Franchise Relationships

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

With over 45 years of experience in franchising and franchise law, Charles (“Chuck”) Modell is a highly regarded franchise attorney, primarily representing franchisors on the business aspects of franchising and best practices as well as legal matters, while also advising large multi-unit franchisees, including private equity-backed franchisees. His career in franchising began as a manager of a Burger King restaurant in college, leading him to pursue a law degree, which he received with high honors in 1977. He shifted his focus to franchising, franchises and franchise law in 1978 and has since worked with a diverse range of franchise clients, from start-ups to global franchisors with thousands of franchisees. As a franchise legal and business advisor, and experienced franchise arbitrator and franchise mediator, Modell has provided comprehensive guidance on all aspects of franchising, compliance, and dispute resolution, including: • Franchise model evaluation – Advising businesses on whether franchising is the right growth strategy. • Development of the franchised businesses, including best practices in selling franchises, developing brand standards, and working with franchisees. • Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD) & Agreements – Drafting and reviewing FDDs, franchise agreements, and related contracts, with particularly extensive experience with financial performance representations. • Franchise disputes – Resolving conflicts between franchisors and franchisees. • Mergers & acquisitions – Assisting with the purchase and sale of franchise businesses. • Franchise sales & compliance – Ensuring legal compliance in franchise transactions. • Brand enforcement – Protecting brand standards and enforcing compliance. • Intellectual property protection – Safeguarding trademarks and proprietary assets. • Franchise termination & non-renewal – Advising on legal rights and obligations. • Non-compete agreements – Drafting and enforcing pre-termination and post-termination franchise restrictions. • Financial matters – Providing legal guidance on franchise-related financial transactions. Modell has authored over 90 publications on franchising, franchise law and franchise business strategy and is a sought-after speaker for organizations such as the International Franchise Association (IFA), American Bar Association (ABA) Forum on Franchising, and leading universities. He has served on the Board of Advisors of a major franchise real estate company, and his franchise clients looked to him as much for business advice as for legal advice based on his extensive experience in franchising. For 11 years, he served on the Industry Advisory Committee to the North American Franchise Administrator’s Association (“NASAA”) Franchise Project Group, where he played a key role in drafting regulatory commentaries, training franchise regulators and shaping franchise regulations. He is an Emeritus Member of the Industry Advisory Committee to the NASAA Franchise Project Group and has held leadership positions within the IFA and ABA Franchise Forum, where he also helped shaped industry regulations and franchise best practices. Recognized as a Certified Franchise Executive, Modell received the Lewis Rudnick Award for lifetime achievement in franchise law and has been consistently named a top franchise attorney for over 20 years. He is one of only three “Senior Statespeople” in franchising, the highest ranking in Chambers’ franchise law directory. With industry experience spanning restaurants, fitness, hospitality, retail, campgrounds, and service industries, Modell is a trusted legal and strategic business advisor for franchise companies throughout the United States.