Franchise Law |  | |
McAfee & Taft represents companies engaged in local, regional and national franchising and licensing activities in several industries, including franchisers with operations throughout the United States and abroad. We assist franchisers in the drafting and preparation of franchise, distribution and ancillary agreements and disclosure documents. We also monitor state and federal compliance in franchising activities, including the registration of franchises with the various state regulatory authorities.
We represent clients in all areas of their franchise relationships, including: coordinating trademark, service mark and trade name searches and selection of names and marks; monitoring trademark registrations; sales of franchised or company-owned outlets; establishing franchisee councils; assisting in the development of internal compliance procedures; negotiating special provisions or modifications of agreements with prospective franchisees or franchisers and their counsel; advising clients regarding dealer terminations and contract performance; representing franchisers before state and federal franchise regulatory authorities; assisting in the structuring or restructuring of organizations engaged in franchising operations; and trademark and territory disputes. We represent both franchisers and franchisees.
Our practice thus encompasses not only specific franchise laws but also general transactional law (including corporate, securities, and tax law), litigation and arbitration, intellectual property law and antitrust, competition and trade regulations matters. Because the Firm has lawyers with expertise in all of these areas, we are able to offer service superior to the "boutique" franchise law firms.