Practice Areas
Industries
Admissions
- Missouri
Education
J.D., Washington University School of Law, 1972
B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, 1969
Profile
With extensive experience representing franchisors and distributors, Leonard Vines is a nationally recognized expert in franchising. He has been ranked nationally in franchise law by Chambers USA for eight consecutive years, drawing acclaim for his skills as a creative thinker and strong communicator. He has represented national, regional and local franchisors, advising on matters including:
- Alternatives to franchising
- Structuring franchise and distribution programs
- Complying with state and federal laws and regulations and defending state enforcement actions
- Handling franchise terminations and transfers
- Resolving franchisor-franchisee disputes including mediations and alternative dispute resolution matters
He has assisted start-up and established franchisors, as well as franchisees and franchisee associations. Leonard works closely with litigators on trial strategy and alternative dispute resolution and has represented companies and individuals on legal matters such as real estate transactions and mergers and acquisitions of franchise companies. Leonard has extensive experience helping clients resolve their disputes through his unique style of mediation--marrying his deep knowledge of the nuances of franchising businesses gained from his decades-long career representing both franchisors and franchisees, and his commitment to ethics in negotiations and understanding of the importance of strong business relationships. He frequently assists lenders who are loaning money to businesses that are acquiring other franchise companies.
A frequent lecturer and writer on franchise topics, Leonard has spoken for groups including the American Bar Association Forum Committee on Franchising and the International Franchise Association and has written for The Franchise Law Journal and the ABA Journal. He is a certified mediator and former municipal judge and is a member in good standing of the mediation and arbitration panels of Forum.
Professional Affiliations
- International Franchise Association, Legal Symposium Planning Committee, 2011-2012
- American Bar Association Forum Committee on Franchising, Governing Committee, 2002-2005
- North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), Franchise Project Group Industry Advisory Committee, 2007-present
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
- University of Missouri School of Law, Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, certified mediator
- Law Journal Newsletter's "Franchising Business & Law Alert," Editorial Board
Honors & Awards
Honors & Awards
- Chambers USA, Franchising (Nationwide), 2010-2022
- The Best Lawyers in America, Franchise Law, 1995-2024; St. Louis area Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year, 2015; St. Louis area Franchise Law Lawyer of the Year, 2012 and 2016
- Who's Who Legal: Franchise, 2017-2022; USA Thought Leader, 2023
- Lewis G. Rudnick Award, ABA Forum on Franchising, 2021
- Franchise Times, Legal Eagles, 2011-2020
- St. Louis Small Business Monthly, "100 St. Louisans You Should Know to Succeed in Business," 2015-2016
- "Drafting and Negotiating Franchise Agreements," Best Program - ABA Forum on Franchising, 2015
- Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Franchise / Dealership, 2005-2014
- The International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers
- Who's Who in the Midwest
- Who's Who in American Law
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
Experience
Representative Matters
Transactional & Litigation Matters
- Represents a Midwestern pizza restaurant franchisor, advising on day-to-day operational matters, negotiations with franchisees and regulatory issues.
- Assists growing barbeque restaurant franchisor with overall program structure, franchise agreements, and franchisee defaults.
- Frequently provides franchise-related advice and due diligence to providers of debt and equity investments in national and regional franchise companies.
- Served as lead counsel to an industrial container marketer and distributor in the sale of substantially all its assets.
- Advised a franchisor of insurance agencies on all aspects of its U.S. franchise operations, including negotiating franchise agreements and counseling and negotiating with franchisees.
- Handled the negotiations regarding the acquisition of development rights and corporate matters for a plant-based vegan food franchise.
- Served as an expert witness in arbitration and litigation matters.
