Profile: Kenneth R Costello

Franchise

Biography: Franchise

Kenneth R Costello is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Bryan Cave, LLP, an international law firm with 825 lawyers globally. He has practised for almost 30 years in US and international franchise and intellectual property law, including franchise, licensing, copyright, trademark and technology law, and represents businesses that use franchising and licensing in the distribution of goods and services.

His clients include US and international companies, from Fortune's Global 50 to start-up franchisors. His substantial experience includes structuring and negotiating US and international franchise, licensing and distribution programmes; acquisitions of some of the world's largest franchise systems; complex securitisations; international disputes and transactions worldwide, assisting international franchisors entering America, and expert testimony in international and US arbitrations.

He has written and spoken extensively on domestic and international franchising issues and has served on numerous industry editorial and advisory boards. Among many other publications, he co-authored Franchising Law: Practice and Forms, a leading three-volume treatise published by Specialty Technical Publishers (and by CCH on the CD-ROM version of the CCH Business Franchise Guide).

In addition to being named as among the 'most highly regarded' franchise lawyers globally by this publication, he has been recognised by the Franchise Times "legal eagle" list of top US franchise lawyers, Los Angeles Magazine as a franchise 'super lawyer' and Best Lawyers in America, by Chambers USA. He has testified on franchise trade regulation issues before the FTC and has been consulted on franchising issues by the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, CBS News, Forbes and Entrepreneur magazine, among other media.