Brian Cole

I handle a variety of transactional, corporate, and real estate matters, primarily for franchisors and franchisees. I have almost 30 years' experience in corporate/transactional work (including more than 20 years' experience in the franchise field). For almost 15 years, I was an in-house counsel for one of the world's largest franchise companies, and returned to private practice about 10 years ago. I both prepare and review franchise agreements and related documents (including franchise disclosure documents), but I also handle many other types of matters, including buying and selling both individual locations and multi-unit chains, leasing sites for businesses, and other contractual matters. I advise clients with a variety of operational issues, especially with respect to restaurant businesses, including employment matters, health code, and liquor licenses. I have testified as an expert witness in California state courts on matters of franchise and distribution law, drawing on my years of experience in the field, both in private practice and as an in-house attorney. I have spoken and written on a variety of franchise-related topics, including speaking at the ABA Forum on Franchising, the International Franchise Association’s Annual Legal Symposium and Annual Convention, and State Bar Conventions in California and Hawaii. I am in my second term on the Franchise Law Committee of California State Bar Association, and will be serving as Chair of the Committee for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. The first term, I also served as Secretary, Vice-Chair, and Chair of the Committee. Specialties: Certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in Franchise and Distribution Law. (Note: The Supreme Court of Hawai‘i grants Hawai‘i certification only to lawyers in good standing who have successfully completed a specialty program accredited by the American Bar Association.)