Franchising

We provide technically sound, cost effective legal advice to franchisors and franchisees in a business environment.

Franchising is a highly regulated, complex area of law.  Our lawyers and consultants have the legal skills and commercial understanding to guide clients through the process.

Our advice in franchising and business strategies, operating structures, systems, compliance, documentation and dispute resolution provides our clients with the necessary legal basis to become involved in the franchise process with confidence. 

We also work with leading franchise consultants and professionals in associated fields, such as accounting and business mentoring. Our franchising practice is supplemented by our intellectual property and information technology law section and our commercial practice, which includes leasing and employment relations.

We can assist:
Franchisors

• strategies and options
• appropriate business structures and systems
• franchise agreements and other documentation
• master franchising arrangements
• Code of Conduct compliance
• intellectual property – identification, protection, licensing and maintenance
• employment agreements and industrial relations, credit applications, ancillary contracts and documentation
• commercial leasing and licensing
• disputes, negotiation, mediation and litigation
• termination, buybacks and transfers
• acquisitions, consolidation and sales

Franchisees

• preliminary advice on franchising
• advice on franchise agreements
• multi-unit franchises
• dispute resolution
• sale and acquisition of franchised businesses

Generally with

• issues under the Trade Practices Act 1974
• the Code of Conduct
• dealing with the ACCC
• legal audits, due diligence and risk minimisation
• distribution and licensing
• product and idea commercialisation
• international expansion

The Ffrench Legal franchising team is made up of:
Rob Ffrench
Rebecca Brookes