David Mark Byers

David is a member of the firm's Hospitality, Franchise & Distribution Team, with a practice emphasis in franchise and distribution law and general corporate matters.  David has experience in a variety of corporate and transactional matters involving the team's core industries, including drafting franchise disclosure documents, franchise agreements, subfranchise agreements, area development agreements, area representative agreements, and distribution agreements.  He also assists our clients with franchise registration and regulatory compliance, and advises franchisors on franchisee terminations, renewals, and other relationship issues, and on buying and selling franchise companies and franchised businesses.  David works with our clients in an outside general counsel capacity, interfacing with company owners and officers on general corporate matters and corporate governance, business transactions, vendor, supplier and manufacturing agreements, licensing agreements, financing, and employment issues.

In addition, David has a variety of experience representing clients in litigation, including termination and non-renewal disputes with franchisees, trademark infringement suits, claims under the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act and the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, actions involving beverage and product distribution rights, claims concerning the unintentional formation of franchises, suits against residential real estate agents and brokerages, and the defense of product liability actions.

David also serves as the firm’s General Counsel and chairs the firm’s Attorney Hiring Committee.