining effective franchise systems and relationships.
Moreover, she has advised on the management of cross-border transactions and supply and distribution agreements.
Sutin co-chaired the Ontario Bar Association Annual Franchise Law Conference and is an active Canadian Franchise Association contributor. She has also pitched in with the International Franchise Association and the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising.
Prior to joining Sotos, Sutin was a partner at Gowling WLG, where she spent over 16 years per LinkedIn. She also worked with Feltmate Delibato Heagle LLP and Goodman and Carr.
She has been ranked as a highly recommended franchise lawyer by Lexpert since 2016.
Caldwell has handled matters involving share and asset acquisitions and divestitures, corporate reorganizations, shareholder agreements, commercial leases, and other business contracts. She has advised Canadian and international franchisors and franchisees in negotiating franchise agreements and on the purchase and sale of franchised businesses, compliance with legislation, and dispute resolution.
She is part of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Franchise Association, the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, and the International Franchise Association. She is the Ontario Bar Association franchise law section executive’s newsletter editor.
Before making the move to Sotos, Caldwell was an associate with Gowling WLG. She also recorded associate stints with McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP and Dyer Brown LLP; moreover, she was a junior associate with Pearsall Marshall Halliwill & Seaton LLP per LinkedIn.
She received her JD in law from the University of Windsor in 2017 and also holds a bachelor of arts honours degree in sociology.
