Steven Feirman

Practice Areas

Steven Feirman practices franchise and distribution law, with an emphasis on helping franchisors expand their franchise systems in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions. Steve focuses on helping established and emerging franchise systems develop their business models, and he has extensive experience structuring and preparing franchise, license, supply, and distribution agreements for domestic and international transactions. With Steve’s background as a federal government regulator, much of his work involves the structuring of franchise systems to ensure that they comply with federal, state and foreign franchise laws. Steve guides his clients to embrace best franchising practices in their franchise documents and operations, which results in franchise systems that are marketable and collaborative. By using this approach, Steve has successful clients in a variety of industries, including restaurants, hospitality, financial services, travel, real estate, education, personal services, business services, retail, and wellness.

Steve has gained renown for his work at the intersection of franchising and antitrust, including pricing strategy and supply chain matters. He counsels franchise companies on antitrust and trade regulation matters such as pricing programs, supply restrictions, territory and customer limitations, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and other sensitive competition issues. For example, because franchisors are not permitted to control franchisee prices in some states, his clients have used techniques such as geographic price fixing, pricing incentives, minimum advertised price (MAP) policies, agency models, and consignment arrangements. He has also developed a unilateral “Colgate” policy for a national restaurant system that is thought to be the only such policy in use by a franchisor. Steve conducts franchise and antitrust compliance programs for his clients, and he represents companies before federal and state government agencies on both franchising and antitrust matters.

Steve is a frequent lecturer and contributor to legal publication on antitrust and franchise law topics. He has served as an editor of some of the leading publications in the field, including Franchise Law Journal and Franchise Legal Digest, and as a contributor to Global Competition Review, Franchising World, The Franchise Lawyer, and The International Journal of Franchising and Distribution Law.

Career

Steve is a former Federal Trade Commission enforcement attorney. Many franchisors call on him to address their most complex issues, and he serves as both their legal counsel and strategic business advisor. For example, he recently worked on the first franchise royalty transaction in the United States, which enabled the owners of a franchise system to realize full value for their system while retaining 100% ownership of their equity.

Professional Memberships

• American Bar Association

- Section on Antitrust Law

- Forum on Franchising

• International Franchise Association

Personal

Steve received his undergraduate degree (A.B., magna cum laude) from Colgate University and his law degree from Washington University School of Law, where he served as an editor of the law review. He has received the Federal Trade Commission’s Meritorious Service Award, was awarded the Burton Award for Legal Achievement, and was inducted into the Franchise Times Hall of Fame.