A Certified Franchise Executive, Tom has represented franchisors and franchise industry organizations in matters involving wrongful termination, financial performance representations, accidental franchise claims, vendor rebate disputes, encroachment, nonrenewal, joint employment, labor claims, system enforcement, and high-exposure franchise disputes. His work includes industry amicus representation before the United States Supreme Court and defense work connected to the McDonald’s joint-employer litigation before the National Labor Relations Board.
Franchise System Strategy and Compliance
Tom advises franchisors on the legal infrastructure needed to launch, grow, and manage franchise systems. His work includes drafting and refining Franchise Disclosure Documents, franchise agreements, area development agreements, multi-unit agreements, and related system documents.
He counsels clients on state registration and renewal strategy, franchise sales compliance, relationship management, vendor and supply-chain structures, system standards, training obligations, transfers, renewals, defaults, terminations, and brand enforcement. He works with founders, executives, legal departments, development teams, operations teams, and investors to align franchise documentation and compliance strategy with the client’s business model.
Tom also advises franchisors and investors on franchise-related diligence in connection with mergers, acquisitions, financing transactions, restructurings, and growth initiatives.
Franchise Litigation, Enforcement, and Dispute Strategy
Tom represents franchisors and franchise-related businesses in litigation, arbitration, regulatory proceedings, and pre-litigation disputes. His franchise litigation work includes matters involving wrongful termination, fraud, breach of contract, encroachment, nonrenewal, alleged failure to provide training or support, financial performance representations, vendor rebates, accidental franchise claims, rescission, restitution, and system enforcement.
A significant part of Tom’s work occurs before litigation is filed. He helps franchisors evaluate disputed facts, investigate noncompliance, assess litigation risk, develop enforcement strategy, and resolve conflicts before they threaten the broader franchise system. When litigation is unavoidable, he draws on his trial, appellate, and employment-law experience to defend franchisors in high-exposure disputes.
Tom’s approach focuses on the business consequences of franchise disputes, including the impact on system standards, franchisee relations, future enforcement, labor and employment risk, and brand value.
Joint Employer, Labor and Employment, and Investigations
Tom has substantial experience advising and defending clients in labor and employment matters, including claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblowing, hostile work environment allegations, union-related issues, independent contractor classification, workplace investigations, workplace violence restraining orders, and other sensitive employment disputes.
His franchise practice frequently involves the intersection of franchise law and employment risk. He advises franchisors, franchisees, and franchise industry participants on joint-employer exposure, vicarious liability, operational control, system standards, training, audits, policies, and compliance structures designed to reduce unnecessary employment-related risk while preserving brand integrity.
Tom has led trainings, workshops, and audits for franchisors and multi-unit operators on joint-employer and vicarious-liability avoidance. He has also defended franchisees in major joint-employer litigation before the National Labor Relations Board and represented franchise industry organizations in amicus work addressing potential joint-employer liability.
Appellate and Complex Litigation
Tom has handled complex litigation and appeals involving employment, commercial, public entity, real estate, arbitration, and business disputes. His appellate work includes published and unpublished decisions involving employee discipline and termination, employer intent, workplace violence restraining orders, arbitration awards, setoff rights, real estate disputes, and commercial claims.
This background strengthens his franchise practice by allowing him to advise franchisors with a long-term view of enforceability, record preservation, litigation posture, and business impact.
