Bird & Bird LLP‘s franchising team is praised by clients as ’first rate’, with members of the group being highly skilled in assisting clients with their global brand expansion through the use of franchising. The team’s offering extends across Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, and it also boasts a franchising disputes specialism, which is led by the ‘exceptional’ Victoria Hobbs, who frequently represents clients in domestic and international litigation and arbitration proceedings. The practice’s impressive client roster includes companies from the food and beverage, retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors, in addition to healthcare, education, and green energy. Graeme Payne heads up the practice, and primarily advising consumer-focused businesses on their domestic and international expansion strategies. Nick Green - who was promoted to partner in May 2023 - advises clients on distribution and agency agreements, in addition to hybrid growth strategies, manufacturing and warehousing.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'The team at Bird & Bird is very efficient, very knowledgeable, very helpful, and always has a mind to commercial decisions and the impact on the overall business.'
'The team is very knowledgeable on all things franchise. One can always rely on the team for prompt and pragmatic advice and its prominent positioning in this market means clients will be getting the most up to date industry best practice.'
'The franchising team at Bird & Bird is first rate; excellent industry knowledge and experience with agreements and negotiations.'
'Very hands on, the team explains difficult concepts and distills the issues very clearly.'
'Shelley Nadler brings a wealth of experience and technical skill to the franchise practice and is without exception responsive and helpful.'
'Graeme Payne is hugely experienced and provides an invaluable perspective on franchise work in the wider commercial context.'
'On the disputes resolution side, Victoria Hobbs is very responsive and quick to cut to the heart of an issue, giving pragmatic and practical advice.'
'Victoria Hobbs is exceptional in her franchising knowledge, her approach, and that she takes the time to understand clients' businesses so she can apply commercial reasoning to her advice.'

Key clients

Costa
Neat Burger
IWG
Mothercare
Laser Clinics
Franchise Brands
Jamie Oliver
Tortilla
Home Instead
Valhallan

Work highlights

Advised IWG on its international franchising, licensing, and partnerships arrangements.
Advising the Laser Clinics commercial and legal teams in Australia and the UK on adapting the number of franchise and corporate documents so that they are suitable for legal and business practices in the UK.
Acting for Franchise Brands and its stable of brands in relation to all franchising matters.