Ronald K. Gardner, Jr.

Practice Areas

Franchisee/Dealers

Career

Ronald K. Gardner is the Managing Partner of the firm of Dady & Gardner, P.A., and limits his practice to the representation of franchisees, franchisee associations, dealers and distributors, focusing most frequently on his clients’ disputes with their franchisors, manufacturers and suppliers. Ron, along with the rest of his colleagues at Dady & Gardner, P.A., prides himself on the fact that the firm has an international reputation for effectively and efficiently helping their clients to resolve their disputes through negotiation, mediation, and when necessary, litigation and arbitration. More specifically, Ron has helped clients in dozens of industries, including fast food, personal services, automobile, trucking, construction equipment and agricultural implements.

Ron has represented businesses of all sizes, including multi-unit franchisees, as well as single owner operations. He represents numerous franchisee associations, including the associations of several of the largest franchise systems in the world. He has handled disputes ranging from unlawful terminations to encroachment to cases regarding franchisor’s failure to comply with registration and disclosure requirements of the FTC and state governments. He has represented or counseled clients in all 50 states, and over a dozen foreign countries.

Ron is a frequent speaker at various gatherings on franchise and distribution-related topics, such as the ABA’s Annual Forum on Franchising, the National Convention of the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers, the International Franchise Association, the International Distribution Institute and International Bar Association. He also speaks regularly to various franchise and industry groups about their rights.

Ron has been described as “the premier franchisee lawyer in America” and is the nation’s leading lawyer in forming and counseling Franchisee Associations.

Professional Memberships

American, Minnesota, Hennepin County and Rice County Bar Associations. He is an active member of the ABA Forum on Franchising, is a Past Chair of the Forum (and the first “franchisee lawyer” to be elected as the Chair), and is a past Membership and Program Officer, as well as a past Division Director of the Forum on Franchising’s Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Division. Ron was the co-chair of the 2005 Forum on Franchising convention. He is also a member of the North American Securities Administrator Association Franchise Special Project Group Advisory Committee — a select group of franchise lawyers who help promulgate franchise regulations and train state franchise regulators in the nuances of franchise law.

Publications

Ron is a co-editor of the semi-annual publication “The Fundamentals of Franchising,” as well as a former author of the widely cited treatise “Franchising: Realities and Remedies,” published by Law Journal Seminars Press and distributed nationally. He is also a co-author of the “Annual Franchise and Distribution Law Developments 2002" volume published by the American Bar Association, and has written literally dozens of papers, articles and speeches on all aspects of franchising.

Personal

He and his wife Becky are the proud parents of Devyn and Zach, and grandparents of Ryan and Owen. And when Ron is not practicing, or spending time with his family, you can likely find him on a trout stream somewhere.

Awards

Education