Discuss Your Options with an Experienced Franchise Lawyer
Whether you own or are thinking about buying a franchise, you need to make informed decisions on a daily basis. Current franchisees must focus on growing their business while carefully managing compliance with their franchise agreement, while prospective franchisees must ensure that they are giving themselves a reasonable chance of success. At the Goldstein Law Firm, we know what can happen when franchisees find themselves in untenable positions, and this is why our franchise lawyers are so passionate about helping clients in Phoenix at all stages of the franchise ownership lifecycle.
Are you thinking about buying a franchise? Are you facing a dispute with your franchisor? If so, we strongly encourage you to contact us so that we can help. We represent current and prospective franchisees in the Phoenix area as well as those who are facing disputes with Phoenix-based franchisors.
Why Choose a Franchise Attorney at the Goldstein Law Firm?
Regardless of your current stage of franchise ownership, your choice of legal representation matters. So, why should you choose one of the franchise attorneys at the Goldstein Law Firm?
1. Our Experience
Our team, led by founding attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein, has decades of experience in the franchise industry. Mr. Goldstein alone has been representing current and prospective franchisees for well over 30 years. As a result, we are intimately familiar with the challenges and risks that franchisees face on a daily basis—and we rely on this familiarity to provide critical advice and forward-thinking insights to our clients.
2. Our Recognition
Over the years, we have been fortunate to receive recognition from several entities both within and outside of the legal field. For example, some of Mr. Goldstein’s and the Goldstein Law Firm’s awards and accolades include:
- Franchise Law Firm of the Year
- Lawyers of Distinction’s 2020 Power Lawyers
- Recommended Firm in Franchise Litigation
- Superior Attorney in Franchising
- Top Franchise Litigator for Franchisees and Dealers
While we are proud of these awards and accolades, we are even prouder of what they signify—our commitment to protecting our clients’ interests, no matter what it takes. We truly are passionate about what we do, and it shows in both our approach to legal representation and the results we help our clients achieve.
3. Our Focus
We aren’t just a franchise law firm. We are a franchise law firm that exclusively represents franchisees and dealers. This focus sets us apart from most of our competitors. With our focus on franchisee representation, you can feel confident knowing that we only have your best interests in mind. You can also feel confident knowing that we devote every hour of every work day to helping clients in situations similar to yours.
4. Our Commitment
We are committed to our clients’ success—whether their success as a franchisee or their success in arbitration or litigation. Our franchise lawyers work closely with our clients in Phoenix to understand their specific risks, concerns and needs, and then to develop and deliver custom-tailored legal advice and solutions. Your franchise opportunity is unique to you, and it is important to you. This makes it important to us as well.
5. Our Results
Perhaps most importantly, our results speak for themselves. We are proud to let our clients speak for themselves as well. While we encourage you to schedule a free consultation with a franchise attorney at our firm to discuss your specific needs, we also encourage you to read our testimonials to learn about how we have helped our clients in the past.
What Can We Do to Help You?
Let’s say you choose to work with a franchise lawyer at the Goldstein Law Firm. What can we do to help you? Here are some of the primary legal services we offer to current and prospective franchisees in Phoenix:
How We Help Prospective Franchisees in Phoenix
If you are in the process of buying a franchise, we can help you make informed decisions throughout the process—up to and including the day that you sign your franchise agreement. Once you become a franchisee, we can continue to provide legal advice and assistance as needed as well. Our services for prospective franchisees include:
- Assisting with due diligence, including explaining where to find important information and how to evaluate the information that franchisors provide.
- Comparing competing franchise opportunities, including comparing not only financial terms and key operational concerns, but comparing key legal terms in the franchise agreements as well.
- Advising on potential red flags and other concerns raised by franchisors’ Franchise Disclosure Agreements (FDDs), including their financial performance representations (FPRs).
- Advising on high-risk provisions in franchise agreements and recommending alternative contract language that is more reasonable than the original one-sided language in the agreement.
- Negotiating directly with franchisors to address ambiguities and oversights in their franchise agreements, and to seek reasonable concessions when contract terms are unduly one-sided.
We offer multiple tiers of franchise review programs, and you can choose the program that is best suited to your specific needs. If desired, we can provide additional custom-tailored legal services as well.
How We Help Current Franchisees in Phoenix
If you currently own a franchise in Phoenix or are facing a dispute with a Phoenix-based franchisor, we can help you efficiently target a favorable resolution. Depending on your goals, we can either work to protect your franchise and preserve your relationship with your franchisor or focus on finding a way for you to exit the system without unnecessary adverse consequences. Some of the primary services our franchise lawyers provide to current franchisees include:
- Evaluating franchisors’ allegations of non-compliance, identifying potential defenses, and assessing potential mediation, arbitration or litigation strategies.
- Evaluating potential claims against franchisors, including potential legal or equitable remedies that may be available through mediation, arbitration or litigation.
- When desired, working to amicably resolve disputes without formal legal proceedings and with a focus on maintaining a positive and productive working relationship.
- Providing representation for mediation, arbitration and litigation in disputes involving claims both by and against franchisees.
- Assisting franchisee associations and other franchisee groups with leveraging their collective bargaining power or using their collective resources to pursue legal action.
Our franchise attorneys handle disputes ranging from territorial encroachment to wrongful termination. We handle disputes under federal antitrust and unfair competition laws, Arizona law, and the law of other governing jurisdictions. Once we learn the details of your dispute, we will be able to determine which laws apply and provide custom-tailored advice that you can use to make informed decisions about your next steps.
FAQs: Understanding Phoenix Franchisees’ Legal Rights
Does Arizona Have a Franchise Registration or Franchise Disclosure Law?
No, unlike many other states, Arizona does not have a franchise registration law or a franchise disclosure law. However, this does not mean that franchisees in Phoenix are without legal rights. Various protections still apply, and if you have questions about your legal rights, we strongly encourage you to speak with a franchise attorney at the Goldstein Law Firm.
What Are Franchisees’ Rights in Phoenix?
Franchisees in Phoenix have several legal rights. Perhaps most importantly, this includes the right to enforce the terms of their franchise agreement when necessary. Whether your franchisor has breached your franchise agreement or it is seeking to terminate your franchise prematurely, an experienced franchise lawyer at our firm can help make sure you do not suffer unnecessary and unwarranted consequences.
Should I Hire a Franchise Lawyer if I Am Out-of-State But Need to Pursue Arbitration in Arizona?
Yes, if you need to pursue mediation, arbitration or litigation in Arizona because this is where your franchisor’s headquarters are located, you will want to hire a franchise lawyer to represent you. At the Goldstein Law Firm, we represent franchisees nationwide, and we have decades of experience protecting franchisees’ rights in litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer if I Am Thinking About Buying a Franchise in Phoenix?
Yes, if you are thinking about buying a franchise in Phoenix, we strongly recommend hiring a lawyer before you commit to moving forward. An experienced franchise lawyer will be able to help you make an informed buying decision and, if desired, negotiate key provisions of your franchise agreement on your behalf.
When is the Right Time to Engage a Franchise Attorney for a Dispute with My Phoenix Franchisor?
If you are facing a dispute with your franchisor, we strongly recommend speaking with a franchise attorney right away. There is no reason to wait, and taking a proactive approach to dispute resolution can help facilitate an amicable and cost-effective outcome in many cases.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Franchise Attorney Today
If you would like to speak with one of our franchise lawyers, we invite you to get in touch. To arrange a free and confidential consultation at the Goldstein Law Firm, please call 202-293-3947 or contact us online today.
