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Bryan is one of a small number of attorneys in the state of California to be certified as a Specialist in Franchise and Distribution Law, by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He has served as a commissioner and Chair of the California State Bar’s Franchise and Distribution Law Advisory Commission (FDLAC), which oversees franchise specialist certification for the State of California and is a past Co-Chair of the State Bar’s Standing Committee on Franchise Law. Much of his practice involves business law litigation, but he also represents clients in transactional matters such as entity formation, contract (FDD) review/negotiations and all aspects of general business law. For more than 25 years, he has represented some of the largest franchisee associations in the country as well as single unit franchisees and sole proprietorships. He has a superb trial and appellate record, but perhaps more importantly, his experience and abilities in the courtroom have regularly produced favorable settlements for his clients, avoiding the need of costly trials.

Bryan has been repeatedly named to the Franchise Times’s list of Legal Eagles, as one of the preeminent franchise attorneys in the country, and has spoken extensively on the subject of franchising. He’s been a speaker at the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising, given numerous presentations at the West Coast Franchise Expo, as well as continuing education programs for the California State Bar and CEB. He’s written scholarly articles for the ABA’s Franchise Lawyer and Forum on Franchising, as well as many legal updates and guides for his firms.

Bryan is a Graduate of The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, the fifth oldest law school in the country, which is nationally recognized for its outstanding litigation programs. He also attended summer sessions at both The University of Strasbourg School of Law (France) and The University of Vienna School of Law (Austria) where he studied under the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor. At Dickinson, he was Senior Editor of the Dickinson Journal of Environmental Law & Policy. Upon graduation, he was honored with the William H. Dodd Award — Dickinson’s ethics award presented to the graduating senior who best exemplifies the highest ideals of the legal profession.

Fun Facts: 

  • Bryan is an avid hiker and has climbed to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park 5 times.
  • During undergrad, spent a semester abroad in Leningrad, USSR while still under Soviet Rule before it reverted back to Russia and was renamed St. Petersburg.
  • During law school, spent a summer semester abroad traveling the Capitals of the EU, followed by a 5 week backpacking trip across Europe.  
  • Is an avid Bluegrass fan and plays the guitar and mandolin very poorly. 
  • Has been to every State in the U.S. except Alaska.   

Published Opinions

  • 1-800-Got Junk? LLC v. Superior Court (2010) 189 Cal.App.4th 500

Presentations and Publications 

  • Reviewing Franchise Disclosure Documents and Proposed Franchise Agreements for Franchisees, CEB, Continuing Legal Education, Feb. 2024
  • Representing Franchisees Handbook, Co-Author, Chapter 9 – Claims Typically Made at the End of the Franchise Relationship, ABA Forum on Franchising, 2022
  • The Long Arm of The Law: The Extraterritorial Scope of State Franchise Registration and Disclosure and Relationship Laws in Litigation, 45th Annual Forum on Franchising
  • Indemnification Provisions in Franchise Agreements: How to Draft Them and How to Enforce Them, 40th Annual Forum on Franchising
  • What Law Applies? The Importance of Understanding the Interplay Between Contractual Choice-of-Law Provisions and State Franchise Laws, The Franchise Lawyer, 
  • The Role of the Lawyer in a Franchisee’s Due Diligence; American Bar Association, 36th Annual Forum on Franchising
  • Forming a Franchisee Association

Education

  • The Dickinson School of Law – Pennsylvania State University – J.D. – 1999
  • University of Strasbourg School of Law – 1997 (Summer Session)
  • University of Vienna School of Law – 1997 (Summer Session)
  • West Chester University – B.A. – 1992 – Magna Cum Laude, Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, School of Business and Public Affairs.
  • Leningrad State Technical University – Leningrad, USSR – 1990 (Semester Abroad)

Associations

  • American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising (2000-Present)
  • Franchise and Distribution Law Advisory Commission, State Bar of California. 
    • Commissioner – (2015 – 2019)
    • Chair (2018 – 2019) 
  • Franchise Law Committee, State Bar of California. (2010 – 2014)
    • Co-Chair (2014)
    • Vice Chair (2013)
  • American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) – Legal Line Member
    • Co- Chair Annual Summit – 2020

Admissions:

  • California State Bar – Member Since: 1999
  • 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court District of Nebraska
  • U.S. District Court District of Nevada
  • U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts

Honors and Awards

  • American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) – Supporting Member of the Year Award (2021)
  • Legal Eagle, Franchise Times (Numerous Years)
  • William H. Dodd Ethics Award, Dickinson School of Law (1999)