Franchise Legal Players: Tom Spadea of Spadea Lignana, LLC

Name: Tom Spadea 

Firm: Spadea Lignana, LLC 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-spadea-a696256/ 

About Your Firm: Spadea Lignana is a national boutique franchise law firm. We help clients with new franchise system launches including drafting FDDs, franchise agreements and filing trademarks. We also help emerging and established franchise brands with all their legal needs from helping them manage franchise law compliance nationwide, general legal advice and litigating disputes to protect the system and brand.  Some of our partners have held executive positions with national franchise brands and some were even franchisees themselves prior to becoming attorneys.  That real world business experience provides a unique and unmatched perspective for our franchisor and franchisee clients.  We have a culture of getting things done and helping our business clients achieve their goals effectively and efficiently.

Website: www.spadealaw.com  

What makes your firm stand out as a resource for the franchise industry?

We have a unique perspective and culture.  Tom Spadea, the founding partner, sold franchises as both VP of Development for a few national brands and as a franchise consultant prior to becoming an attorney. That real world experience permeates the entire firm.  We want to find solutions and solve problems, not just create legal bills that don't add value.  Our perspective has enabled us, in consultation with our clients and industry experts, to create a unique proprietary custom designed software to manage FDD Disclosures, State Registrations and franchise agreement executions.  Go to https://www.spadealaw.com/practice-area/compliance-systems-for-franchisors to learn more.

What is the No. 1 thing a franchisor/franchisee should look for when identifying the right franchise attorney?

Do they ask questions and understand what the client's goals are. 

When it comes to your work, what makes you happiest?

Seeing brands grow and watching franchisees create wealth and independence.  Well run franchise systems are a joy to work with. Fundamentally franchising is a people business and we get to work with people we like and enjoy every day, well mostly every day.

 What are your top concerns for the franchise industry in the next year?

I think there are too many new franchisors that didn't spend the time and effort in getting their business model right and think franchising is an easy way to get rich.  They don't hire the right professionals and don't go into the business ready to support their franchises.  They think the work ends when they get an FDD, which is actually when the real work begins.  These companies can hurt the entire industry which will ultimately turn away candidates that could be good franchisees with good franchise systems.  

 What are you most optimistic about in the franchise industry in the next year?

Times are good, deals are happening and people are making money.  Status quo is normally a bad thing, although not in this case.  So I am most optimistic that this run will continue.