Biography: Franchise

Kenneth R Costello is a board certified franchise and distribution law specialist.

He has been recognised by: Chambers USA; Franchise Times as one of the top US franchise lawyers; Best Lawyers in America; Law & Politics as a franchise "super lawyer;" and Chambers Global as a "superb transactional attorney with tremendous business sense". He has testified on franchise trade regulation issues before the FTC and has been consulted on franchising issues by the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, CBS News, Nation's Restaurant News, Forbes, and Entrepreneur magazine, among other media.

He is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Bryan Cave LLP, an international law firm named by US News & World Report as Tier 1 nationally in franchising, with 25 offices globally. He has practised for 30 years in US and international franchise law and copyright, trademark and technology law. Mr Costello's 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.

Mr Costello 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.