Franchising | Global

Baker McKenzie is a top-tier firm with an international footprint stretching across all continents. The practice is spearheaded by an impressive Dallas team, with additional support from its Houston, Bangkok and Melbourne offices, for cross-border matters. The law firm offers:

• Substantial experience on both sides of franchising agreements.

• Advice on matters across a range of sectors, including the retail, hospitality, entertainment and food industries.

• Global coverage for its clients, advising on international expansion across multiple jurisdictions.

• Significant expertise in joint-employer regulation.

Bird & Bird is a globally renowned firm with a strong presence in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Its international offering consists of a market-leading London team, complemented by notable practices in the UAE, Singapore, Paris, Milan and Amsterdam. The law firm offers:

• An accomplished franchise-related dispute resolution practice which is the first port of call for many international companies.

• Advice on market entries and expansions, restructuring and international franchise negotiations.

• An impressive roster of multinational clients across several sectors, including retail, hospitality, leisure, and food and beverages.

• Expertise in the internationalisation of school franchises.

DLA Piper is a world leader in global franchising, with a vast international footprint and established client base. Matters are led from its offices in Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Sydney, with added support from its teams across Europe and Latin America. The law firm offers:

• Advice for franchisors on international expansion, licensing and distribution work, asset management and joint ventures.

• Expertise in the setting up, transfer and termination of international franchise agreements.

• Experience representing globally recognised brands, notably within the food and beverage, fashion and fitness industries.

• Effective coordination with its offices across the globe for multi-jurisdictional matters.

Lathrop GRM is a respected US-based firm with substantial international capability. Operating out of Minneapolis and Washington, DC, the team is well versed in the full gamut of franchising matters. The law firm offers:

• Expertise in assisting US-based franchisors with international expansion.

• Advice for non-US multinational clients on their entry into the American market.

• Experience representing a diverse client base, with a particular focus on the food and beverage and retail industries.

• A highly rated franchise disputes practice well equipped for litigation and international arbitration concerning the termination of franchise agreements.

Dentons possesses an established global team sought after for its experience in international franchise matters. The practice is driven by its impressive London department, accompanied by active teams in Melbourne, Toronto, Los Angeles, Shanghai and Jakarta. The law firm offers:

• Advice to multinational franchisors on international business expansions, restructurings and joint ventures.

• Expertise in franchise-related litigation and class actions.

• Experience representing established brands across the food and beverage, hospitality, retail and fashion sectors.

• A truly global service, with frequent coordination between offices on multi-jurisdictional matters.

Greenberg Traurig offers a robust franchising practice established in the USA and is continuing to expand on a global scale. The practice is driven by the work of its New York and Chicago offices. The law firm offers:

• Counsel to franchisors on their expansion into overseas markets, including Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Unique expertise in non-traditional venue franchise arrangements, including military bases, train stations and airports.

• Experience advising clients across a variety of industries, including food and beverages and retail.

• An aptitude for franchise and licensing projects, notably in Asia and the Middle East.

Nixon Peabody offers a notable international presence in addition to its established US base. The Washington, DC team is at the forefront of the practice, with support from its offices in Boston, New Hampshire and Hong Kong. The law firm offers:

 • Counsel to both domestic companies attempting to expand internationally and international organisations seeking to build US franchises.

• Experience across a range of sectors including retail, hospitality, education, fitness, and food and beverages.

• Advice on franchising agreements, disclosure and registration, M&A and distribution matters.

• An aptitude for high-stakes franchise litigation.

Norton Rose Fulbright maintains a growing presence in North Africa and Central Europe, building upon its established practices in Australia and Asia. Its global practice is spearheaded by impressive Melbourne and Brisbane teams, with additional support from its offices in Houston, Los Angeles and Calgary. The law firm offers:

• Advice to corporations on international expansion and market exits, with particular strength in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Ongoing counsel in relation to upcoming legislation and the navigation of various regulatory issues surrounding franchising.

• Expertise in contractual disputes and class action proceedings, acting for the franchisor.

• Guidance to multinational organisations and public entities across a range of industries, including automobiles, retail, and food and beverages.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell is a renowned law firm for franchising. It has offices in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary that offer extensive practical experience with all types of growth models, assisting both local startups and some of the world’s biggest brands with their domestic and global expansion strategies. The law firm offers:

• Assistance with appropriate franchise expansion structures.

• Dispute resolution, including handling of enforcement, termination, non-competition and rescission claims.

• Advice on tax issues relating to the expansion and to the corporate and/or franchise structure being proposed.

Kennedy Van der Laan has a well-regarded franchising offering, frequently assisting multi-jurisdictional corporations with their franchising needs. The law firm offers:

• Advice on commercial contract drafting and negotiation.

• Knowledge and a hands-on approach to EU and Dutch competition compliance.

• Assistance with ESG-related concerns.

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt has a renowned practice that assists US and European clients with franchise operations in Canada. The law firm boasts a wide client base from technology companies to retail and hospitality. The law firm offers:

• Thorough but practical business advice.

• Help for emerging and established Canadian franchisors launching or expanding their businesses across the country and internationally.

• Assistance to franchisors complying with the unique requirements for franchising in the Province of Québec.