Amanda Dempsey and Tom Kent have joined Saxton & Stump as shareholders, bringing along with them Jarina D. Duffy as senior counsel and Jessica J. O’Toole as a paralegal. The quartet will form Saxton’s franchising, licensing and distribution practice, having previously practiced as Kent Franchise Law Group LLC, a Stevens & Lee company.
“We are pleased to be joining the Saxton & Stump platform which provides our clients with greater access to resources through the firm’s affiliated companies,” Kent said.
“The move allows us to add even more value to our clients’ brands and franchise strategies to help them maximize their assets and continued growth.”
Dempsey, Kent and O’Toole have worked together for almost a decade, and with Duffy for four years. They have provided franchisors with legal and business strategies for a combined 50 years and continue to work with emerging to middle-market franchisors, distributors, private equity firms and other organizations seeking to leverage their brand to grow their business.
“Tom and Amanda bring a highly regarded national and international franchise practice that complements our growing practices and our affiliate companies,” said Saxton & Stump CEO James W. Saxton.
“They are client-focused and a great cultural fit for our team and we are excited to welcome them to the firm.”
The team
Kent was the co-chair of Fox Rothschild’s franchising, licensing and distribution practice before founding the Kent Franchise Law Group LLC. He previously served as in-house counsel for Cottman Transmission Systems LLC, where he took on the role of director of center development before entering private practice. He focuses on development and implementation of growth, monetization and exit strategies, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. Kent earned his B.A. from Villanova University and his J.D. from Widener University School of Law.
Dempsey’s 10 years of practice focuses on representing emerging to middle-market franchise brands. She advises on intellectual property and brand protection, regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, development and growth strategies, and dispute resolution within the franchise system. She used to serve as judicial law clerk to the Honorable Robert P. Becker, Jr., Justice of the Superior Court of New Jersey, in Gloucester and Cumberland counties. She earned her B.A from Georgetown University and her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law.
Duffy brings 10 years of experience and began her career in Philadelphia with law firm Fisher Zucker and is a certified franchise executive (CFE). She earned her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and a B.S. in journalism from Boston University.
Kent and Dempsey’s clients will now have access to an array of attorneys and consultants who are specialists in their own fields. They will gain access to the law firm’s intellectual property, business and corporate, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, labor and employment and commercial litigation teams.
Saxton’s offering and 2022
Saxton & Stump’s strategic partnerships with other companies will be useful for clients. The law firm partners with brand strategy group, Writ, which works with clients to transform their brands. It also recently launched Palq IP, an intellectual property consulting group. Saxton also works with Granite HR consulting, a human resource service.
The firm added 53 professionals to its ranks in 2021, including 22 attorneys, expanding the overall team to nearly 150 professionals. It has expanded into new areas such as white-collar defense and environmental, workplace safety and utilities. It has increased its practice in the areas of healthcare, senior care, real estate, government affairs and trusts and estates.
