Franchising

About

Provided by Baker McKenzie

Our US team and its individual members are recognized nationally and internationally for their expertise in franchise transactions, acting for many of the largest franchise companies in the world on franchise, licensing and distribution matters in the US and in dozens of jurisdictions around the world. The team represents franchisors operating solely in the US as well as franchisors based outside of the US in connection with their inbound franchising efforts into the US.

Diverse clientele, bespoke solutions: Our clients come from a wide range of industries: both goods and services, consumer and industrial. We have a particular expertise in the retail, restaurant, car rental, hotel, entertainment and fashion sectors. Our work in the hotel and hospitality industries complements the expertise of our tourism practice group in hotel management agreements. Our focus on the fashion sector and on selective distribution arrangements supports the work of our leading IP group on brands and their distribution.

We work with our clients to find the structure that best suits their business in each sector and country, be it franchise, equity joint venture or company-owned units. The need to think laterally and avoid a "one size fits all" approach is critical as international franchising laws continue to evolve. We have also opened up many more markets for franchisors through the work that we undertake in defending their valuable trademark rights from pirates.