We help franchisors across numerous industries protect and grow their brands.
For companies offering goods and services through franchising and related distribution methods, Shumaker provides the full suite of legal counsel needed to successfully run their business—from general corporate and transactional counsel to registering trademarks and preparing real estate leases. We regularly help franchisors develop and plan franchise, distribution, and licensing programs and prepare, review, and update franchise, area development, and related agreements.
When franchise disputes arise, our litigators stand ready to vigorously defend our clients' interests, whether in the courtroom or through alternative dispute resolution. We also steer clients through the maze of evolving federal, state, and international regulations governing the sale of franchises and help franchisors prepare and register offering circulars that comply with disclosure requirements.
Our Capabilities
- Trademark registration and other intellectual property matters
- Organization and reorganization of franchise or distribution systems
- Negotiating, preparing, and updating franchise, area development, distribution, and related agreements, as well as master licenses
- Franchise-related real estate matters
- Creating or modifying a franchise advertising cooperative
- Termination of an existing franchise, distributorship, or dealership
- Counsel on the implications of franchise relationships within mergers, acquisitions, and other business changes
- Litigation and arbitration of franchise-related disputes