Hammond Suddards is one of the UK's largest commercial law firms with offices in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bradford and Brussels.

We advise on a wide range of services acting for public and large private companies, banks, building societies, insurance companies and a wide range of financial and other institutions.

As well as franchising, our work focuses on these main business sectors - banking, corporate finance, corporate tax and financial services, commercial dispute resolution, construction, employment, European law, insolvency and corporate recovery, insurance, intellectual property, lender services, pensions and property.



The successful development, expansion and control of a franchised operation depends, amongst other things, on having the right legal advice at the outset from specialists who understand franchising. They provide an awareness on current thinking and changes in franchising practice which can only come from years of practical and commercial experience.

The franchise team at Hammond Suddards is headed by Pauline Cowie who is well known within the franchising community. She has over 13 years experience of advising franchising clients and has personally advised on over 150 different franchise systems. This breadth and depth of experience provides a unique commercial and strategic approach to franchising.



Hammond Suddards offer advice on and prepare franchise agreements, franchise purchase agreements, confidentiality agreements, software licence agreements and leases or licences for property based franchises so that you can have a complete standard legal franchising package for your business.

We also offer advice on structuring the franchise business, the contents of the manual, legality of marketing and advertising material, registration of trade marks and trade names, British Franchise Association criteria and codes of ethics.



Franchising is one of a number of options to consider when expanding overseas. Often it is chosen instead of joint venture, distribution or agency arrangements in order to achieve fast track expansion, even if the company does not franchise in its home country.

Hammond Suddards has extensive experience in advising overseas clients, strong contacts with overseas lawyers and a specialist competition law unit in Brussels.

We advise clients who wish to franchise outside of the UK as well as companies looking to enter the UK and European market through franchising.



As with any new business venture there are risks involved and whilst buying a franchise is no guarantee of success, statistically the risks of failure are low. Our main advice will centre around the franchise agreement and other documents you may be asked to sign in conjunction with any marketing material or franchise prospectus.

We will check and advise on issues such as length of the agreement, any option to renew and on what terms, the franchisor's obligations including training, ongoing support and development of the franchise, the provision of any territories and their exclusivity, restrictive covenants, rights to sell the business and under what terms, and the obligations of the franchisee, bearing in mind the norms within franchising and our practical experience.

In particular the franchise team offers advice on the acquisition of master franchise rights and the purchase of franchises at significant investment levels.



We take care to make sure that our added-value service is provided to you at a cost-effective rate. Before you make any commitment, you will know exactly where you stand with regard to our charges.

For franchisees we offer a fixed fee franchise reporting service available nationwide by post.



For further information, contact Pauline Cowie at our Manchester office.

Trinity Court, 16 John Dalton Street, Manchester, M60 8HS
Telephone: 0161 830 5000 or Fax: 0161 830 5001
e-mail: pauline.cowie@hammondsuddardsedge.com
Web Site: http://www.hammondsuddardsedge.com