Franchise Law

Services

Franchisors and franchisees often need help with other legal issues of importance to your business.

For example:

  • Lease Review. The firm will review a proposed real estate lease that you are considering signing as a tenant and make recommendations for changes or additional questions to ask before you sign the lease.
  • Purchase or Sale of Commercial Real Estate. We can arrange an independent title search to make sure that you can obtain “clean title,” and also negotiate the terms of the purchase with both the seller and your third party financier.
  • Purchase and Sale of an Established Business. The firm has represented numerous sellers and buyers of established businesses, both franchised and independent. While such transactions typically are a transfer of the business’s assets, sometime they may involve the sale of stock or LLC membership interests. Franchise & Business Law Group will assist you with due diligence concerning the business’s assets and liabilities, and also can play an important role in negotiating a satisfactory purchase and sale agreement.
  • Business Entity Formation and Dissolution.The Franchise & Business Law Group has worked with many start-up and early stage companies with regard to formation of the business entity and creation of an LLC Operating Agreement or corporate by-laws that will facilitate fair and efficient governance of the company. The firm also will handle filings with the state and United States governments to establish your entity.
    We also have counseled business owners and facilitated the negotiation of a buy-out of unhappy owners and/or dissolution of the entity.
  • Growth of Existing Businesses. The firm is sensitive to the fact that franchising may not be the appropriate method of growing your company’s brand and its ultimate profitability. In those situations, we will work with you to formulate and implement other methods of achieving growth, such as establishing joint ventures or partnerships with like-minded entrepreneurs, licensing business methods or technology without trademarks, or providing consulting services to others wishing to operate in your industry.
  • Trademarks and Copyrights. Choosing business names and logos that you can use exclusively, or at least do not infringe on others’ trademark rights, is absolutely critical for the success of your business. Franchise & Business Law Group also represents clients in the selection and protection of their business names and/or logos, particularly with regard to obtaining registration of those names or logos by the United States Patent & Trademark Office (“USPTO”) as a trademark or service mark. The firm also is assisting clients with protecting their ownership of creative works (such as Operations Manuals, photographs and advertising copy) through copyright registration.
  • Employment. Franchise & Business Law Group lawyers have substantial experience with employment matters, both in terms of negotiating an agreement with a prospective employer or employee; resolving issues within the employment relationship; and representing clients in disputes with their former employer or employee.
  • Overview
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Firm Highlights

  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman Welcomes Noussah “Vanessa” Koui to Business Law and Transactions Group
    Offit Kurman Welcomes Noussah “Vanessa” Koui to Business Law and Transactions Group
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman’s Cheryl Hepfer Named a 2027 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Law Lawyer
    Offit Kurman’s Cheryl Hepfer Named a 2027 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Law Lawyer
  • Blog Posts
    NJDEP Issued Your Company a Penalty. Can You Negotiate It?
    NJDEP Issued Your Company a Penalty. Can You Negotiate It?
  • Blog Posts
    When Family, Assets, and Inheritance Laws Cross Borders
    When Family, Assets, and Inheritance Laws Cross Borders
  • Publications & News
    Thomas Powell Named to Arlington Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers List
    Thomas Powell Named to Arlington Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers List
  • Podcasts
    The College Prep Most Parents Skip with Candace Dellacona and Kimberly Lau
    When the "Cornell 7" case made national headlines this fall, many parents found themselves asking a question they never expected to face: what actually happens when something goes wrong on campus? We spend so much time preparing our kids to get into college and succeed once they get there, but how often do we prepare them for what happens next if a report is made, by them or about them? In this episode of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide, host Candace Dellacona is joined by her colleague Kimberly Lau, who represents both complainants and respondents in Title IX matters such as the case capturing the latest headlines. Together, they break down what Title IX is, who it protects, what happens when a college receives a report, and what students and parents should know before their child ever needs it. Kimberly explains why Title IX reaches far beyond athletics, what it generally means when a student is contacted by the campus Title IX office, and what a family should do first, whether their child is reporting something that happened to them, is the subject of a complaint, or simply got caught up in a situation they never expected. She also walks through how privacy rules affect what a school can share with parents, who can sit in on meetings, how investigations, hearings, and decisions typically unfold, and why preserving evidence and knowing your school's policies early can make all the difference. Whatever the outcome of the case making headlines, it has put a spotlight on how campus processes work, and on how much families often don't know until they're in the middle of one. If you are sending a freshman off to campus, welcoming a student home for the holidays, or simply want to be the kind of parent your child feels safe calling when things go wrong, this conversation offers clear, practical guidance you can use now. As Candace puts it, calling home right away is not a sign that your child has failed at being an adult. It is knowing where to turn. This episode is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every situation is different, so please consult an attorney about your specific circumstances. Learn more about Kimberly Lau and her practice at Offit Kurman: https://www.offitkurman.com/kimberly-lau Connect with Kimberly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlylauesq/ Follow and subscribe to The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide wherever you listen to podcasts. New conversations are released on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. If this episode resonates with you, leave a five-star rating or review and share it with another sandwich generation caregiver!
  • Blog Posts
    Click & Claim: How Executors Navigate Unclaimed Property Refunds in Virginia
    Click & Claim: How Executors Navigate Unclaimed Property Refunds in Virginia
  • Events
    AIA Tri-State Conference
    Princeton will serve as the backdrop for three days of connection, learning, and design leadership. From keynotes to tours to the Tri-State Design Awards, this year’s conference is designed to go far beyond education sessions. Kick off the week with pre-conference intensives and individual state component Design Award celebrations, followed by three days of education, inspiration, networking, and design excellence at the 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference—featuring pre-conference intensives, three keynote speakers, 25 education sessions, curated tours, an expo, spec academies, and the AIA Tri-State Design Awards—bringing together architects and design professionals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of the profession. G2. Designing Secure Practices: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Contractual Provisions, and Insurance Risks for Architects (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) Architects and design professionals increasingly rely on cloud platforms, BIM software, and digital tools to manage sensitive data, creating cybersecurity and privacy risks. A single incident can trigger liability claims, regulatory obligations, reputational harm, and insurance challenges. Yet many firms underestimate how contracts, insurance, and internal practices intersect during a breach. This program offers legal and insurance perspectives on cyber risk in architecture, examining liability exposure, risky contract provisions, and mitigation strategies. A cyber insurance expert will explain policy responses, coverage gaps, coordination with professional liability, and best practices for aligning insurance with contractual risk and protecting firms from evolving cyber threats. Learning Objectives: Identify key cybersecurity and data privacy risks faced by architecture firms and explain how these risks can impact professional liability and project outcomes. Analyze common contractual provisions to determine which clauses may increase exposure to cyber incidents and propose strategies to mitigate these risks. Evaluate the scope and limitations of cyber insurance policies, including coordination with professional liability coverage, to determine how a policy would respond in a breach scenario. Develop actionable risk management strategies by integrating legal, contractual, and insurance considerations to protect sensitive client and project data.
  • Events
    The 2026 Economic, Tax, and Accounting Updates
    We are looking forward to the Mid-Atlantic CFO Roundtable's next event on November 13, 2026. This is a program with topics built for Finance Executives. We are extremely fortunate to have three excellent speakers: Dr. Daraius Irani, Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University; Mike Stankus, Tax Office Managing Principal at BDO; and Daniel Wahlberg, Managing Partner of Acclare Solutions. The economy is rapidly changing with various factors driving it. The November 3rd midterm elections may also have an impact. Our three expert presenters will discuss the ramifications of the election, and the current year updates to GAAP financial reporting and Federal and State income taxes. Please join us for what will surely be an informative and timely discussion. Meet Our Speakers: Daraius Irani, Ph.D. • Towson University Vice President, Business & Public Engagement Dr. Daraius Irani serves as Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University as well as the chief economist for the Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) at Towson University, a policy group providing economic, fiscal impact, and policy analysis to public and private entities.  Dr. Irani is often called upon to provide economic presentations to organizations across Maryland. He has appeared on numerous television programs and in local and regional print media. Dr. Irani holds a Ph.D. in economics from University of California, Santa Barbara. Dan Wahlberg • Acclare Solutions Managing Partner With over 28 years of experience, Dan Wahlberg is a recognized leader in audit and assurance for the Mid-Atlantic’s middle market business community. As a licensed CPA in Maryland and Virginia, Dan has led assurance practices at top regional firms, including serving as Baltimore Audit Managing Partner and Assurance Practice Leader at BDO USA in Baltimore and as Partner and member of the Management Committee at Hertzbach & Company P.A which merged into BDO in 2020. His expertise centers on delivering clarity, strategic guidance, and proactive solutions to middle-market businesses across Baltimore and beyond. His entrepreneurial spirit has led him to begin a new CPA firm this year with four other CPAs serving the business community. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rutgers University and began his career at PWC in New York. He is also deeply engaged in the community, previously serving as President of ACG Maryland and current Board member and as Audit Committee Member for The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.  Mike Stankus • BDO USA LLP Tax Office Managing Principal Mike Stankus is the Tax Office Managing Principal for the firm’s Baltimore office. He has more than 16 years of experience providing tax planning and preparation and management advisory services for his clients. Mike focuses on advising privately held businesses and their owners on effective growth and tax strategies. He also performs various engagements for mergers and acquisitions and complex cost accounting projects and projections. In addition, he represents various government contracting clients before the DCAA and assists with FAR compliance. Mike’s areas of concentration include working with government contractors, professional service firms, construction companies, and homebuilders.
  • Events
    Navigating D.C.'s Changing Housing Landscape - Utility Billing, Pets in Housing and Year-End Legislative Updates
    Navigating D.C.'s Changing Housing Landscape - Utility Billing, Pets in Housing and Year-End Legislative Updates