Franchise & Compliance

“I have seen a growing interest of foreign brands, especially different types of cuisine, who want to bring their brands to the U.S. via franchising. These brands often find a higher level of regulation than in their home countries......”

—— Xiaoyin Cao, March 27, 2024, Franchise Times

Guiding Growth, Protecting Brands

At Crestview Legal, we help franchise businesses navigate the legal and regulatory complexities of growth. Whether you're managing compliance for a mature system or launching a new franchise program, we deliver clear, business-focused legal guidance tailored to the unique needs of franchisors and multi-unit operators.

We understand franchising not just as a legal framework, but as a business strategy—and we provide clear, commercially grounded legal guidance to support your expansion, protect your brand, and reduce risk at every stage.

What We Do

Franchising is a powerful way to scale a business—but it’s also highly regulated. Our firm helps clients navigate this complex legal landscape with clarity and confidence. We provide:

Franchise Disclosure & Registration

We draft and register Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) that meet both federal and

state requirements. Whether you're launching a new system or updating an existing one,

we ensure full compliance with the FTC Franchise Rule and state-specific regulations.

Franchise Agreements & Structuring

We help clients design, localize, and negotiate franchise agreements that balance brand

protection with practical enforceability. We also advise on U.S. market entry models,

including single-unit, multi-unit, and master franchising.

Franchisee Relations & Dispute Resolution

From resolving early-stage disputes to managing enforcement and termination issues, we

protect your interests while preserving the integrity of your franchise network.

Operational & Marketing Review

We advise on manuals, training programs, and promotional strategies to align with U.S.

legal standards—without losing sight of your brand voice or business model.

Ongoing Counsel & Risk Management

As your long-term legal partner, we provide continuing advice to support your day-to-day

operations and future development. Whether you're buying and selling locations,

negotiating new supplier contracts, or signing a new lease, we’re here to help.

Who We Work With

We are trusted by publicly listed companies (Hong Kong Stock Exchange) and small franchisees harmed by bad franchisor practices alike. We serve domestic and international franchise clients across a wide range of industries—including food & beverage, beauty, services, and wellness. Whether you're a global brand entering the U.S. market or a regional franchisor scaling nationally, our legal advice is always strategic, responsive, and tailored to fit your operations.

We understand the legal, cultural, and operational challenges of cross-border franchising. For these clients, we offer support with:

Adapting franchise agreements and operational models to U.S. legal standards
Structuring U.S. operations, including master franchise and area development strategies
Trademark protection and brand enforcement in the U.S.
Bridging legal and operational differences between jurisdictions

Our work with sophisticated, multi-national clients informs our broader practice and allows us to provide strategic, commercially relevant legal advice to any franchisor pursuing U.S. expansion.

What We Bring

Extensive franchise law experience
Industry-agnostic, business-savvy legal guidance
Cross-border expertise, including with Asia-Pacific and EMEA franchisors
A long-term partner for your legal and compliance needs

Ready to scale your franchise with confidence?