Top Franchise Legal Players: Here’s How the Top Professionals Got Their Start

The top legal insights for franchise development must be developed somewhere — and the stories of 1851’s Top Franchise Legal Players have covered this development. In recognition of the hard work and commitment from each interview subject, a key question was asked: “How did you get your start?”

Answers ranged from a developed childhood interest, to a refined passion during law school, or even an acquired interest after first achieving legal certification. Here are those stories from some of the top legal professionals in the franchising industry, and how they achieved practicing franchise law at its highest level.

Diana Vilmenay, Shareholder for Polsinelli

Vilmenay said she didn’t know much about franchising before she started law school. Her start in franchising began as a litigation associate, working as a junior associate to review international franchise agreements.

“I had no context — not a clue what I was doing,” she said.  “I was also just curious to sort of figure out what I was going to be working on, and I think the rest is history. After that, I worked on my first sort of review of an international franchise agreement [and] I think I did a pretty decent job on it.”

A developed franchising network would soon follow as part of a transition away from traditional commercial litigation.

Jim Wahl, Counsel for Lathrop GPM

Wahl’s franchising background was initially founded out of necessity.

“[The] short answer is it was a need of the law firm I was with at the time,” he said.

Wahl said that his law school experience made him feel better suited to help deals come together instead of arguing over things that went wrong, and the position of a franchise lawyer allowed him to fulfill those strengths.

“And it's been a great career since,” he said.

Amanda Dempsey, Attorney At Law for Kent Franchise Law Group

In Dempsey’s own words: She got into franchise law “accidentally on purpose.” The legal economy was not favorable upon her law school graduation, but the general corporate work she was able to take on was something she enjoyed. A new partner — specialized in franchising — would later join the firm she was working at.

“He needed an associate, and I was pretty fresh out of law school,” Dempsey added. “I've been doing it pretty much ever since then.”

She added that her parents are both entrepreneurs, and that the business they owned allowed her to understand the industry before her law career began.

“My parents owned three small businesses in the community where I grew up, and [they] still do,” she said. “Small business and franchising, really at its core, is about providing for businesses in each individual community. That's always been really important to me. “

Beata Krakus, Attorney for Greensfelder

Mergers and acquisitions were the initial specialization for Krakus in her early stages of practicing law.

“That work all dried out with the recessions,” she said.

After getting back on her feet and pursuing new opportunities, Krakus was able to pursue franchising with a familiar background to corporate presence. Her business insights were already put to work in her previous duties, but they were fulfilled for the betterment of others in franchising backgrounds.

Craig R. Tractenberg, Partner for Fox Rothschild

“I was really focused as a law student on becoming a securities lawyer,” Tractenberg said. “I pictured myself on Wall Street. I interviewed with all the Wall Street firms, none of which exist anymore.”

Tractenburg eventually found his way into franchising through a small boutique firm he had worked as a clerk for in Philadelphia, and one client of the firm — Dunkin’ Donuts – familiarized him with franchise sales and offers.

“I grew my legal practice with the help of Dunkin’ brands,” he said. “Through all their changes, they were kind enough to keep me as their counsel.”

Jason Power, Managing Attorney at Franchise.Law

Power said he took up franchise law by accident.

“I partnered with another attorney early in my career who was focused on franchise law, and I took a liking to it,” he said.

Expertise by association was Power’s primary means out of the gate, but his current passions have stowed with franchising thanks to the variety and projectability of many top brands.

“I enjoyed and still enjoy working with different business owners in different industries and seeing the variety of business models and issues that franchising presents,” he added.

Aaron-Michael Sapp, Partner at Cheng Cohen

Sapp said a law school professor gave a lecture on how niche areas of law are overlooked, and he was immediately intrigued. 

“When I was in law school, I had a contract professor who lectured us about how we would all overlook certain niche areas of the law,” he said. “One area he mentioned specifically was franchising.” 

Sapp said he “proceeded to ignore that advice and [went] to work for a very large firm in Chicago.” He later crossed paths of the founders of Cheng Cohen, the brand he currently works with.