Global franchising calls for skilled legal assistance. Here’s Global Franchise’s roster of lawyers who really know their way around the business. Some of these lawyers from the USA, Canada and Europe will be readily recognizable, while others may have just the skills and experience you need to smooth your path as you expand.
Stephen Attree Managing Partner, MLP Law
Post Grexit and en-route to Brexit, Europe can seem a daunting prospect. But if you’re looking for a Legal 500-listed lawyer who can guide your steps in the UK and Europe, Stephen Attree could well be your man. He’s the owner, managing partner and business growth adviser at MLP Law Ltd.
Olivier Binder Partner, Granrut société d’avocats
Don’t even pense about franchising in France without taking sound legal advice from a widely-experienced franchise expert like Olivier Bindier. A member of the ‘French Franchise Federation’ panel of experts, Bindier has assisted a wide variety of French and foreign clients over the past 25 years on everything from transactional and litigation issues to crisis-management and dispute resolution.
Michael Brennan Of Counsel, DLA Piper
Experience is a valuable commodity. Franchising and licensing have been at the heart of Michael Brennan’s practise for more than 25 years and he’s shared his experience and knowledge with the likes of the IFA, the CFA, the American Bar Association and the International Young Lawyers Association.
Nicola Broadhurst Partner, Stevens & Bolton
Concerned about brand integrity? Talk to someone who knows intellectual property inside out. Nicola Broadhurst’s specialties are franchising and the commercial exploitation of intellectual property. With an emphasis on international expansion, she regularly advises both franchisors and franchisees.
Amy Cheng Partner, Cheng Cohen
With her extensive experience in structuring and drafting agreements for complex franchise, licensing and distribution relationships and in regulatory compliance, Amy Cheng is an experienced go-to for legal advice which includes franchise, licensing and distribution law.
Gordon Drakes Partner, Fieldfisher
London-based Gordon Drakes specialises in franchising and multi-channel distribution, with a strong emphasis on international expansion. Gordon recently helped well-known UK and international brands expand into India, Russia and the CIS, the Middle East, South America and the Far East.
Anders Fernlund Partner, Nova
A bi-lingual lawyer is going to be high on your shopping list if you’re expanding into Scandinavia. Enter franchising expert and ex-chair of the Swedish Franchise Association Anders Fernlund. Areas of focus include competition law, EU law, franchising and distribution law and intellectual property law.
Lane Fisher Managing Partner, Fisher Zucker
A recognisable face at many an IFA gathering is Lane Fisher, who has held posts on the International Franchise Association’s Board of Directors and the Legal Symposium Task Force, and also on the IFA’s executive committee. He’s a frequent speaker at such events and has published than 50 informative articles.
Mark Forseth Marriott International
Mark Forseth proved as witty as he was informative at the recent Symposium on Franchising held in London. The Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Brand and Franchise Transactions for Marriott International, Inc, he’s responsible for responding to legal issues involving the development and operation of franchised hotels, in the US and overseas.
William Graefe Jnr Partner, Fisher Zucker
Bill’s Philadelphia-based practice focuses on franchise transactional work in the United States and beyond; he’s assisted U.S. franchisors to expand their brands in various foreign jurisdictions through master franchise, direct franchising and other licensing routes.
Susan A. Grueneberg Partner, Snell & Wilmer
Susan Grueneberg’s Orange County, LA-based practice focuses on advising clients on franchise and distribution law, including regulatory compliance. Her practice emphasizes both domestic and international franchises and licensing, as well as area development arrangements and sub-franchises. Another big bonus is that Susan speaks Mandarin Chinese.
Earsa Jackson Partner, Strasburger
Earsa Jackson serves as the Chair for Strasburger’s Franchise & Distribution team. She structures franchises and assists franchisors with ongoing transactional needs, handling litigation matters in business and commercial, False Claims Act, business torts, franchise and distribution, trademark infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, contract disputes and probate.
Edward (Ned) Levitt Partner, Dickinson Wright
Formerly General Counsel to the Canadian Franchise Association, Ned Levitt is well-equipped to smooth your franchising ventures across the border. One of Canada’s leading authorities on franchising and distribution law, this prolific writer and noted speaker has represented some of the world’s foremost franchises.
Richard Morey Partner, DLA Piper
Richard Morey’s franchise and distribution practice is focused on working with both experienced and startup franchise companies, helping them structure new franchise programs and determine the most appropriate methods of single and multi-unit franchising. Richard has worked on master franchise, area development and single-unit licensing deals in Asia, Europe, Central America, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
Melissa Murray Partner UAE, Bird & Bird
So who do you call if you are franchising in the Middle East? Dubai-based Melissa Murray would seem a good bet. Bird & Bird’s partner and head of Commercial and IP practices in the Middle East, Melissa provides advice to international businesses on commercial, corporate and general litigation matters relating to their operations in the UAE and the wider Middle East region.
John Pratt Partner, Hamilton Pratt
No less a publication than Legal Who’s Who has listed John Pratt as an expert in international franchising. He’s a past president of the Union Internationale des Avocats franchise committee, past chair of the International Bar Association’s international franchise committee and director of the American Bar Association’s International Franchise Division. Currently chair of Euro Franchise Lawyers, John is a frequent lecturer on franchise issues both in the UK and elsewhere.
Geoffrey Sturgess Warner Goodman
British lawyer Geoffrey Sturgess’s work concentrates on UK and international commercial contracting in technology, IT and various other areas of business. He also deals with disputes, including international disputes, in the same fields. Recognised by the British Franchise Association as an experienced franchise lawyer, Geoffrey was elected to its board in 2010 and has served as a member of the bfa’s Legal Committee.
Adam G. Wasch Partner, Wasch Raines
An active member of the ABA Forum on Franchising and founder-partner of Wasch Raines, Adam G. Wasch focuses on franchise law, complex business litigation and counselling startups. Wasch represents both franchisors and franchisees in a variety of industries including fast food, quick-serve restaurants, health and wellness, retail and pet industry who are in dispute and he regularly defends and prosecutes franchise law claims in state court and federal court.
Philip Zeidman Partner, DLA Piper
It’s been said that “you’d have to be blind, deaf and dumb to not know Philip Zeidman.” Chambers Global and USA called him “the best-known lawyer in the world on the international front.” The recipient of the Who’s Who Legal Lifetime Achievement Award 2017, Philip Zeidman devotes his practice to domestic and international distribution, licensing and franchising law. Philip has been admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court and in the District of Columbia, New York, Florida and Alabama.
Carl Zwisler Principal, Gray Plant Mooty
Carl Zwisler can call on 35 years experience for his work advising franchisors, manufacturers, and investors in structuring, negotiating, and enforcing domestic and international franchise, licensing, distribution, and acquisition agreements. He has assisted executives and general counsel in more than 85 industries or industry segments with creative solutions for developing and implementing business expansion strategies.
