Franchise & Distribution Law

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Franchising and other distribution relationships provide opportunities for rapid business growth and expansion, but they also come with a unique set of legal challenges. Attorneys in the Hodgson Russ Franchise & Distribution Law Practice Group help clients navigate the complex and evolving U.S. federal and state laws governing franchising and other distribution relationships. Our goal is to help clients reach their business objectives while minimizing risk and avoiding costly disputes.

Franchise Law

Franchising in the United States requires compliance with a vast range of regulations, including federal and state laws governing pre-sale disclosure and state laws governing franchise registration and the relationship between franchisors and franchisees. We provide counsel to help clients meet these obligations and avoid undue risk.

Our Franchise & Distribution Law Practice Group collaborates with attorneys across our full-service firm to provide core interdisciplinary counsel to our clients. This approach provides clients with one convenient point of access to appropriate and experienced counsel for each stage of business development. We assist franchisors with all legal aspects of franchising, including:

• Determining the appropriate type of franchise activity, including master franchising, area development and developer agreements, franchise broker relationships, and other structures
• Preparation and negotiation of all critical documents, including disclosure documents, franchise agreements, and ancillary documents
• Franchise registration
• Business opportunity law compliance
• Resale price maintenance, exclusivity, refusals to deal, and other antitrust issues
• Import and export laws and other supply chain issues
• Franchisee recruitment
• Use of test stores
• Protection of intellectual property
• Tax planning
• Financing
• Employment matters, including employee benefits programs
• Real estate purchase and leasing
• Food and Drug Administration requirements and other industry-specific regulations
• Advertising, social network marketing, and structuring marketing funds
• Domestic and international expansion, including mergers and acquisitions
• Business sales

When disputes cannot be avoided, our attorneys assist clients in reaching successful and cost-effective resolutions, whether through negotiation or participating in mediation, arbitration, and litigation proceedings.

Industry Experience

Our team has experience assisting clients in numerous industries, including:

• Restaurants, both quick-service and dine-in
• Lodging and hospitality
• Food products
• Convenience stores
• Specialty retail
• Personal care services
• Home services
• Landscaping and construction products
• Insurance
• Financial services

Distribution Law

Because U.S. federal and state franchise laws are worded very broadly, distribution relationships that would not ordinarily be viewed as franchise activities may fall under their regulatory regime. We help manufacturers, distributors, and service providers operate in compliance with these laws and, whenever possible, avoid the need for costly franchise disclosure and registration. Our attorneys also assist clients in matters involving dealer relationship statutes and sales representative laws. Additionally, we advise on industry- specific laws governing distribution relationships, including automobile and recreational vehicle dealerships, petroleum sales, and others.

Many businesses find themselves faced with statutory claims upon the termination of relationships with dealers, distributors, commissioned sales representatives, and similar parties. Our attorneys are experienced in writing contract language and policies to help avoid exposure to such claims, and we guide clients through the termination of various business relationships in accordance with applicable laws. We assist clients wishing to take security over goods sold and in setting up consignment arrangements. We also provide advice and dispute resolution assistance concerning contract claims, encroachment issues, breach of confidentiality obligations, and non-compete agreements.

Expansion Into the U.S.

For foreign franchisors and other companies looking to expand into the United States through franchising or contractual distribution relationships, our experienced cross-border attorneys assist with international tax planning, transfer pricing, Americanization of foreign franchise and other documents, immigration, and other cross-border issues.

Assistance for Franchisees, Dealers, and Distributors

Drawing upon our extensive experience assisting franchisors in the wide range of areas noted above, we advise prospective franchisees on potential investment in franchise systems that are not Hodgson Russ clients. Our services include a direct consultation to assess your particular needs, review of all appropriate documents and negotiation of changes when necessary, advice regarding due diligence, and legal assistance in termination and other relationship issues. We also assist dealers and distributors in these areas.

It is our view that the knowledge and experience gained by representing both franchisors and franchisees, and by assisting manufacturers as well as dealers and distributors, enhances our ability to serve the legal needs of all our clients — no matter what role their business plays in these relationships.