"Warren Lee Lewis serves as co-chair of Akerman’s Franchise and Licensing Sector Team, a highly experienced group handling U.S. and international franchising, licensing, dealership and trademark counseling, registration and litigation matters for franchisors, licensors, subfranchisors, dealers and other business clients.

In the field of franchising, Warren has authored books, studies, articles and regulatory comments, frequently speaks at U.S. and international franchise conferences, and has testified before Congress. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Committee on Small Business of the U.S. House of Representatives have cited his studies and regulatory comments.

Numerous industry publications, including International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, Franchise Times and Super Lawyers, have recognized Warren for his franchising experience.

Notable Work
Franchising or Licensing a Business: Represents clients in all aspects of franchising and licensing, including structuring franchise and licensing systems; drafting franchise and licensing agreements; and protecting intellectual property such as trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.
Franchise Disclosure Documents and Registrations: Drafts and updates franchise disclosure documents (FDDs) that comply with U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), state and international laws and regulations. Obtains and updates franchisors’ and subfranchisors’ state registrations.
Franchise System Acquisitions and Sales: Represents purchasers and sellers of franchise systems.
Franchise Relationship and Termination Counseling: Helps clients to maintain their franchise relationships, and to avoid and resolve disputes with franchisees, taking into account business and legal issues common to franchise and licensing systems. Counsels franchisors and subfranchisors when they must terminate franchisees, in compliance with their franchise agreements, or with even stricter standards in some state franchise relationship laws.
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