Building a business around a well-respected brand offers many advantages. We represent distributors, suppliers, franchisors and franchisees in establishing successful enterprises across the United States and internationally, including foreign franchisors in their U.S. business interests and U.S. franchisors expanding abroad. The deeply experienced attorneys on Offit Kurman’s Franchising Team have worked across multiple industries to structure effective franchise systems that comply with state and federal laws, advise established franchisors, and resolve issues with state franchise regulators.
Recognized for our work in this area, our legal team includes veteran franchise lawyers who are active members and leaders in the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising, the International Franchise Association and other trade associations, as well as in state bar associations. Our team members frequently speak and author thought leadership articles on franchise law matters, including publishing on the firm’s Franchise Alchemy blog.
Franchise Business Issues
Whether representing the franchisor or the franchisee, we regularly draft and review franchise agreements and franchise disclosure documents and handle the required state franchise registrations and renewals. In addition, we guide business owners through the legal aspects of running a business, from real estate to intellectual property and employment law to commercial contracts, including:
- Planning the appropriate business entities and structures
- Securities counseling
- Trademark applications and portfolios
- Trade secret agreements
- Mergers and acquisitions
- License, technology, distribution and supply agreements
- International agreements
- Labor and employment, joint employer matters
- Commercial leases
Franchise Litigation
We represent the various parties in franchise and distribution relationships in federal and state courts across the country and in alternative dispute resolution and administrative proceedings, regularly handling matters related to:
- Franchisee and distributor terminations
- Bankruptcy litigation
- Breach of contract
- Intellectual property, including trademarks and licensing
- Unfair competition
- Labor and employment
- Encroachment
- Commercial litigation
- Non-solicitation/noncompete infringement
- Real estate matters
