Top Franchise Lawyers: Brian Schnell of Faegre Drinker

1851 interviewed Faegre Drinker’s Brian Schnell about the state of franchising, what makes a franchise attorney awesome and advice for growth-minded franchisors.

About Brian Schnell: 

Brian Schnell is passionate about franchising and product distribution and has devoted more than 30 years to finding practical and often creative solutions for clients. He represents franchisors with headquarters based across the United States and abroad. Schnell is committed to focusing on what matters most and making a difference in working with franchisors on their challenges and opportunities.

Schnell's experience includes serving as the COO and Chief Legal Officer during 2012 for one of the country's leading health care franchisors. In the role, he led the company's field operations team and the franchise administration and legal groups.

With this unique legal and business background, Schnell counsels both emerging and mature franchisors ranging from companies with thousands of locations worldwide to companies in the initial stages of building franchise systems. He advises clients that operate in dozens of industries where franchising plays a key role in the U.S. and global economies.

Schnell leads Faegre Drinker’s franchise and distribution practice.

Schnell’s expertise is based on years of working closely with clients — getting to know them and their businesses, goals and objectives. He listens, asks questions and works diligently to find solutions and approaches that work for franchisors.

About Faegre Drinker (from firm’s website): 

Faegre Drinker is a top 50 firm designed for clients. We opened our doors on February 1, 2020, uniting Faegre Baker Daniels and Drinker Biddle & Reath, two firms known for exceptional legal and consulting capabilities and a commitment to service excellence. Clients are at the start — and the heart — of everything we do.

With more than 1,300 experienced attorneys, consultants and professionals in 22 locations across the United States, United Kingdom and China, we have the strength to solve your most complex transactional, litigation and regulatory challenges wherever you need us. We partner with clients ranging from emerging startups to multinational corporations, delivering comprehensive and customized advice that advances your most ambitious business objectives.

Our culture is firmly rooted in relentless client focus and mutual trust that empowers collaboration. We listen to understand your priorities and pressure points. We bring you fresh ideas that work. And we deliver excellence — without arrogance. We are committed to our communities and to building a diverse and inclusive firm that reflects those communities and our clients.

Bolstered by our collective history, Faegre Drinker moves boldly into the future, investing in talent, technology and innovation to continually provide clients with exceptional service, collaborative experiences, innovative approaches and value.

1851 Franchise: What do you love most about franchising?

Brain Schnell: Franchising is all about the people, the relationships and the opportunity to make a difference today and every day in businesses that impact our daily lives and everything we do. 

1851: What makes a great franchise attorney?

Schnell: Passion for franchising and strategic thought leadership focused on change and making a difference.

1851: What is the number-one piece of advice you would give franchisors as to how to grow their brand?

Schnell: Be fully committed to understanding franchising and all its nuances and how to effectively and collaboratively lead a franchise system, franchisees and all the other stakeholders in your brand where there will be a continuing emphasis on change 

1851: What do you see as the top legal worry for franchisors in the next year?

Schnell: Everything COVID-19. Franchising, as we know it, is changing. Some changes will be short term. Some will be long term. The top legal worry for franchisors this year is, to the extent possible, be nimble enough to address the myriad challenges that franchisors and franchisees will face in every aspect of their personal and business lives. Lawyers will play a key role in how franchising survives, evolves and emerges from these challenging times.