About Brian Cole

I focus my practice on corporate and transactional work, primarily for companies and individuals involved in franchise and distribution matters (franchisors, franchisees, manufacturers, and distributors).  I have 30+ years’ experience in corporate and transactional work, including over 20 years in which I have mostly worked with people in the franchise and distribution area.   

I got my start as a franchise lawyer when I went to work as an in-house attorney for Pizza Hut, Inc., one of the world’s largest franchisors. On my first day of work, Pizza Hut’s general counsel advised me to read Pizza Hut’s form franchise agreement, since that was one of Pizza Hut’s most-significant contracts.  A few years later, I was assigned as the principal drafter of a new franchise agreement that was negotiated between Pizza Hut and its franchisee association.  Since then, I have been involved in a wide variety of issues concerning franchise businesses and restaurants.  

    I consider all work that I do for franchisors and franchisees to be “franchise-related.”  But I don’t just do “franchise law” matters.  I also handle general transactional, corporate, and real estate matters–especially for people that are either franchisors or franchisees.

    In fact, my experience spans a wide variety of transactional and regulatory matters, including drafting and registering franchise agreements and related documents, buying and selling both individual franchised locations and franchise chains, leasing sites for businesses, corporate organization, and other contractual matters.  I also have experience advising clients with a variety of operational issues, especially with respect to restaurant businesses, including employment matters, health code, and liquor licenses.  I have spoken and written on a variety of franchise-related topics, including speaking at two of the premiere franchise events each year–the ABA Forum on Franchising and the International Franchise Association’s Annual Legal Symposium and Annual Convention.  I have also spoken at the State Bar Conventions in California and Hawaii on franchise-related topics.  See the other pages on this site for lists of my Publications and Speeches.