The Best Ways to Find Franchise Attorneys

Most professionals engaged in the franchise industry will advise getting a referral when looking for a franchise attorney. There are other methods but when you find out about an attorney with experience in franchise law, particularly in your industry, you are more likely to end up with a good match and better representation. At the very least you will have saved time and possibly money.

As part of due diligence you should meet with existing franchisees and ask them for referrals to lawyers.

If a referral is not available to you or you decide against hiring one you were referred to, there are plenty of other resources for finding qualified attorneys. Contact your state bar association and ask for a list of lawyers who specialize in franchise law. You may have to meet with one or two before you find the most appropriate attorney to represent you.

There are dozens of Web sites that list lawyer directories, including dedicated attorney directories. The American Bar Association's Web site, www.abanet.org, offers a state-by-state list of resources to help you find qualified legal representation.

Even though it may take more time to find a lawyer who specializes in franchise law, it is important to find someone who is familiar with this field, and who you think will best represent your interests. If you plan to use legal services for negotiating your franchise agreement, you will first want to determine if franchisees are allowed to negotiate.