Gardner Leader is a full-service law firm providing strategic legal advice to businesses, business owners, families and private individuals.

Gardner Leader recently achieved Certified B Corp™ status, reflecting our commitment to high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. Becoming a B Corp™ business recognises our belief that businesses should be a force for good and reinforces the way we operate as a firm, from how we support our people and clients to our wider role within the communities we serve.

With offices across the Thames Valley, London and Oxford, and a heritage spanning more than 125 years, we combine established local roots with national and international reach. Our clients value our practical, commercially focused advice and many have worked with us for years, returning to us as their businesses grow and evolve.

Our dedicated franchising team advises franchisors, franchisees and multi-unit operators across a wide range of sectors, from emerging franchise brands taking their first steps into franchising through to established national and international franchise networks.

Our franchising services include:

• Preparation and review of franchise agreements and related documentation
• Multi-unit, area development and master franchise arrangements
• Franchise disclosure documentation and compliance
• Franchise sales, acquisitions and exits
• Advice on commercial contracts and supply arrangements
• Intellectual property protection and brand management
• Real estate advice
• Franchise recruitment and onboarding processes
• employment advice and HR support across franchise networks and to individual franchisees
• Network management and operational support
• Franchise renewals, transfers and succession planning
• Dispute resolution and Alternative Dispute Resolution including mediation
• Termination disputes including enforcement of post-termination restrictions and obligations

Contact

Lynsey Smith
Partner – Dispute Resolution and Franchising

lynsey.smith@gardner-leader.co.uk
01628 502425