Charles S Modell

I represent franchisors large and small.  (Sorry, but neither I nor my firm represent franchisees.) I bring both business and legal experience to my franchisor clients.  And over 40 years in franchising and fanchise law have taught me there is no substitute for experience.  That experience is particularly helpful to entrepreneurs looking to franhcise their business as I have watched and worked with franchise systems in almost every industry and understand the challenges they face - especially when they start out on the worng foot or with weak initial advice.

My clients include franchisors in every stage of their development, and i have worked with them in all areas of their development, including the decision to franchise, preparation and registration of franchise documents, management of franchise relationships, negotiation of supplier and joint venture agreements, and termination of franchise relationships. I have worked with companies ranging in size from startup systems to international franchise systems with thousands of franchisees. I am active in the International Franchise Association, which allows me to keep a pulse on the business side of franchising, as well as the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, the preeminent association of lawyers involved in franchising.

I am also a certified commercial arbitrator, handling cases involving disputes between franchisors and franchisees, which gives me a unique insight into how courts and arbitration tribunals view disputes. I have also been involved in several dozen mediations, in some cases as the mediator, and in others as the lawyer for the franchisor. I have also been sought out as an expert witness in franchise cases, addressing not only legal issues, but also the custom and practice of franchisors.