Top Franchise Lawyers: David Almeida of Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

1851 interviewed Almeida of Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP’s David Almeida about the state of franchising, what makes a franchise attorney awesome and his advice for growth-minded franchisors.

About David Almeida (from firm’s website):

David S. Almeida is a partner in Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group, Chair of the Retail, Hospitality & Consumer Products Group, Chair of the TCPA Practice Group and Co-Chair of the Class Action Practice Group.

 

He focuses his nationwide practice on navigating clients through class action lawsuits, complex business litigation and regulatory investigations across a variety of industry sectors including retail, telecommunications, marketing and advertising, hospitality and healthcare. He is widely recognized as an expert in consumer fraud and privacy class action defense, and was recently named an Illinois Super Lawyer following the successful defense of numerous bet-the-company class actions.

About Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP (from firm’s website):

Benesch is an AmLaw 200 business law firm and limited liability partnership with offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Hackensack, San Francisco, Shanghai and Wilmington. The firm is known for providing highly sophisticated legal services to national and international clients that include public and private, middle market and emerging companies, as well as private equity funds, entrepreneurs, not-for-profit organizations, trusts and estates.

1851 Franchise: What do you love most about franchising?  

David Almeida: Watching my clients succeed to the limits of whatever level of growth they wish to accomplish.  Whether working with a well-established, global brand or seeing my clients take a back-of-the-napkin idea and turn it into a successful, burgeoning brand, being a part of well-executed entrepreneurship is incredibly rewarding.       

1851: What makes a great franchise attorney?  

Almeida: Understanding that the client relationship is just as important as substantive experience in the industry. The right attorney should of course have the requisite experience, but that partner also needs to have the ability to understand your industry and the responsiveness to immediately address issues as they arise. I pride myself on being there for my clients when they need me and providing them with guidance before they realize they need me.    

1851: What is the most important question to ask a franchise attorney when looking to make a change in representation?  

Almeida: Make sure your legal partner has the right mix of substantive skills and also understands your business model, your industry and your goals. Look beyond rote franchise law experience — franchise relationships are complex and multi-faceted. Seek out a partner who understands your business needs from a holistic perspective and who knows what unique issues are most likely to arise in your industry. 

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

Almeida: Talk to your lawyer first. Better to understand and weigh risks at the early stages of growth than to face a serious threat after your brand has significantly expanded. 

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

Almeida: The intersection of franchise law with the continued emergence of data privacy and cyber-security trends. This area of law continues to expand post-CCPA and more and more states are enacting a variety of laws that affect how you and your franchisees can collect, share, use and store your customers’ data.