Univ Prof Dr David Bond > Fieldfisher > London, England > Lawyer Profile

The franchising group at Fieldfisher supports both domestic and international franchisors and large, multi-unit franchisees with their global expansion activities. The team boasts multi-disciplinary capabilities, enabling it to provide an all-encompassing offering across a range of sectors, including retail, food and beverage, hotels and leisure, and education, among others. David Bond and Gordon Drakes co-lead the team; Bond is experienced in assisting established franchise networks with long-term strategies, while Drakes is sought after by US law firms to advise on UK franchising issues. Andrew Dodd specialises in disputes relating to franchising, which is also an area of strength for James Seadon. Vicky Reinhardt is dual qualified in Germany and England, and she is notable for her commercial franchise work.

Singled out for its expertise in media planning and buying, Fieldfisher acts for a diverse client roster in compliance matters, contractual work – including sponsorships, co-branding and influencer contracts – and promotional activities. The team is skilled at assisting companies with B2B marketing concerning products and services sold to other businesses, and is also a strong performer in ASA complaints and adtech matters. Practice head David Bond specialises in media planning and buying agreements, while Sonal Patel Oliva is key to social media and influencer matters. Vicky Reinhardt advises media agencies on commercial contracts.

The team at Fieldfisher frequently advises on multi-billion pound, multijurisdictional deals. The team works frequently on IP, regulatory and tech-related work, and is also well versed in employment, marketing and franchising work. Led by David Bond – noted for his expertise in advertising matters – the team’s client roster includes major luxury goods companies, fashion houses, and sportswear conglomerates. Fellow co-chair Gordon Drakes handles commercial and transactional matters with a specialism in IP.

Praised for its ‘commerciality’ and ‘speed of response’, the ‘extremely switched on’ team at Fieldfisher regularly advises on complex leases, financing arrangements, acquisitions, and redevelopments. The team also draws on the expertise of its dedicated franchising team to advise its clients on global expansion. The hotels and leisure team is led by Paul Houston, who advises on acquisition and disposal of investment portfolios, sale and pre-letting of development sites as well as the real estate aspects of corporate transactions. David Wilkinson supports the team as an M&A specialist alongside David Bond, who heads the franchise and licensing group. Bond advises on the negotiation of franchise agreements, hotel management agreements and related commercial and advertising issues. Ramatu Banga and Alex Campbell are also recommended.

Trade lawyers at White & Case LLP are praised by clients as ‘instrumental in providing favorable solutions to import roadblocks’. Certainly the firm maintains an active customs and import compliance practice, which is keeping increasingly busy advising on supply chains and forced labor-related issues, alongside traditional customs areas such as duty regimes and tariff mitigation strategies. Trade litigator Jay Campbell is a key contact for customs work and recently represented numerous manufacturing clients in ongoing Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigations. International trade head David Bond and senior associate Jessica Lynd also handle customs matters. The team’s export controls and economic sanctions offering—led by Nicole Erb —stands out for its expertise across a wide range of US and non-US sanctions and export control regimes, while it is also is well-placed to advise on Russia countermeasures. Among its recent highlights in the sanctions space, Cristina Brayton-Lewis paired up with regulatory litigator Claire DeLelle to successfully represent a cryptocurrency exchange in voluntary self-disclosure proceedings before OFAC regarding apparent violations of the Iran sanctions. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC. Richard Burke has left the firm.