2025's Top Franchise Legal Players: Mike Drumm - Drumm Law

Legal Player: Mike Drumm
Firm: Drumm Law

Mike Drumm has been an entrepreneur longer than he’s been a lawyer. He started his first company back in college, and that entrepreneurial drive still shapes how he approaches his legal practice today. When Drumm began his legal career, he was drawn to helping businesses, but franchising quickly stood out. To him, it represented “the ultimate expression of entrepreneurs helping other entrepreneurs.” That perspective has guided him in building Drumm Law into a client-focused firm that blends legal expertise with a passion for growth, innovation, and fun.

1851 Franchise reached out to Drumm to learn how franchisors can protect their brand and avoid legal mistakes. Check out his insights below.

1851 Franchise: How did you fall into franchising?

Mike Drumm: I’ve been an entrepreneur longer than I've been a lawyer. I started my first company back in college, so I'm wired to think about growth and opportunity. When I began my legal career, I was drawn to helping businesses, but it was franchising that truly resonated with me. I saw it as the ultimate expression of entrepreneurs helping other entrepreneurs.

1851: What do you see as the most important things franchisors should do to protect their brand?

Drumm: The most important thing a franchisor can do to protect their brand is to recruit quality and experienced franchisees and have good relationships with them. Franchisees are the ambassadors through which customers and the general public interact with the brand, and it's of the utmost importance to ensure that they are capable and happy.

1851: How important is the information in Item 19?

Drumm: Financial performance representations in Item 19 are probably the most litigated part of any FDD, so the information contained therein is both important as a selling factor but also from a legal and risk standpoint. It is paramount that franchisors are clear about what is and is not included in the FPRs.

1851: What is the single largest legal mistake brands make?

Drumm: Not always completing ancillary documents to franchise agreements. We get it; the onboarding process for new franchisees can be hectic and stressful. But if you have lease addenda/riders, site approval addenda, etc., as part of the franchise agreement package, it saves both franchisors and their legal counsel a lot of headache later down the line if those documents are routinely completed.

1851: How does Drumm Law stand out as a franchise law firm?

Drumm: We stand out by focusing relentlessly on the client experience, which is driven by three core principles:

• We leverage technology for efficiency. Many law firms are stuck in the past. We use modern tools for document management, communication and project tracking. This makes us faster, more responsive and more transparent, which ultimately saves our clients time and money.
• We deliver amazing customer service. This is non-negotiable for us. It means we answer the phone, reply to emails promptly and treat our clients' goals as our own. We're proactive partners, not just reactive lawyers. We want our clients to feel supported and prioritized at every single step.
• We believe in having fun while we do it. We are passionate about helping entrepreneurs grow their brands, and that genuine excitement shows in our work. We take the law very seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. This creates a positive, energetic partnership that our clients appreciate, and frankly, it makes the hard work much more enjoyable for everyone.

1851: What is the best business advice you have received in your career?

Drumm: It’s okay to make new mistakes but not okay to make old mistakes.

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