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Industries & Practices

Franchise & Licensing

Whether an entrepreneur is starting their first company or an established business is expanding into a new market, achieving success depends on sound legal advice. Clark Hill’s Franchise and Licensing attorneys play a key part of growth ventures and provide experienced counsel across many industries.

Our team represents clients involved in all aspects of franchising, licensing, dealership, and direct selling for the distribution of goods and services, both domestically and internationally.

Franchisors, licensors, motor vehicle manufacturers, direct sellers, and product distributors from start-ups to multinational corporations rely on our counsel to achieve efficient legal solutions and protections that enable their business the best chance of success. 

Businesses in a wide variety of industries have sought our guidance, including restaurant, automotive, health and beauty, building products and services, clothing and accessories, food and beverage distribution, decorative products, computer-related products and services, hospitality, printing and photography, rental purchase businesses, and other retail businesses and services.

Whether starting a first venture or expanding into new markets, we help build success stories one location at a time.

Our experience spans:

  • Franchise structuring and developing distribution systems
  • Franchise disclosure, registrations, and offering circulars
  • Enforcement, work-out, and collections
  • Licensing, franchise, dealership, co-branding, distribution, area representation, sub-franchise, development, and other agreements
  • Commercial litigation
  • Compliance with state and federal regulations
  • Corporate structuring
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Employment & labor
  • Trademark infringement
  • Trademark / trade name registration
  • Product liability
  • Leasing, site development, and real property sales
  • Capital structuring and financing
  • State & local taxation
  • Environmental law
  • Partnership issues
  • Securities issues
  • Supply systems
  • Dealer qualification issues
  • Antitrust and trade regulation
  • Importation, exportation, and transportation
  • Encroachment, non-renewal, termination, and transfer