Profile: David A Beyer

Franchise

Biography: Franchise

David A Beyer is a partner with the firm of DLA Piper US LLP, in its Tampa, Florida office. He is a leader in the development of franchise law in Florida.

In his practice, Mr Beyer organises and structures franchise and other distribution programmes; negotiates and prepares complex franchise, subfranchise and distribution agreements; represents franchisors and subfranchisors in compliance with franchise disclosure and registration laws; evaluates and negotiates supply relationships; counsels on the impact of antitrust and trade regulation laws, handles international franchising and distribution matters; prevents and resolves franchise disputes; assists in franchise and dealership termination; mergers and acquisitions, and capital raising; and handles various other related corporate and business matters. His practice also involves counselling on other sales and distribution methods, such as licensing, multi-level distribution, direct selling, sales representatives, dealerships and business opportunities. He has actively represented franchisors on technology-related issues including website development, e-commerce, cybersquatting and channel conflict.

He received his BA and MBA from Tulane University and his JD from Vanderbilt University School of Law. He is a founding member and past chairman of the Antitrust, Franchise and Trade Regulation Committee of the Florida Bar's Business Law Section. He has served multiple terms as chairman of the Franchisee Law Committee of the Florida Bar. In that role, he has led successful efforts both to improve franchise laws in Florida and defeat destructive proposed legislation.

Mr Beyer has addressed members of the Florida Bar, various other bar associations, a variety of industry groups and various university-sponsored programmes. A frequent author, his articles have appeared in the Vanderbilt Law Review, the ABA Franchise Law Journal, the Florida Bar Journal, the IFA Franchise Legal Digest, Franchising World, the Florida Bar Quarterly Report, Dispute Resolution Times and FranCast, DLA Piper. David has also co-authored chapters on franchise law topics in The Franchise Desk Book (an ABA publication). He is also a contributing author to Franchise Law and Practice (Florida Bar publication). He currently serves as articles editor for the Franchise Law Journal, an American Bar Association publication.

DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms in the world, with more than 3,400 lawyers in 64 offices in 25 countries. The firm is a national and international leader in franchise and distribution law, with clients ranging from entrepreneurs and start-up companies to the world's largest franchisers and manufacturers.

DLA Piper is positioned to help companies with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We are a full-service legal organisation whose principal practices include commercial contracts; corporate; employment, pensions and benefits; finance and restructuring; franchise and distribution; intellectual property; litigation and arbitration; projects and infrastructure; real estate; regulatory and government affairs; tax; and technology and media.

Our unmatched global presence enables us to meet the ongoing needs of our clients in the world's key economic, technology and governmental centres, including: London, New York, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Frankfurt, Moscow, Tokyo, Shanghai, Chicago, Singapore, Brussels, Beijing, and Washington, DC.

In the US, DLA Piper has 1,500 lawyers and offices in 23 cities, including top business and technology markets across the country, from Baltimore and Boston to Silicon Valley and San Diego. We are also located in strategic markets such as Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Northern Virginia, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Sacramento, Seattle and Tampa.