Franchising

Our franchising team understands the needs of both franchisors and franchisees.

Franchising requires specialist advice at an early stage to ensure the development of a successful and enduring relationship between franchisor and franchisee. 

Mincoffs have a team of lawyers with considerable experience in advising both franchisors and franchisees in all areas of franchising. Whether a franchisor or franchisee, we work closely with our clients from the start, helping to minimise the risk and avoid potentially expensive problems at a later date. 

We are proud to be a Professional Affiliate member of the British Franchise Association (BFA), the original and largest not-for-profit trade association for franchising in the UK, ensuring that the advice on franchising given to our clients is of a high standard, consistent with the aims and objectives of the British Franchise Association. 

We are also ambassadors of Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWiF) whose primary focus is to support women who are looking for a route into the franchise industry and whose remit is to encourage women to consider buying a franchise, encourage business women to franchise their existing operations, and to help franchisors attract more women to their networks. 

The businesses we advise cover a wide variety of industry sectors, many of which are household names, including retail, telecommunications, hotelier and hospitality, veterinary and medical.  

This means that we can provide a seamless service in respect of all legal aspects of franchising, including corporate, real estate, employment , intellectual property and franchising dispute resolution. 

Our franchising solicitors are able to provide the following services for franchisors: 

• Franchise system start-up including the evaluaton of the suitability of the business concept for franchising 

• Preparation of franchise documentation including: unit franchise agreements; area development agreement and ancillary documentation such as trade mark licences, heads of terms and confidentiality agreements 

• Franchisee representation, including franchise agreement reviews and reporting 

• Expansion of existing franchise and distribution programmes internationally including master franchise agreements, development agreements and  obtaining local legal advice to ensure compliance with local laws 

• Franchising dispute resolution, including enforcement of contract terms and termination of franchises 

• Advice on the corporate set up for the franchise 

• Assisting in franchise network sales, acquisitions  

• Advice on the property aspects of retail based franchises including preparing leases, sub-leases and advising on property acquisitions 

Our franchising solicitors are able to provide the following services for franchisees 

• Reviews of franchise agreements (on a fixed fee basis) and negotiating agreements on behalf of franchisees with franchisors  

• advise on agreement renewals 

• advise on franchise resales and acquisitions 

• dispute resolution for franchisees 

To speak to an experienced and trusted specialist franchising solicitor call our commercial team on 0191 281 6151 or email Antony Hall, head of commercial services on ahall@mincoffs.co.uk