Stanley M. Dub continues to be the “go-to” franchise lawyer in the State of Ohio — with 35+ years of unbroken disclosure compliance.
Years Practice
Disclosure Compliance
Adjunct Professor
Mr. Dub is Adjunct Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve
University Law School. Since 2016 he has taught a course on
Franchise Law — believed to be the only course on Franchise Law
ever offered by an Ohio law school.
Years of Franchise Law Practice
Unmatched depth in Ohio franchise disclosure and litigation.
Disclosure Violations. Ever.
In 35 years of practicing franchise law, none of Mr. Dub’s clients has ever faced a claim that their documents violated franchise disclosure rules.
CWRU Adjunct Faculty Appointed
The sole franchise law course ever taught at an Ohio law school.
We have represented many franchisees wishing to terminate their franchises. In some cases, we helped them exit their systems without filing suit; in several cases we filed lawsuits — most were settled with payments made to the client; one resulted in a verdict for the franchisee after a jury trial.
We recently won a landmark decision in Arizona federal court, establishing that Ohio's Business Opportunity Law invalidates provisions in a franchise agreement that attempt to apply another state's law.
We represented several franchisees that had been terminated by their franchisor. In some cases we got the decision reversed; in other cases we negotiated improvements to the terms of termination.
We successfully assisted a motor vehicle dealer to resist termination of his Dealership Agreement.
We helped a number of franchisees renew their franchise agreements and negotiate better terms than originally offered.
We reviewed franchise document packages for a number of potential franchise buyers.
We represented a national franchisee association.
We helped several franchisees buy or sell all or part of their businesses, buy or lease their real estate, or negotiate other agreements.
Franchise law is a specialty area practiced by only a small number of attorneys. Each state has its own franchise laws and set of rules established by previous court cases. If you needed heart surgery you would not want it performed by a general practitioner; similarly, if you have a franchise legal problem you should want an attorney that has dealt with your situation many times in the past.
Stanley M. Dub is recognized as the
preeminent franchise law expert serving the
Cincinnati area and other areas across Ohio.
Choosing him as your franchise lawyer offers
several decisive advantages that no general
practitioner can match.
Hover over highlighted terms to reveal key legal definitions and context.
In our practice we review a large number of Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) for prospective franchise buyers. In doing this work over many years we have developed strong views about the risks involved, and the wisdom of negotiating changes to standard agreements.
A franchise arrangement is a complex matter, governed by federal and state regulations, and by a lengthy set of contracts (the Franchise Agreement) that typically runs to 40 or 50 pages. The terms of this agreement govern virtually every aspect of the franchisee’s operation of the business, including such matters as the franchisee’s right to renew, transfer, or terminate the arrangement.
The franchise agreement is drafted by the franchisor’s lawyers, and is universally completely one-sided in favor of the franchisor. Nevertheless, experienced attorneys are often able to negotiate meaningful improvements to the standard terms, which can make a big difference over the life of the franchise.
National journal articles and editorial
contributions on franchise law.
Mr. Dub traces the history of previous efforts to pass a common state law requiring franchise disclosures, and suggests that now is the time to pass such a law. His proposed law avoids the pitfalls that defeated previous efforts, and he provides the text of a proposed law for this purpose.
Mr. Dub analyzes franchise disclosure laws in the thirty-six states that do not require pre-sale registration of the FDD and discusses certain related issues.
An article posted on the Blue MauMau franchise newsletter discusses a series of related state enforcement actions and private lawsuits, including a lawsuit brought by Mr. Dub.
Franchising accounts for 15–20 percent of all business activity in the United States. Yet law school courses in franchise law are rare and few attorneys specialize in the area. This article examines several franchise law myths.
“Mr. Dub quickly reviewed the disclosure package and
provided a detailed analysis which highlighted a number
of agreement terms which were ‘one-sided in needless
ways’… His counsel was an invaluable investment
that undoubtedly saved us a great deal of resources
in the long run. He is truly a subject matter expert.”
We protect and respect your privacy.
Law Office of Stanley M. Dub Co. LPA
20600 Chagrin Blvd, Suite 600
Cleveland, OH 44122
(216) 991-4480
