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FRANCHISE SOLICITORS

Legal support for franchisors and the networks they build

We act for franchisors, master franchisees and multi-unit franchisees across the UK, keeping your franchise agreement, your brand and your network in order so that growth does not outrun the documents that govern it. A fixed monthly fee, with no hourly billing.

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COMMON FRANCHISE PROBLEMS

The problems that bring franchisors and franchisees to us

There is no franchise statute in the United Kingdom and no prescribed disclosure document, so almost everything that goes wrong in a network traces back to the agreement, the trade marks, or what was said during recruitment. These are the six situations we are asked about most, and what each one actually turns on.

By the time a franchisor calls us, the agreement has usually been signed nine or ten times already. Most of the work is making the next version hold without unsettling the units that are trading on the old one.

Ashrelle Parker-Belgrave

Commercial Solicitor, Lawyerly

Portrait photo

Ashrelle Parker-Belgrave

Commercial Solicitor, Lawyerly

The agreement was adapted from another network It was drafted for a different model, so the fees, the territory and the termination rights do not match how you actually trade. The gaps only show when you need to rely on them, and there is no franchise statute to fill them.
A franchisee stops meeting standards Warnings, remediation, and whether the agreement lets you step in, withhold support or terminate without handing the franchisee a claim in return. In most networks the termination clause is the least tested part of the document.
The brand was never properly registered The marks were filed in one class, or not at all, and the network has been licensing something it cannot fully enforce. Registering is straightforward. Recovering a brand a franchisee has been trading under for three years is not.
A recruit says the figures were oversold Projections, illustrative accounts and pipeline figures given before signing are actionable under the Misrepresentation Act 1967, and an entire agreement clause faces its own reasonableness test. What sat in the recruitment pack matters as much as what sits in the contract.
Territory, pricing or online sales are challenged Exclusive territories, resale pricing and restrictions on selling online sit inside the Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Order 2022. Fixed or minimum prices and wide retail parity clauses are hardcore restrictions, so a clause written to hold the network together can be void.
A unit closes or changes hands Who owns the customer data, whether the post-term restrictions are narrow enough to enforce, and whether the lease was contracted out of security of tenure decide what you keep. It is the point at which the whole document set is tested at once.
OUR LEGAL EXPERTISE

We understand the business behind the network

A new franchisor, an established network and a multi-unit franchisee face different legal questions. We act across franchising and shape our advice to the way you recruit, support and grow the network.

  • New and emerging franchisors

    Businesses preparing to franchise for the first time: model design, pilot operations, the agreement, the manual and the trade marks.

  • Established franchise networks

    Franchisors with a trading network: renewals, resales, standards enforcement, terminations and disputes with franchisees.

  • Master and area franchisees

    Master franchisees and area developers bringing an overseas or national brand to a territory and sub-franchising within it.

  • Multi-unit franchisees

    Operators running several units under one or more brands, with leases, staff and agreements to manage in parallel.

  • Franchise consultants and suppliers

    Consultants, recruitment specialists and nominated suppliers who need their own terms and their role in the network defined.

LEGAL SERVICES FOR FRANCHISE BUSINESSES

Take care of the legal side of the network

From day-to-day contract work to the questions particular to franchising, our solicitors work alongside you so that the brand is protected, the agreements are enforceable and the network grows on consistent terms.

  • Franchise agreements and documentation

    Franchise, master franchise and area development agreements, deposit agreements, renewals, resale and transfer documentation and the operations manual.

  • Trade marks and brand licensing

    Trade mark registration and portfolio management, brand licences, copyright in the manual and marketing materials and enforcement against infringers.

  • Recruitment and disclosure

    Pre-contract disclosure, financial projections and disclaimers, marketing to prospective franchisees and compliance with the British Franchise Association code of ethics.

  • Competition law compliance

    Territories, online and passive sales, resale pricing, nominated suppliers and non-compete provisions under the Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Order 2022.

  • Data protection across the network

    Controller and processor roles, data sharing agreements, customer data on transfer or termination, privacy notices and marketing consent.

  • Employment and HR

    Franchisor head office contracts, guidance on franchisee employment standards, TUPE on transfer of units and the boundary between support and control.

  • Premises and supplier agreements

    Head leases and underleases, step-in rights, nominated supplier agreements, equipment and fit-out contracts.

  • Termination, disputes and recovery

    Breach and termination, post-termination restrictions, unpaid fees and disputes between franchisor and franchisee, resolved directly with the other party rather than through the courts.

Legal readiness assessment

How legally ready is your franchise business?

Our solicitors built this assessment around what a solid legal setup looks like for a franchise business: the foundations they put in place and the gaps they fix. Answer honestly and you will see where yours stands and where it needs strengthening.

About 3 minutes · Confidential

Your result

Where you are exposed

    The full report shows your score in each area, every gap with why it matters, and what to fix first.

    Your full report

    Unlock your full report

    A few details about the business and the report opens here, with every area scored and what to fix first.

    Preparing your full report

    Your full report

    Breakdown by area

    Next step

    Ready to act on this?

    A focused conversation with one of our founders about your priority gaps, a remediation plan you can act on, and fixed fees agreed up front.

    Where to focus first

    From your answers, these are the highest-impact gaps to address. Items tagged critical are the ones most likely to turn into a claim, a penalty or a lost customer.

      Section by section

      Your answers, your score, and why each area matters. Items with a marker are gaps worth attention.

      Now that you have the full picture, the next step is a short call to agree what to fix first.

      This report is generated from your self-reported answers and provides general information only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. The regulatory landscape in this area is evolving rapidly. For advice specific to your circumstances, please speak with a qualified solicitor. © Lawyerly Ltd.

      CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

      What our clients say about working with us

      4.8 on Google

      Legal advice without the lawyer-speak.

      Professional, knowledgeable, and refreshingly no-nonsense. Clear communication without the lawyer-speak. We've used them across debt recovery, IP and contracts. All to the same high standard.

      Catriona Robson-Scarborough Operations, Your Man With A Van
      LATEST INSIGHTS BY OUR TEAM

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      CONTACT US

      Talk to us about your franchise

      Book a complimentary consultation with our team. We will take the time to understand your model, your network and your plans for it, and explain how we can support you.

      Willem van der Merwe

      Co-Founder

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