Fieldfisher

The franchising department at Fieldfisher advises clients across the retail, automotive, food and beverage, fitness, hotel, leisure, and education sectors on an impressive array of franchising matters, receiving a regular flow of instructions on multiunit and multi-brand franchises, disputes work, global expansion via franchising, and drafting and negotiating commercial franchise structures and contracts, as well as corporate acquisitions and sales and joint ventures involving franchise businesses. The team is under the ‘excellent leadership’ of London-based David Bond and Gordon Drakes. Bond draws on decades of franchising and licensing experience to support domestic and international clients in international expansion through franchise and licensing models, boasting particular expertise in supporting established franchise networks with strategic growth and territory development. Drakes is a key port of call for both franchisors and franchisees on the development, expansion, and management of franchise networks domestically and internationally, including master franchise arrangements, brand entry into new markets, and dispute resolution within franchise relationships. Dual-qualified in Germany and England, Vicky Reinhardt is lauded for her assistance with hotel franchises and the overseas expansion of UK school brands. Rachel Bowley, Sara Stewart, and Kate Williams are other key figures within the group.