News & Insights
News
- August 17, 2023
- June 1, 2023
- Restaurant Dive, January 30, 2023
- January 26, 2023
- August 18, 2022
- June 1, 2022
- May 23, 2022
- October 2021
- August 19, 2021
- May 20, 2021
- August 20, 2020
- July 14, 2020
- April 23, 2020
- St. Louis Business Journal, October 25, 2019
- August 15, 2019
- April 2019
- Congratulations to Beata Krakus and Leonard Vines on being named to the Franchise Times’ 2019 Legal Eagles listApril 2019
- August 2018
- July 2018
- May 3, 2018
- Congratulations to Beata Krakus and Leonard Vines on being named to the Franchise Times’ Legal Eagles listApril 2018
- May 26, 2017
- May 27, 2016
- April 5, 2016
- April 1, 2016
- January 11, 2016
- Greensfelder salutes Leonard D. Vines on being selected as one of the "100 St. Louisans You Should Know to Succeed in Business."St. Louis Small Business Monthly, April 7, 2015
- John Baer, Beata Krakus and Lenny Vines selected for International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers 2014.December 30, 2014
- John Baer, Beata Krakus and Lenny Vines named Legal Eagles for 2014 by Franchise Times magazineMay 22, 2014
- John Baer, Lenny Vines, Beata Krakus and Chris Feldmeir named in 2013 The International Who's Who of Franchise LawyersSeptember 10, 2012
- St. Louis Small Business Monthly names Jennifer Davis and Leonard Vines as "Top St. Louis Attorneys for 2012"February 1, 2012
Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- "You Need to Talk to the Accountants: Financial Statements Requirements and Options for the FDD"ABA Forum on Franchising, Atlanta, Georgia, October 2021
- "Exemption Based Franchising for Established and Start-Up Franchisors"International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Washington, D.C., May 8-9, 2017
- "Beware of the 'Inadvertent' Franchise"Meritas Webinar, June 29, 2016
- “Drafting and Negotiating Challenging Provisions in Franchise and Development Agreements”American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, New Orleans, Louisiana, Oct. 14-16, 2015
- "Roadmap for the Default and Termination Process"ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, Los Angeles, California, October 2012
- "Top 10 Pit-Falls for a Start-Up Franchisor"International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Washington, D.C., May 2011
- "Best Practices for State Franchise Registration"American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, Toronto, Canada, October 2009
- "Full Steam Ahead: Tips and Traps in Drafting and Enforcing Boilerplate Clauses"International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Washington, D.C., May 2009
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, June 2008
- "The Respective Roles of the Franchise Consultant and the Franchise Lawyer in Structuring the Franchise System"ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, Scottsdale, Arizona, October 2007
- "Deal or No Deal? Complying with Multi-State Gift Card Regulations"ABA Teleconference and Live Audio Webcast, July 2007
- "Franchising and Licensing"Missouri Venture Forum, St. Louis, Missouri, November 2005
Publications
Articles & Books
- Co-author, Chapter 2, "Scope and Coverage of the FTC Rule"The FTC Franchise Rule Third Edition, 2019
- ABF Journal, November/December 2017
- Exemptions and Exclusions under Federal and State Franchise Registration and Disclosure Laws, American Bar Association, 2017
- American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising, 2nd Edition, 2014
- “FTC Franchise Rule,” Chapter 2American Bar Association Forum Committee on Franchising, 2012
- Franchise Law Journal, Vol.30, No.2, Fall 2010
- "Damage Control for Violations of Registration and Disclosure Obligations"Franchise Law Journal, Winter 2005
Newsletters
- Greensfelder Franchise Newsletter, August 2007
Blog Posts
- Franchising & Distribution Law Blog, April 12, 2023
- Franchising & Distribution Law Blog, February 2, 2023
- Franchising & Distribution Law Blog, January 2, 2023
- Franchising & Distribution Law Blog, March 10, 2021
- Franchising & Distribution Law Blog, June 23, 2020
- Franchising & Distribution Law Blog, December 7, 2017
- Franchising & Distribution Law Blog, June 16, 2017
- Franchising & Distribution Law Blog, September 28, 2015
- Franchising & Distribution Law Blog, September 2, 2014
- Franchising & Distribution Law Blog, January 31, 2013