Overview of Kaufmann Gildin’s Franchise Practice
The Kaufmann Gildin franchise team is justifiably famous throughout the United States and the world for its deep and broad experience; penetrating expertise; multifaceted talents; remarkable results; and, its illustrious client roster, which consists of many of our nation’s and the world’s largest and most prestigious franchisors as well as a vast array of startup and midrange franchisors. As well as many of our nation’s leading investment banks, private equity concerns and law firms rely on Kaufmann Gildin’s expertise when confronting sophisticated franchise-related acquisitions, financings and litigation.
David J. Kaufmann is the partner-in-charge of Kaufmann Gildin’s franchise team. A founding member and senior partner of our firm, David is nationally acclaimed as one of America’s foremost franchise lawyers. The United States District Court for the Southern District Court of New York long ago held that “David Kaufmann is unquestionably an expert in franchise law.” The New York Times lauds David as “a lawyer in New York who has represented many of the nation’s top franchisors”. David has been featured in The Best Lawyers in America under the heading “Franchising-New York City” in every edition of that publication. He was named the inaugural “New York Area Franchise Lawyer of the Year” by New York magazine. And Franchise Times inducted David into its “Legal Eagle Hall of Fame” (as an attorney who was recognized as a “Legal Eagle” by that publication each and every year since inception).
Kaufmann Gildin’s extraordinary abilities in the field of franchising are perhaps best reflected by the firm’s treasured clients, which place their trust and confidence in Kaufmann Gildin when confronting significant opportunities, issues, crises or simply the need for everyday legal counsel and support.
Kaufmann Gildin’s franchise clients include many of our nation’s and the world’s largest and most prestigious franchisers including: YUM! Brands, Inc. (Pizza Hut/KFC/Taco Bell); Marriott International, Inc.; Wendy’s International, Inc.; Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.; 7-Eleven, Inc.; InterContinental Hotels Group plc (Holiday Inns/Crowne Plaza/InterContinental Hotels/Hotel Indigo); Enterprise Holdings, Inc. (Enterprise, National and Alamo vehicle rental networks); Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (Wyndham Hotels & Resorts/Ramada Inns/Days Inns/Howard Johnson/Super 8/Travelodge); Weichert Realtors; Jani-King, Inc.; Wok & Roll; Ripley’s Attractions, Inc.; Johnny Rockets Group, Inc.; The Museum of Modern Art; and, Luke’s Lobster.
As well, Kaufmann Gildin has been asked by many of our nation’s leading investment banks, private equity concerns and law firms to assist in their franchise-related acquisitions, securitizations and financings. These include: Goldman Sachs; The Blackstone Group; Trian Partners, L.P.; Castle Harlan; Wellspring Management LLC; Cerberus Capital Management L.P.; Levine Leichtman Capital Partners; Haas Wheat; Friedman Fleischer & Lowe; Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP; Debevoise & Plimpton LLP; Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCoy LLP; Vinson & Elkins LLP; Simpson Thatcher; and, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson.
Kaufmann Gildin’s team of remarkably bright, talented and experienced franchise attorneys have seen it, done it and prevailed. Kaufmann Gildin has deep experience in structuring, implementing, documenting and registering new franchise programs; modifying or overhauling existing franchise networks; participating as franchise counsel in over $30 billion in franchise-related merger, acquisition and securitization activity; applying extraordinary government relations skills; deploying a litigation team whose record is remarkable and renowned among Kaufmann Gildin’s clients; conceptualizing the securitization financing structure that has been used in virtually every franchise-related securitization ever successfully accomplished in this country; and, is nationally acclaimed by both clients and government officials for its ability to prepare franchise agreements and disclosure documents which are comprehensive, as sophisticated as the situation warrants and yet facilitate the franchise marketing process by being so “user friendly”.
Kaufmann Gildin’s team of franchise attorneys devotes itself to furnishing every type of legal counsel and representation that a franchisor may need – – whether the franchisor is a “startup” or, as is the case with many of Kaufmann Gildin’s clients, one of the largest franchisors in the world.
