Franchise agreements are usually long-term relationships. It is not uncommon for franchisors and franchisees to have disputes that lead to mediation, arbitration and litigation. These disputes often arise from franchisees that are not profitable or less profitable than expected, or franchisees may disagree with decisions made by the franchisor. Disputes can also arise if a franchisor is not satisfied with the way a franchisee operates the franchise or if a franchisee refuses to pay royalties. Franchise litigation often includes allegations such as: Our Seattle franchise and sales team works with franchisors at every stage of the franchise process, from startup and transition to impact, national and global expansion of the franchise, purchase, development and co-branding of and with other concepts, private labeling and sale of the business. Ryan Swanson prides himself on having a franchise and sales team with the experience you need. Our franchise lawyers offer: Another client wanted to sell her franchise business. We worked with her to negotiate the best deal possible, but it became clear that the buyer was not as qualified as the customer thought. Are you interested in buying a franchise or retailer? A group of a dozen convenience store franchisees came to us for help because the franchisor was engaging in unfair practices. We represented them and fought for them in court for several years. Several states require a franchisor to file applications for registration or exemption from franchise to offer and sell franchises in those states.
Our Seattle franchise attorney has extensive experience in preparing these applications and works with the state`s franchise administrators to help applications get approved. In addition, Peak Franchise Law helps franchise systems expand to other countries through franchise and licensing agreements. A health-related franchisee was sued by his franchisor for allegedly violating a franchise agreement that was never signed. Simplify compliance: Regulatory complexity is one of the most challenging aspects of franchise operations, and staying up to date can take time you could spend growing the business. We can reduce the burden and manage everything from initial registration to complete compliance workflows, saving you time and money. We also minimize your compliance requirements by finding exceptions to registration and disclosure requirements. You know your business and we know the franchise law. By coming together to look for solutions to your specific legal problems, we can follow the path that best suits your needs. While other lawyers take control and keep their clients in the dark, we believe you deserve to be involved and up-to-date from start to finish.
There are very few lawyers across the country who truly understand franchise law – we are two of them. We know how to deal with complex franchise issues, and we know how to do it well. Let us use our extensive experience and knowledge for you as you strive to build or maintain a thriving business. We work closely with our franchise customers to gather information in order to create franchise disclosure documents in accordance with federal and state laws. Our Seattle franchise lawyer also provides advice and recommendations regarding the franchisor-franchise agreement (the “Franchise Agreement”). After discussing these issues with our clients, we create the franchise agreement and related contracts. Howard spent the early years of his career as a personal injury lawyer before discovering he had a gift for franchise law. In 1984, he opened his own business. Since then, he has focused on advising franchisees, franchisors and small business owners on a variety of legal issues. Did you know that the law requires all potential franchisees to review and authorize the Franchise Information Document (FDD) before purchasing a franchise? Then you`ve come to the right place. Whether you run a franchise (“Franchisee”) or own a franchise (“Franchisor”), a franchise lawyer can help. As a former prosecutor and owner of a small, second-generation business, Caroline knows how to fight for her clients in the face of complex franchise and commercial law issues.
Let them provide the necessary representation to ensure your best interests are protected at every step of the way. Franchise lawyers help develop franchise business programs, structure distribution agreements and negotiate franchise agreements. They also help with franchise-related disputes involving enforcement, compliance, and non-renewal. You`ll also stay on top of ever-changing franchise laws, including those specific to your state. Consultation. Franchised lawyers need to know their clients` businesses and industries. You should be able to help franchisors comply with the Franchise Sale Act, negotiate franchise and supply agreements, enforce franchise agreements, system changes, franchise renewals, franchisee terminations, franchisee transfers, pricing issues, and international franchising. Use FindLaw to hire a local franchise lawyer with franchise transactions and litigation. We represented a group of tutoring franchisees in a lengthy arbitration because their franchisor had misled them about the cost of running their business and the chances of success. Use Super Lawyers to hire a local franchised lawyer/dealer today. Structure for Success: There is more than one way to manage a franchise. Have you thought about co-branding? Shops or kiosks? What about sub-franchise, multi-unit franchising or core franchise models? There are also alternatives to franchising such as joint ventures, distribution partnerships and licensing.
We have worked with all business structures and can help you align your configuration with your market, offerings and goals. Franchised lawyers know what to look for when reviewing FDDs for potential franchisees. Whether you`re considering a franchise or a merchant, a specialized lawyer can make helpful suggestions on how best to protect your legal rights and responsibilities as a business owner by integrating them properly and setting appropriate goals. Profitable transition: Like any other business, franchises can be bought, sold, merged, acquired or sold. Ryan Swanson has successfully supported such transformations for decades – and our experience extends to franchise-specific scenarios such as defranchising and turning into corporate ownership. Franchising is a proven and powerful business model, but it`s not always the easiest. You need to build lasting relationships and deal with complex regulations while seizing every opportunity to grow. With one of the largest franchise and distribution practices in the Pacific Northwest, Ryan Swanson can help you develop a successful strategy to protect and grow your concept – locally, nationally or internationally. We serve both franchisors and franchisees through our unique combination of legal expertise, practical advice and personal communication. We focus on other areas of law that complement our franchise legal practice. Some of these areas include starting new businesses; business acquisitions and sales; Analysis and registration of federal and state trademarks; commercial contracts; Settlement of franchise disputes; and a variety of other legal issues related to business, trademarks and franchises.
Set aside decades of legal experience as you strive to franchise your business. From Seattle, Washington, to Portland, Oregon, and every city across the country, we proudly represent business owners in the United States. Our operation is 100% virtual, so we can support you wherever you are. Your path to success starts here at Bundy Law Firm PLLC. Whether you`re a franchisor, franchisee or small business owner, talk to us today to discuss your legal issue. We are ready to help. State Franchise Laws. Fifteen states have enacted laws governing disclosure and pre-sale registration. Some of the laws have disclosure requirements that differ from the FTC`s franchise rule, so the FDD may include state-specific additions or may require multiple FDDs. These states require that FDDs be registered with a state agency before the franchisor is allowed to offer or sell franchises in the state. In addition, many states have passed laws designed to protect franchisees from their bargaining position, which is perceived to be inferior to that of franchisors. .