Our team of internationally renowned franchise attorneys excels at providing focused, strategic growth solutions and practical advice to business owners and franchisors. We can provide valuable guidance through system growth, expansion abroad, business acquisitions or mergers. Our relationships with clients are often continuous, and we’re there to handle not only large transactional matters or disputes but to offer sound day-to-day counsel.

Our Promise

As a client of Greensfelder’s franchise team, you will not be a number. When you need us, we will answer with the personalized attention you need and want. Our clients tell us, “We have never had such responsive counsel.” We work to understand what your business is trying to do (we come visit you, on our dime). This allows us to prepare documents that fit your business needs, rather than a standard form.

Our Services

We are a one-stop shop for emerging and established franchisors, including those going international, providing sophisticated strategic planning across a variety of franchise categories. Our team of transactional attorneys helps to put the right agreements into place and ensure compliance, with the goal of minimizing problems down the road. When disputes do arise, our franchise litigation team can assist with early dispute resolution as well as full litigation including class action defense.

Clients frequently seek our experience in the following areas:

Transactional

• Drafting and negotiating franchise agreements and area development agreements
• Preparation and registration of franchise disclosure documents
• Development and management of exemption-based franchise systems
• Compliance with business opportunity laws and registration
• Mergers and acquisitions of and due diligence for franchise systems
• Drafting and negotiating domestic and international distribution and supply agreements
• Terminations and renewals
• Marketing, branding and rebranding matters
• Advertising and social media
• Review of operations manuals
• Insurance liability, vicarious liability and joint-employer issues
• Post-termination restrictive covenants
• Advising lenders on loans for franchise transactions
• Alternatives to franchising
• Gift cards and loyalty programs, data privacy, data rights and data breach
• Intellectual property protection including trademark advice and registration

Litigation

• Mediation, arbitration and litigation of franchise, antitrust and regulatory issues
• Defense of breach of contract, terminations and non-renewals, violations of restrictive covenants, and other frequent franchise/distribution-related disputes
• All facets of class action litigation, from initial pleading challenges through class certification, trial or settlement and claims processes. Read more about our extensive class action experience here.
• Negotiation of state franchise, relationship or sales representative disputes
• Dealing with federal and state administrative agencies
• Litigation of industry-specific matters such as those involving state motor vehicle franchise practices statutes, the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act and state motor fuel marketing laws, and state consumer protection statutes

• Intellectual property protection and enforcement
• Read more about our Franchise Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice here.

Our Clients

We work with franchise systems in all stages – from startup to national and multi-national franchisors – and advise service- and product-based franchisors, distributors and manufacturers, including food services, health care, real estate, motor fuel, hospitality, gyms, restaurants, insurance and educational organizations. 

Our firm also counsels franchisors on other related matters, including employment, real estate and tax issues, non-compete and confidentiality agreements, and business succession planning.

Our Blog

Greensfelder’s Franchising & Distribution attorneys frequently write and speak on franchise topics. For updates on recent developments in franchising law, read our Franchising & Distribution Law Blog.

Our Team's Awards & Recognitions

Greensfelder's franchise team is honored to have received individual and group recognitions and awards, and a recent selection of the most noteworthy are listed below. We believe these achievements are a reflection of not only our attorneys’ individual talent and drive, but also the teamwork of our tight-knit group and strong collaboration with our client partners.

• Chambers USA nationwide ranking in Franchise Law, as well as individual rankings for Leonard Vines and Beata Krakus
• U.S. News - Best Law Firms Tier 1 ranking for Franchise Law
• Lewis G. Rudnick Award, ABA Forum on Franchising (Leonard Vines)
• ABA Forum on Franchising Governing Committee (Beata Krakus and Leonard Vines)
• The Best Lawyers in America, Franchise Law (Dawn Johnson, Beata Krakus, Leonard Vines, Susan Meyer)
• St. Louis area Franchise Law Lawyer of the Year (Dawn Johnson and Leonard Vines)
• Chicago area Franchise Law Lawyer of the Year (Beata Krakus)
• International Distribution Institute, U.S. Country Expert on Distribution Law (Beata Krakus)
• Certified Franchise Executive (Dawn Johnson and Paul Woody)
• Crain's Notable Women in Law (Susan Meyer)
• Missouri Lawyers Media Women’s Justice Award (Dawn Johnson and Abby Risner)
• Franchise Times Legal Eagles
• Who's Who Legal: Franchise

Read or download our Franchising & Distribution Services brochure to learn more about our experience and how we can help you.