1851

For emerging and well-established franchisors alike, access to an experienced franchise attorney is vital to a brand&rsquo;s success. Firms that specialize in franchising can be an asset for registering a brand in different states and updating development teams about changes to legal regulations affecting the industry. 1851 Franchise gained insight from several franchisors about what they look for in an attorney partner to grow their business successfully.

Brand Knowledge

For many brands, a deep understanding of the business concept is vital to a successful working relationship between franchisor and attorney. Suleen Lee, General Counsel &amp; Director of Corporate Strategy at <a href="http://www.thebarrecode.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisors-talk-about-what-makes-a-great-attorney-2703312" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Barre Code</a> emphasized this as advice she would offer any franchisor looking for counsel.

&ldquo;Make sure that the attorney understands your business because he or she can&#39;t effectively counsel you without knowing what the business entails,&rdquo; Lee said. &ldquo;The best attorneys understand your goals as well as preferred ways of working together.&rdquo;

Especially for a concept like The Barre Code, which is led by a team of people passionate about the brand (Lee was an instructor for two years before joining the corporate team), an understanding of the company&rsquo;s mission and focus is essential.

Trust

When seeking legal counsel, any brand leaders will want a partner that can be trusted with sensitive information surrounding compliance, registration and regulations. Therefore, they must have a good sense of judgment.

&ldquo;A legal firm specializing in franchising can be instrumental in assisting the franchisor in getting their franchise registered in the various states and in educating your franchise development department in the regulations surrounding the franchise sales process,&rdquo; said Kevin Derella CFE, CM&amp;AA <a href="http://safeguardbam.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisors-talk-about-what-makes-a-great-attorney-2703312" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Safegaurd Business Systems</a>, Executive Director Franchise Development. &ldquo;In the end, they can be instrumental in keeping your sales team from making mistakes that can be costly.&rdquo;

Trends

A great franchise lawyer will tell its clients about the latest developments in franchise law and how they may or will affect the business.

According to a team of executives from <a href="https://www.boconcept.com/en-us/boconcept/franchise?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisors-talk-about-what-makes-a-great-attorney-2703312" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BoConcept*</a>, a great franchise lawyer will inform them about the latest developments in franchise law and how they may or will affect the business.

Lee shared the sentiment about The Barre Code&rsquo;s attorneys.

&ldquo;<a href="http://www.chengcohen.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisors-talk-about-what-makes-a-great-attorney-2703312" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cheng Cohen</a> is great about sending us informative updates relating to any parts of the business,&rdquo; Lee said. &ldquo;Additionally, they are on the lookout for any industry trends and provide information that can drive business from a legal standpoint.&rdquo;

Communication Style

While communicating is important, style of communication to fit the brand&rsquo;s preference is equally important for a franchisor when selecting an attorney. It is important that attorneys do not &ldquo;over-lawyer&rdquo; and understand the client&rsquo;s priority.

&ldquo;It&#39;s important that they are not only knowledgeable but also that they communicate in a way that matches the client,&rdquo; Lee said.

Michael Wagner, President of Virginia-based Pool Scouts* agreed about the value of effective communication.

&ldquo;Our lawyer from Kaufman and Canoles has been extremely easy to work with when it comes to the development and updating of our FDD for <a href="http://poolscoutsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisors-talk-about-what-makes-a-great-attorney-2703312" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pool Scouts</a>,&rdquo; he said &ldquo; I can explain our intent and they&rsquo;re able to translate that into the legal document without a whole lot of back and forth.&rdquo;

Mastering Franchisee vs. Franchisor Perspectives

Beyond strong communication with the franchisor, it is important that an attorney can communicate to the existing and prospective franchisees.

Wagner added that for both <a href="http://mosquitojoefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisors-talk-about-what-makes-a-great-attorney-2703312" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mosquito Jo</a>e and Pool Scouts, owned by Buzz Franchise Brands, Kaufam and Canoles has been able to help the brand translate legalese for all parties into a common-sense approach.&nbsp;

&ldquo;They&rsquo;re able to approach each case from a win-win perspective for franchisors and franchisees,&rdquo; said Pool Scouts President Michael Wagner. &ldquo;They know that legal battles can be costly and want all parties to focus their resources on growing their business instead of legal battles.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Franchisors Talk About What Makes a Great Attorney

1851 Franchise

Several industry experts give advice about what to look for when seeking counsel to grow a brand through the franchise model

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

franchisors-talk-about-what-makes-a-great-attorney

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Koji Kanematsu Turned a 2,000-Year-Old Japanese Staple Into One of the Most Scalable Restaurant Franchise Models

koji-kanematsu-turned-a-2000-year-old-japanese-staple-into-one-of-the-most-scalable-restaurant-franchise-models

Lindora

Celebrating the Nurse Behind the Mission: How Melinda Endricks Is Powering Lindora’s Growth and Impact Nationwide

celebrating-the-nurse-behind-the-mission-how-melinda-endricks-is-powering-lindoras-growth-and-impact-nationwide

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

franchise-financial-reporting-analytics-and-business-intelligence-qvinci-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Clarify Your Positioning – The “Why You/Why Now”

the-ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises-how-to-clarify-your-positioning-the-why-youwhy-now

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

Franchisors Talk About What Makes a Great Attorney

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS