1851

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-schnell-01107948?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-legal-players-brian-schnell-partner-and-chair-of-franchise-practice-at-faegre-drinker-2717139" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brian Schnell</a> is a franchise lawyer who has been working in franchising his entire professional career.&nbsp;“There wasn't a franchise specialty in law school, but it was just good fortune that the firm that I started at had a franchise practice and their top client was Dairy Queen,” Schnell said. “I actually had an office at the Dairy Queen, and ice cream at the office every day is never a bad thing.”Now, after 34 years in the franchise space, the <a href="https://www.faegredrinker.com/en?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-legal-players-brian-schnell-partner-and-chair-of-franchise-practice-at-faegre-drinker-2717139" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Faegre Drinker</a> partner is imparting his wisdom about the importance of the culture of collaboration within the industry.&nbsp;“The franchisor-franchisee relationship is so unique and has so many different components, and that foundation is so important,” he said. “And at that foundation is the franchise disclosure document. A lot of franchise lawyers will say that it protects the franchisor, but I always say a strong, robust franchise agreement protects the brand.”A lot of emerging brands, Schnell said, don’t appreciate the collaborative leadership that’s necessary to run a successful franchise.&nbsp;“I would shout that from the rooftops to my franchise system: Collaborative leadership is so important to how you build and grow,” he said. “Franchisees aren't shareholders, but they certainly are brand stakeholders who oftentimes have invested everything they have in that business. Franchisees need franchisors, and vice versa.”A good franchisor, Schnell said, doesn't give up the decision-making authority but includes its franchisees and other stakeholders in the process.“It’s not a democracy, but to franchise leadership, I say: Believe in franchisee input,” Schnell said. “They want a voice, not a vote.”Watch the full interview with Schnell above, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYYPmQvl6nw&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-legal-players-brian-schnell-partner-and-chair-of-franchise-practice-at-faegre-drinker-2717139" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here to watch it on YouTube.</a>

Brian Schnell | Top Franchise Legal Players | 1851 Franchise

1851 Franchise

Since 1987, this franchise lawyer and partner has been advocating for something he believes in: the collaborative culture and unique relationship between a franchisor and its franchisees.

Top Franchise Legal Players: Brian Schnell, Partner and Chair of Franchise Practice at Faegre Drinker

top-franchise-legal-players-brian-schnell-partner-and-chair-of-franchise-practice-at-faegre-drinker

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Good Day Columbus: Home Insurance Expert Reveals Why Central Ohio Premiums Are Rising and How to Combat Costs

rising-home-insurance-costs-ohio

CapitalSpring

Primetime Fitness Expands Crunch Portfolio With CapitalSpring’s Backing

primetime-fitness-expands-crunch-portfolio-with-capitalsprings-backing

Children's Lighthouse

How Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees Scale to Multiple Locations

how-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees-scale-to-multiple-locations

Express Employment Professionals

Betting on Himself: How Chris Brown Built an Express Employment Professionals Franchise From the Ground Up

betting-on-himself-how-chris-brown-built-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-from-the-ground-up

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers® Named One of America’s Best Home-Care Providers

comfort-keepers-named-one-of-americas-best-home-care-providers

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 Development Website Builder

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

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

Mike Revak - Chief Business Officer - Sky Zone - Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Mike Revak — President and Chief Business Officer, Sky Zone

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-mike-revak-chief-business-officer-sky-zone

What It Really Feels Like To Franchise Your Business

what-it-really-feels-like-to-franchise-your-business

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Cathy Chavenet — Chief Marketing Officer, Paris Baguette

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-cathy-chavenet-chief-marketing-officer-paris-baguette

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Top Franchise Legal Players: Brian Schnell, Partner and Chair of Franchise Practice at Faegre Drinker

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS