About Us

Helping franchisors and franchisees launch and grow their franchise businesses, Ashfords is a national law company with unmatched expertise in the structure and dynamics of the franchise business sector.

The team handles all elements of franchising, such as:

• brand protection,
• evaluating franchise agreements on behalf of prospective franchisees,
• creating and amending franchise agreements on behalf of franchisors at different stages from conception to international expansion
• all property-related issues, such as those relating to the purchase and sale of an existing franchise business
• franchisee exits
• resolving franchise disputes

For those with ambitious expansion objectives, our team provides unparalleled service.

For a fixed charge, we provide a franchise report service that highlights any onerous terms and unusual provisions. We have the experience and knowledge necessary to optimise leasehold document agreements in order to support rapid expansion. Because of our knowledge and expertise, we can provide services that are specially tailored to a particular franchise firm.

Franchises require a committed, long-term business relationship. Consequently, disputes do occasionally occur, and when they do, we are best equipped to help.

Ashfords has extensive expertise representing both franchisors and franchisees and has a thorough grasp of the business factors that contribute to conflicts and the steps necessary to resolve them.

Specialisms

• establishing and creating franchises
• granting and terminating a franchise
• selling and buying franchise businesses
• area Development Agreements and Master Franchise Agreements
• property franchise disputes
• issues related to restrictive covenants, such as enforcement, licences and trademarks

Franchising Experience

• acting for Subway for more than 11 years, handling more than 500 new site locations and 600 store transfers.
• representing the franchisor in matters of restructuring in 12 foreign jurisdictions and territorial expansion.
• through injunctive procedures, and enforcement of a restrictive covenant against a franchisee committing a breach.
• representing 22 franchisees in a class action lawsuit against a well-known fast food restaurant.
• advice regarding the launch of a US leisure concept to the UK market.