International franchising

Ranked as the number one franchise solicitors practice in the world by independent legal directory Chambers Global and number one for Europe by Chambers Europe, we advise a broad spectrum of both UK and non-UK businesses on how to expand internationally via franchising.

Understanding our clients' businesses is key to our approach.  We have extensive in-depth experience of advising businesses across a range of industry sectors including retail & fashion, food & beverage, hospitality and leisure, financial institutions, education and healthcare.

Our international franchise services include:

• international roll out programmes, including contract management support to in-house legal teams; 
  
  
• strategic advice and risk assessment of franchising in international territories;
  
  
• advising on how to structure an international franchise business including subordinated equity, "manchising", hybrid structures and tax advice;
  
  
• advising on international brand protection programmes. View our Trade mark and brand protection page.  
  
  
• advising on localisation of concepts;
  
  
• drafting ancillary commercial agreements, such as financial guarantees, terms and conditions of supply, undertakings of non-competition and confidentiality and Commercial Agreements;
  
  
• drafting and negotiating master and developer franchise agreements;
  
  
• advising on international pre-contractual disclosure and registration requirements. View our Key International Markets PDF. 
  
  
• advising on dispute avoidance, handling disputes and taking enforcement action. View our Franchise Disputes page. 
  
  
• acting as expert witnesses on franchise law and practice and providing legal opinions for the purposes of expert determination or early neutral evaluation (two methods of alternative dispute resolution);
  
  

• in-house counsel support;
  

• one-to-one workshops and seminars. View our Franchise Events page.  
  
  

As a result of our extensive international franchise experience we have developed a guide as to some of the key franchise legal issues that businesses need to be aware of. View our Key International Markets PDF.