Brian Schnell Shares Legal Trends for Franchisors to Watch in 2025 With Franchise Times

Corporate partner Brian Schnell spoke with Franchise Times about legal trends for franchisors to watch for in 2025.

In “Will the California Franchise Broker Law Impact the Business Model on a Greater Scale?” Schnell said, “I was a member of the International Franchise Association’s task force that worked diligently with other franchise groups in getting California’s legislation passed. Although there is some clean-up to complete, the bill closes a huge gap in helping franchisees better understand the role brokers play, who they represent and how much they get paid.

Oftentimes franchise brokers are the first meaningful point of contact for prospective franchisees. The registration and disclosure requirements that will be implemented through SB-919 are important in a franchisee’s decision-making process. I absolutely believe other states will follow."

Discussing trends in “Top Franchise Attorneys Share Legal Trends to Watch in 2025,” Schnell noted, “Performance matters. Unit-level economics, system changes and brand-level performance will matter more in 2025 than ever before, especially with emerging franchisors. Yes, franchise development is important, but in order for any franchise system to be successful and sustainable for all stakeholders, franchise leaders must have an obsession with unit-level economics and franchisees delivering on the brand promise.”

He also discussed legal topics that franchisors and franchisees need to know, contributing “How to effectively resolve franchise disputes early rather than engaging in protracted litigation. This topic is incredibly important for emerging franchisors where one knock-down, drag out lawsuit can set the entire system back for years.”