At Frantz Ward, we bring together wide-ranging knowledge of business, intellectual property, insurance, and employment law to provide strategic solutions for franchising matters, ensuring our clients are fully supported in every aspect of the process. Our team helps both franchisors and franchisees navigate these laws and manage franchisor-franchisee relationships. We assist new franchisors with setting up franchise systems, including preparing Franchise Disclosure Documents and agreements, and advising on Ohio’s Business Opportunity Act. For franchisees, we review documents and help establish business entities and corporate structures.
Frantz Ward provides comprehensive support, assisting businesses in related areas, such as:
- Brand protection (trademarks, service marks, etc.)
- Construction and improvement project counseling
- Defending against joint employer and respondent superior allegations
- Wage and hour claims defense (e.g., tip credits, FLSA exempt status)
- Employment contract negotiation and drafting
- Entity formation and corporate documentation
- Financing, lending, and collection issues
- Franchise negotiations and standards enforcement
- Insurance matters
- Lease and purchase contract negotiations
- Liability avoidance and litigation defense
- Licensing and regulatory compliance
Representative Matters
- Successfully represented the defendant in the first Ohio case to litigate diminished value under the Ohio Alcoholic Beverages Franchise Act, involving the loss of a major beer brand.
- Successfully represented a Spanish winery seeking a declaration that the winery had just cause pursuant to the Ohio Alcoholic Beverages Franchise Act to terminate the franchise between the winery and a distributor. Court entered a directed verdict after a four-day jury trial.
- Successfully defended against claims brought by two wholesale distributors under the Ohio Alcoholic Beverages Franchise Act, including challenges to their termination and allegations of unconstitutional property taking. The trial court ruled in favor of the defendants on all claims except diminished value. After a bench trial, the court’s ruling on the remaining claim was generally favorable to the defendants.
- Represents a national restaurant franchisor in its lease and franchise disputes in Ohio.
