• 2019-current – Outside General Counsel for former partner of existing client acquiring franchise and development rights for Cinnaholic in Atlanta, GA.
• 2020-current – Counsel on real estate, organization/governance and franchise matters for a multi-brand operator in European Wax Centers, Marco’s Pizza and new health and wellness franchise systems.
• 2022-current – Counsel for a multi-business owner on various matters – CT car dealership, new dealership acquisition, marketing/SEO business and personal real estate investments.
• 2023-current – Work with east coast property developer pursuing real estate joint ventures with franchise and non-franchise retail operators.
• Summer 2023 – Special Transaction counsel for a new franchisor – develop specialized leases for property and FF&E for use in a proposed franchise offering
• Fall 2023 – Special Transaction Counsel for new Pepper Lunch developer; negotiate 10-unit Area Development Agreement and Franchise Agreement form
• Fall 2023, Special Workout Counsel for a Fuzzy’s franchisee for store closure
• 2019-2021 – Special Restructuring Counsel for distressed local NYC quick casual taco chain.
• 2017-2021 – Outside General Counsel for new Just Salad developer (NC) – 5-unit development agreement and three leases executed. First store opened July 2019.  All development work, corporate organization, etc. 
• 2010-2021 – Outside general counsel for a 27-unit Hardee’s operation in Dayton OH and surrounding DMAs:
  • Continuous fee and leasehold development work; and
  • Two rounds of financing ($2.5 million -$4 million).
• 2018 – Special Transaction Counsel for multi-brand family office.
  • 11 Unit Burger King portfolio acquired in two separate deals.
  • 8 Unit Jimmy John’s portfolio acquired in five separate deals.
• 2012-2017 – Occasional general counsel for a 120-unit Hardee’s operation in the Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Tampa, FL and southern GA DMAs and developing Wing Stop operation in the Tampa, FL DMA including:
  • Original 10-unit Tampa acquisition from Hardee’s (2013);
  • Subsequent 28-unit Jax/Gainesville acquisition from Hardee’s (2015);
  • Continuous fee and leasehold development work; and
  • Several rounds of financing and re-financing from $2.5 million to $10 million.
• 2016 – Seller’s counsel in sale of 38 Carl’s Jr. Restaurants in OK and TX.
• 2015 – Buyer’s counsel in purchase of 52 Hardee’s in South Carolina and North Carolina including acquisition financing.
• 2014 – Buyer’s counsel in purchase of 5 Hardee’s from Hardee’s in Orlando, FL (2014) and continued development work.
• 2012 – Seller’s counsel in sale of 32 Applebee’s in South Carolina (2012).

In addition to the above, transaction counsel in the acquisition or sale of over 2,000 franchised and non-franchised restaurants, senior debt financing for multi-unit operators in excess of $5 billion and private equity financing in excess of $1 billion. Equity transactions include representation of several investment funds serving the franchise and restaurant industries. Interesting examples include:

• Company counsel for private placement for new restaurant development and exchange offer related to a roll-up of existing operating companies into a holding company structure.
• Company counsel in $4.0 million joint venture for a restaurant reporting systems provider.
• Company counsel for franchisor of 300+ pizza restaurants in the design and structure for a captive franchise finance vehicle for its franchisees. Led implementation, including private placement for captive equity fund and formation of captive loss guaranty fund.