Top Franchise Legal Players: Sherin Sakr, J.D., LL.M., General Counsel for WellBiz Brands Inc.
While the pandemic has brought challenges and opportunities to the franchising industry, this general counsel says she loves her career — and she’s in it for the diversity of people, brands and services.
Sherin Sakr was an associate at a law firm in Denver when a partner asked her to work with Cold Stone Creamery. She said she was so intrigued by the franchising model that she found a mentor and jumped right in.
“Long story short, I ended up being international counsel for Cold Stone Creamery for 10 years and have been in-house doing franchising work ever since,” said Sakr, who now works as general counsel for franchise portfolio company WellBiz Brands Inc.
WellBiz Brands focuses on personal service brands, and Sakr said the pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of how these companies function.
“There are regulations and rules that are rapidly evolving with very little notice, causing franchisors and franchisees to adapt very quickly to this new environment,” she said.
The all-important franchise disclosure document, which every franchise is required to have and continually update, has been complicated by COVID, with different requirements for different states as they’ve been affected by the pandemic.
With all the difficulties brought on by the pandemic in the last couple years, Sakr said she still loves franchising, especially for the diversity of it all.
“We have five brands here at WellBiz, and each one of them has its own personality, from what the brand offers to the personality of the franchisees and the primary objectives of each of the brands and their leadership,” she said. “I love the diversity of that in my career. There’s never a dull moment.”
Watch the full interview with Sakr above, or click here to watch it on YouTube.