Our Franchising Services
Our Firm provides full scope franchising services. We focus our practice on representing both franchisors and franchisees and tailor our services to meet each client’s unique business needs.
We are committed to providing focused, integrated and responsive legal counsel concerning franchise law. Considering your individual business objectives, our lawyers assist franchisors and franchisees with a wide range of franchise law matters, both domestic and international. We recognize that the success of franchising depends upon our client’s ability to properly structure, maintain and control their franchise business relationships.
We assist concept owners through vital business decisions, such as drafting and negotiating franchising contracts. We do not expect you to accept an off-the-shelf product and will tailor our services accordingly. We draft contracts to be user-friendly both for potential franchisees and for the franchisor’s own staff, without sacrificing critical safeguards.
We believe that exposure to both sides of the relationship makes us better franchise lawyers for all of our clients. Our understanding of franchisors’ concerns and expectations makes us effective and efficient advocates for franchisee clients, especially in negotiating business terms. At the same time viewing franchise offerings from the investor’s perspective, if only occasionally, richly informs our work for brand owners, by sensitizing us to the real-world impact of franchise program documents.
Disputes often arise between franchisors and current or former franchisees. In each instance, our first priority Is to understand the dispute – from our client’s unique perspective. Only then can we determine and implement the best strategy to protect or advance their interests. Given the high-cost of litigation, we employ an arsenal of dispute resolution options and techniques including: aggressive negotiation, mediation or, if warranted, formal arbitration of any unresolved issues. When possible, we strive to identify and pursue all available business solutions instead of accepting the more common, yet least cost-effective, path to the courthouse.
Whether automotive, healthcare, retail, hospitality, or any other type of franchise, our expertise can help guide you through all the various aspects of owning and operating a franchise – from reviewing the initial franchise contract to ensuring your interests are protected to dealing with any dispute that arise during the course of daily operations.
Our assistance to franchisors includes:
- Preparing franchise disclosure documents
- Advice on compliance with state and federal laws and regulations
- Registration with state regulatory authorities
- Notices of exemption from compliance with state business opportunity laws
- Trademark registration and protection
- Franchise and master franchise agreements
- Area franchise development agreements
- Confidentiality and non-competition agreements
- Agreements with suppliers
- Resolving disputes with franchisees
Our assistance to franchisees includes:
- Reviewing franchise disclosure documents
- Negotiating terms of franchise and other agreements
- Setting up franchisee entities
- Negotiating leases for franchised businesses
- Resolving disputes with franchisors
- Negotiating terms of sales of franchised businesses