FRANCHISING
A Leader In National Franchise Representation
The IFG franchise team is justifiably prominent throughout the United States and the world for its deep and broad experience; penetrating expertise; multifaceted talents; remarkable results; and, its illustrious client roster, which consists of many of our nation’s and the world’s largest and most prestigious franchisors as well as a vast array of startup and midrange franchisors. Many of our nation’s leading investment banks, private equity and law firms rely on our legal expertise when confronting sophisticated franchise-related acquisitions, financings and litigation.
David J. Kaufmann is the partner-in-charge of our firm’s franchise team. A founding member and senior partner of IFC, David is nationally acclaimed as one of America’s foremost franchise lawyers. The United States District Court for the Southern District Court of New York long ago held that “David Kaufmann is unquestionably an expert in franchise law.” The New York Times lauds David as “a lawyer in New York who has represented many of the nation’s top franchisors”. David has been featured in The Best Lawyers in America under the heading “Franchising-New York City” in every edition of that publication. He was named the inaugural “New York Area Franchise Lawyer of the Year” by New York magazine. And Franchise Times inducted David into its “Legal Eagle Hall of Fame” (as an attorney who was recognized as a “Legal Eagle” by that publication each and every year since inception).
Trusted By Clients Around The Nation
The firm’s dedication to excellence, coupled with its commitment to staying at the forefront of legal nuances, continues to set the standard for franchise and business law services. Our attorneys’ abilities in the field of franchising are perhaps best reflected by the firm’s treasured clients, which place their trust and confidence in us when confronting significant opportunities, issues, crises or simply the need for everyday legal counsel and support.
IFG‘s franchise clients include many of our nation’s and the world’s largest and most prestigious franchisers including: YUM! Brands, Inc. (Pizza Hut/KFC/Taco Bell); Marriott International, Inc.; Wendy’s International, Inc.; Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.; 7-Eleven, Inc.; InterContinental Hotels Group plc (Holiday Inns/Crowne Plaza/InterContinental Hotels/Hotel Indigo); Enterprise Holdings, Inc. (Enterprise, National and Alamo vehicle rental networks); Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (Wyndham Hotels & Resorts/Ramada Inns/Days Inns/Howard Johnson/Super 8/Travelodge); Weichert Realtors; Jani-King, Inc.; Wok & Roll; Ripley’s Attractions, Inc.; Johnny Rockets Group, Inc.; The Museum of Modern Art; and, Luke’s Lobster.
Our lawyers have been asked by many of our nation’s leading investment banks, private equity concerns and law firms to assist in their franchise-related acquisitions, securitizations and financings. These include: Goldman Sachs; The Blackstone Group; Trian Partners, L.P.; Castle Harlan; Wellspring Management LLC; Cerberus Capital Management L.P.; Levine Leichtman Capital Partners; Haas Wheat; Friedman Fleischer & Lowe; Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP; Debevoise & Plimpton LLP; Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCoy LLP; Vinson & Elkins LLP; Simpson Thatcher; and, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson.
Franchising Representation: Decades Of Excellence
Franchisor issues, often intricate and multifaceted, find efficient resolution in the capable hands of our lawyers. Their depth of understanding and capability to navigate complexities underscores the firm’s standing as a go-to resource for franchise legal matters. Our legal team of remarkably bright, talented and experienced franchise attorneys have seen it, done it and prevailed. The attorneys at IFG have deep experience in a variety of franchise law concerns, including:
- Structuring, implementing, documenting and registering new franchise programs
- Modifying or overhauling existing franchise networks
- Acting as franchise counsel in mergers, acquisitions and securitization activities
- Prepare franchise agreements and disclosure documents
The lawyers at IFG deploy extraordinary government relations skills and can launch a litigation team with a renowned record. We also have experience conceptualizing the securitization financing structure that has been used in virtually every franchise-related securitization ever successfully accomplished in this country. When you need assistance with preparing franchise agreements or disclosure documents, the attorneys will help you create documents that are comprehensive, sophisticated and facilitate the franchise marketing process by being user friendly.
Our team of franchise attorneys devotes itself to furnishing every type of legal counsel and representation that a franchisor may need, whether the franchisor is a “startup” or, as is the case with many of our clients, one of the largest franchisors in the world.