Franchise Law
The GRSM Franchise Practice consists of lawyers located throughout the U.S., handling all aspects of representation for a comprehensive range of businesses involved in franchising. Our team has extensive experience providing both litigation and transactional services in the franchise and distribution law field.
We assist franchisors, licensors, and suppliers in the myriad of complex relationships that support national and international franchising. We provide guidance for all aspects of the franchise business, from evaluating a franchise program to expanding the franchise network and protecting the franchise brand.
The majority of our clients are franchisors and distributors that manage networks ranging from dozens to thousands of outlets. We cover all critical related areas of law as our Franchise Practice lawyers work very closely with colleagues in our tax, employment, bankruptcy, intellectual property, securities, leasing, hospitality, class action, and international law practices to provide clients with a full range of services.
Attorneys in our Franchise Practice have served as franchise counsel to many emerging and established regional, national and international franchisors in a variety of industries, including restaurant, automobile services, consumer products, equipment rental, petroleum marketing, fitness, education, personal care, financial services, food service, health care, hospitality, insurance, lodging, manufacturing, real estate, retail, employment staffing, among many others.
The team includes partners who Certified Specialists in Franchise and Distribution Law. The team also includes a former in-house counsel at one of the largest franchisors in the world.
Practice Leader Expertise
The national Franchise Practice is led by partners who have an intimate knowledge of this unique business model. The practice is anchored on the East and West Coasts with Co-Chairs located in New York and California.
- Ronald Giller is the former Vice President of Litigation and Regulatory Affairs for Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate services. While at Realogy, Ron oversaw the company’s compliance with state and federal franchise disclosure requirements. Realogy offers real estate franchising, brokerage, relocation and title services through a franchise system of approximately 14,400 offices and 270,000 sales associates doing business in 93 countries around the world.
- Calvin Davis has more than 25 years of business litigation experience, with a focus on franchise law that led to his position on the California State Bar Franchise Law Committee. He is a State Bar Certified Specialist in Franchise and Distribution Law - one of less than 50 in the state. He has successfully litigated numerous matters for national franchisors involving prosecution of royalty claims against franchisees (including securing attachments and other provisional relief), defense of vicarious liability actions and trademark infringement lawsuits (including securing restraining orders and preliminary injunctive relief).