Rochelle Buchsbaum Spandorf

Practice Areas

Shelley Spandorf is a nationally recognized business franchise and distribution attorney with more than 35 years of experience representing franchisors, manufacturers, licensors, suppliers, franchisees, and distributors in their domestic and international expansion and strategic development. Shelley concentrates her practice on a broad spectrum of transactional and regulatory issues for clients in all industry sectors, from startups to mature public companies. Shelley assists clients with their contracts and legal compliance including preparing franchise disclosure documents, domestic and international franchise and distribution agreements, and registration filings. She counsels clients on franchise sales compliance duties, and advises franchise and non-franchise distribution systems on a broad array of operating issues ranging from contract enforcement to trademark protection, relationship disputes, antitrust and pricing matters, terminations and transfers, mergers and acquisitions, and implementation of system-wide changes.

Shelley has advised numerous companies on the issue of whether a particular commercial arrangement is a franchise. With significant experience on this issue, she not only has served as an expert witness in litigation, but has helped dozens of companies evaluate restructuring alternatives to avoid regulation as a franchise. Shelley supplies strategic litigation support in cases involving franchise agreements or where franchise status is an issue and represents clients in mediations and before government agencies in addition to serving as a mediator of franchise disputes.

Shelley assists companies in the acquisition of franchise and non-franchise distribution systems and corporate financing by providing franchise due diligence reviews and lead counsel services. On behalf of franchisees and area developers, Shelley also assists with the acquisition and sale of franchise rights and handles a broad range of transactional projects.

Shelley is chair of the firm’s franchise law practice, which received a Tier 1 ranking by US News. She is nationally ranked by Chambers USA as one of the leading U.S. franchise attorneys and recognized as a certified specialist in franchise and distribution law by the California State Bar. In 2013, Who’s Who Legal identified Shelley as one of the ten most highly regarded individuals in franchise law in the world, and the only woman earning this distinction in the U.S.

Professional Memberships

Commissioner, State Bar of California, Franchise and Distribution Law Advisory Commission, 2009-2012

Co-chair, Los Angeles Business Franchise Network, 2009-2013

Southern California Women’s Franchise Network, 2006-2008

Board of Editors, Franchising Business & Law Alert

Franchise Law Certification Committee, California Board of Legal Specialization, 2005-2007

Chair, Franchise Law Committee, Business Law Section, California State Bar, 1987-1988; 2001-2002

Chair, Forum on Franchising, 1995-1997; Member, Governing Committee, 1992-1999 – American Bar Association

Executive Committee, California State Bar, 1990-1993

Board of Trustees, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter