Get the Advice You Need from an Experienced Franchise Lawyer
Whether you own a franchise or are thinking about buying a franchise, it is critical to ensure that you are making informed decisions with your long-term best interests in mind. This applies at all stages of franchise ownership—from reviewing Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) and franchise agreements to facing termination and enforcement of post-termination covenants. With nearly 40 years of experience, franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein has the insights you need, and he can help you confidently move forward.
Mr. Goldstein represents prospective and active franchisees in Tampa as well as franchisees in other locations that are facing disputes with Tampa-based franchisors. Regardless of your needs, you can get started with a free consultation, and you can use the insights gained from this consultation to make informed decisions about your next steps. Contact us to schedule a call today.
Our Services for Prospective Franchisees in Tampa
If you are going through the franchise buying process, there is a lot you need to know. Making informed decisions is crucial, as making uninformed decisions can prove extremely costly. If you overlook concerns during the buying process, if you rely on incomplete or misleading information, or if you fail to negotiate key protections into your franchise agreement, you could find yourself struggling to recoup your initial investment. We can help you avoid costly mistakes.
At Goldstein Law Firm, we offer several fixed-fee franchise business review packages for prospective franchisees in Tampa. We can also custom tailor a package to your specific needs. Our franchise attorneys’ services for prospective franchisees include:
- Assistance with Franchise Due Diligence – Our attorneys can assist you with your franchise due diligence, including helping you decide what questions to ask current franchisees, former franchisees and the franchisor’s representatives.
- Assistance with Preparing for Franchise Discovery Days – If you are planning on attending a discovery day (which you should), we can help you prepare to get the most out of your visit to the franchisor’s headquarters.
- Comparing the Key Legal and Financial Terms of Competing Franchise Opportunities – If you are considering multiple franchise opportunities, we can compare the key legal and financial terms. We can also provide insights based on experience evaluating similar franchise opportunities for other clients.
- Reviewing Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) and Franchise Agreements – Our attorneys will thoroughly review the FDD and franchise agreement for any franchise opportunities you are considering—making note of inconsistencies, missing disclosures, and other potential red flags.
- Franchise Agreement Negotiations – If desired, a franchise attorney at our firm can either negotiate your franchise agreement on your behalf or assist you with negotiating directly.
While many prospective franchisees have concerns about the cost of hiring an attorney, the reality is that it can be far more costly to make an uninformed buying decision. During your free initial consultation, franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein will be more than happy to explain how we can add value during the franchise buying process.
Our Services for Active Franchisees in Tampa
If you currently own a franchise (or multiple franchises) in Tampa, we can assist with any issues you are facing with your franchisor. From renewing franchises to resolving franchise-related disputes, a proactive approach is nearly always best. We take a cost-conscious approach to representing franchisees in all scenarios—targeting favorable resolutions that protect our clients’ investments as efficiently as possible.
Our services for active franchisees in Tampa include:
- Franchise Renewals – If it is time for you to renew your franchise, we can assist you with providing adequate notice, demonstrating compliance with the other conditions for renewal in your franchise agreement, and reviewing and negotiating the new franchise agreement for your renewal franchise.
- Franchise Transfers – If it is time to sell your franchise, we can assist with meeting your franchise agreement’s conditions for transfer, addressing “first refusal” rights, and getting to the closing table. This includes reviewing and negotiating all relevant contracts and other necessary forms of documentation.
- Territory Encroachment Disputes – We handle all types of territory encroachment disputes for active franchisees. This includes disputes involving encroachment by franchisors and other franchisees as well as disputes involving allegations of encroachment against our clients.
- Other Franchise-Related Disputes – Along with encroachment-related disputes, we handle all other types of franchise disputes as well. This includes disputes involving unfair franchise practices, franchisor discrimination, franchise agreement breaches, and a wide range of other issues that need to be resolved through mediation, arbitration or litigation.
- Franchise Default and Termination – We have significant experience representing franchisees who are facing allegations of default and whose franchises are at risk. If you are at risk of losing your franchise, we can help you evaluate your options and take any and all appropriate legal action on your behalf.
At Goldstein Law Firm, in addition to representing individual franchisees, we also represent groups of franchisees, as well as established franchise associations. In many scenarios, seeking joint representation can not only help dilute the cost of engaging legal counsel, but also provide substantial additional leverage for negotiations with a franchisor. Whether you need to take legal action on your own or you are part of a group of similarly situated and like-minded franchisees, our franchise lawyers can provide savvy, strategic and cost-effective legal representation.
Our Services for Franchisees Facing Disputes with Tampa-Based Franchisors
Along with representing franchisees in Tampa, we also represent franchisees across Florida and throughout the United States who are facing disputes with Tampa-based franchisors. If your franchisor’s headquarters are in Tampa, then you are most likely required to pursue any dispute resolution proceedings in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. We can represent you in mediation, arbitration or litigation locally—while working with you remotely the substantial majority of the time.
When facing a dispute with your franchisor, taking decisive action promptly can be a key strategic move for targeting a swift and favorable resolution. Whether your goal is to preserve your franchise or find a way to exit the system with as few costs and post-termination restrictions as possible, our franchise attorneys can develop and execute a custom-tailored strategy focused on the specific factual and legal issues at hand.
About Franchise Attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein
Our firm is led by founder and franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein, who founded the firm in 2006 after beginning his career at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and gaining additional experience at two of the largest law firms in the world.
Over the past two decades, Mr. Goldstein has built the firm into one of the few nationally recognized franchise law firms that exclusively represents franchisees. He has represented countless prospective and active franchisees across the country, and he has received numerous awards and other forms of recognition for his achievements on behalf of his clients. These include (among others):
- Antitrust and Franchise Law Firm of the Year
- Esteemed Law Firm in Complex Litigation
- Franchise Law Firm of the Year
- Franchise Lawyer of the Year
- Lawyer International Legal 100
- Power Lawyers
- Recommended Firm in Franchise Litigation
- Super Lawyers
- Superior Attorney in Franchising
- Top Attorney USA – Litigation
Mr. Goldstein provides complimentary consultations to all potential clients, and he is more than happy to answer any questions you may have about his experience, our firm’s capabilities, or our results in prior matters. During your complimentary consultation, Mr. Goldstein can also help you understand your options for moving forward. We are fully transparent about our fees and expectations, and we prioritize both effective communication and effective legal representation.
What You Can Expect from Goldstein Law Firm
What can you expect if you choose to work with a franchise attorney at Goldstein Law Firm? Here is what we offer our clients:
1. Straightforward Advice
Throughout your time working with one of our franchise attorneys, you can expect to receive straightforward advice in language you can understand. We do not play hide the ball, and we do not speak in complex legalese.
2. Custom-Tailored Representation
While we offer fixed-fee franchise business review packages for prospective franchisees, we will fully custom-tailor our legal representation to your franchise opportunity, franchise dispute or other franchise-related matter. We understand the magnitude of the decisions you need to make, and we do not take this lightly.
3. A Client-First Approach
Above all, you can expect a client-first approach. We do what we do because we are passionate about protecting the rights and interests of franchisees. We truly want what is best for our clients, and we focus our advice and representation on helping position our clients for long-term success.
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation with Franchise Attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein Today
If you would like to speak with franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein, we invite you to get in touch. Once you do, we will schedule your complimentary consultation at a time that is convenient for you. To request an appointment at Goldstein Law Firm, give us a call at 202-293-3947 or tell us how we can get in touch online today.
