The reputable franchising department at Bird & Bird LLP is notable for supporting clients in the food and beverage, retail, hospitality, and leisure industries with their global expansions, as well as those in the healthcare, education and green energy industries. It also boasts a dedicated franchise disputes practice, which is overseen by the ‘outstanding‘ Victoria Hobbs; it benefits from the firm’s global network of offices, enabling the team to represent clients in domestic and international disputes. The wider practice is led by Graeme Payne, who has a particular focus on advising clients in the consumer-focused arena on their domestic and international franchising matters. Nick Green is another key name, and he is strong in assisting with franchising, distribution, and agency agreements.

The franchising group at Fieldfisher supports both domestic and international franchisors and large, multi-unit franchisees with their global expansion activities. The team boasts multi-disciplinary capabilities, enabling it to provide an all-encompassing offering across a range of sectors, including retail, food and beverage, hotels and leisure, and education, among others. David Bond and Gordon Drakes co-lead the team; Bond is experienced in assisting established franchise networks with long-term strategies, while Drakes is sought after by US law firms to advise on UK franchising issues. Andrew Dodd specialises in disputes relating to franchising, which is also an area of strength for James Seadon. Vicky Reinhardt is dual qualified in Germany and England, and she is notable for her commercial franchise work.

Specialist franchise firm Hamilton Pratt boasts a notable client base, which consists of a large proportion of the British Franchise Association’s members, in addition to non-UK-based franchisors. Founder John Pratt has expertise in drafting master franchise agreements, and he is ably supported by Nick Seddon and James Barrett. The former is experienced in the corporate elements of franchise-related transactions, and the latter is a dedicated franchise disputes lawyer. Andrew Ward is notable for buying and selling franchise businesses.

The ‘pre-eminent franchising firm’, IBB Law is well equipped to handle the entire range of contentious and non-contentious mandates for franchisors, franchisee associations, and multi-unit franchisees. A particularly active industry for the group is the quick-serve restaurant sector, and it is also especially active in the re-sale of franchises. Praised as an ‘exceptional lawyer‘ Russell Ford jointly leads the team alongside Jane Masih, who ‘has a great reputation within the industry’. Ford boasts significant expertise in representing clients in disputes, while Masih advises clients on master license agreements and sales and acquisitions. Commercial litigator Lynsey Smith is another key member of the team.

Stevens & Bolton LLP is sought after by franchisors, multi-unit operators, master franchisees, and franchisees. The team places a particular emphasis on ethical franchising, and sectors of activity for the practice include the retail, quick-service restaurants, leisure and hospitality, and education industries. Guildford-based Nicola Broadhurst chairs the department, which is well equipped to advise on franchise documentation for brands entering the UK market, contentious mandates, and expansion matters. Broadhurst has notable expertise in international expansion work, and she is ably supported by Catherine Penny, who has a focus on franchise-related disputes.

Ashtons Legal‘s Norwich-based franchising department supports both domestic and international clients, of which its portfolio predominantly consists of franchisors, master licences, and franchise developers. A particular strength of the group is assisting clients with expansion overseas, in addition to bringing overseas brands into the UK and developing franchise models. Damian Humphrey sits at the helm of the practice with significant expertise in franchise expansion. Other key members of the team include specialist franchising litigator Tom Bailey, who is skilled in breaches of franchise agreements, and Tracy Williamson, who acts for start-ups and established franchisors.

The franchising group at Dentons is highly skilled in handling both transactional work and contentious mandates for international clients across the retail, hotels, automotive, and restaurant industries. The practice also benefits from the firm’s global network of offices, enabling it to provide a seamless offering. Dual-qualified in Germany and the UK, Babette Märzheuser-Wood sits as global head of the firm’s franchising offering with expertise in international franchising matters and drafting master franchise agreements. Anna Copeman leads the trade marks team and co-heads the firm’s UK franchising group, and she is skilled in international brand licensing matters.

DLA Piper‘s franchising group predominantly advises multinational franchisors, with a particular strength in the hospitality and leisure sector. The team often collaborates with the firm’s European and US-based offices to provide clients with a cross-border offering. Transactional lawyer Matthew Duncombe sits at the helm of the practice from Leeds, and he also co-chairs the firm’s global hospitality and leisure practice. Manchester-based David Booth and Sophie Conroy in Leeds are also key members of the team.

The franchising group at Mishcon de Reya LLP is sought after by both franchisors and large multi-brand franchisees for international transactions. In particular, the team is especially active in assisting hotel owners, retailers, and restaurant owners. Practice head Lewis Cohen has ‘an exceptional understanding of franchising’, and he is ably supported by commercial technology lawyer Hugh Tebay, commercial and data protection expert Adam Rose, and Olivia Fulton, who has expertise in drafting and negotiating franchise agreements.

Simons Muirhead Burton is highly experienced in assisting clients with developing domestic and international franchise networks. This offering includes advice from the beginning of a company’s inception through to more established operations. The group is especially active in the luxury retailers, publishers, not-for-profit, and education sectors. Praised as ‘one of the leading experts on franchising in the country’, Maninder Gill leads the practice with expertise in both contentious and non-contentious mandates.

The Surrey-based boutique commercial firm Boddy Matthews Limited is sought after by clients for its assistance with risk auditing, brand protection, franchise re-sales, and M&A matters in the franchising space. The ‘fantastic‘ co-founding partner Kate Matthews leads the ‘dynamic’ practice and boasts an array of domestic and international clients.

Foot Anstey represents both franchisors and franchisees, including start-ups and established multi-national corporations. The group is increasingly active in assisting clients with extending their franchising network internationally. Commercial lawyer Paul Cox sits at the helm of the practice in Southampton, with expertise in resolving franchising-related disputes and drafting agreements. Peter Singfield is another key name in the disputes space, and in team news, Sam Elworthy was added to the group from Temple Bright LLP at the beginning of 2024, while John Shaw joined Brandsmiths in April 2023.

Scottish-based firm Harper Macleod LLP is active in corporate franchising transactions for global brands in the technology and food and drinks industries. Scott Kerr now leads the practice following the retirement of former practice head David Kaye, who joined Spencer West in July 2023. Kerr is well placed to advise both franchisees and franchisors.

The franchising group at Lewis Silkin is well equipped to assist clients with building domestic and international franchise brands and networks across high-end and high-street restaurant chains, fashion labels, and leisure-based companies. Franchise agreements, structuring and tax-related issues, and brand management all fall within the department’s remit. Simon Entwistle leads the department, while James Gill heads up the wider digital, commerce, and creative group. Entwistle advises clients on the entire gamut of non-contentious mandates, including mergers and joint ventures.

TLT‘s franchising department fits into the firm’s wider commercial team, led by Perran Jervis. UK and international clients seek out the group for assistance with franchising structure, brand protection, and supply chain issues, as well as regulatory compliance and dispute resolution matters. Manchester-based Pauline Cowie heads up the practice with expertise in large commercial franchising transactions in the retail and leisure industries. Miles Trower is especially notable for his franchising work in the automotive retail sector.