Profile: Richard J Morey

Franchise

Biography: Franchise

Richard Morey is a partner in the franchise and distribution practice group and the corporate practice group of DLA Piper US, based in the Chicago office. He holds a JD from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

Mr Morey's franchise and distribution practice is focused on working with both experienced and start-up franchise companies, helping them to structure new franchise programmes and determine the most appropriate methods of single and multi-unit franchising. He counsels franchisors on everyday compliance and other franchise-related issues, such as registration and disclosure matters, negotiating agreements, maintaining good franchisee relations and resolving disputes with franchisees. He also works extensively on international franchising and licensing transactions, including master franchise, area development and single-unit licensing deals in Asia, Europe, Central America, the Middle East and the Caribbean, in addition to structuring other methods of international product distribution such as manufacturing and bottling arrangements.

In his corporate practice, Mr Morey handles all aspects of small and mid-market mergers and acquisitions transactions, with a special focus on representing franchisors in M&A transactions. He also represents non-franchise clients on corporate, organisational and contract-related matters.

Mr Morey has contributed to numerous articles covering franchise law, including those appearing in the Journal of International Franchising and Distribution Law, the publication for the International Franchise Association's 30th annual legal symposium and various editions of the written materials for the International Franchise Association's 'Legal Roundtables' series.

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 franchisors 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.