Overview

Lucie Guyot helps U.S. franchise companies widen their footprints and expand domestically and internationally. She advises franchisor clients on M&A transactions as well as day-to-day legal matters and assists other business clients with corporate law issues. Lucie also helps clients draft and negotiate complex commercial agreements, both domestic and international.

Expanding Franchise Brands’ Footprints Internationally

Lucie drafts and negotiates international master franchise and area development agreements and prepares disclosure documents for franchises expanding internationally. She collaborates with local counsel and international tax and trademark counsel to strategically and practically structure efficient growth of each client’s brand.
As a native of the Czech Republic, Lucie offers a valuable international perspective that allows her to better relate to clients’ experiences and form successful relationships with local counsel.

Advising Franchise Clients on Domestic Matters and Transactions

Lucie advises franchisor clients on domestic matters, such as franchise registration and disclosure issues (including drafting of franchise disclosure documents and related agreements), advertising issues, franchisee transfers, renewals, defaults and terminations, and other franchisor-franchisee relationship matters. She also represents franchisor clients (public and private) as franchise counsel in buy-side and sell-side mergers and acquisitions.

Non-Franchise M&A and Financing Transactions

Lucie has represented public and private business clients across industries as buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations and restructurings. She has also represented emerging companies (as issuers) and investors (including private equity firms, venture capital firms and angel investors) in private equity and debt securities offerings from early-stage investments to growth equity.

Commercial Contracts and Corporate Counseling

Lucie also functions as outside general counsel to clients, advising on day-to-day corporate matters as well as drafting and negotiation of complex commercial contracts.

Lucie has advised clients on corporate organization and governance questions.

Lucie has represented clients in a variety of industries, including restaurant, hospitality, retail, technology, software, services, agribusiness, telecommunications, health care and marketing sectors.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Colorado

Languages

Czech

Education

George Washington University Law School
J.D. Order of the Coif (2004)

University of Colorado Boulder
B.A. Phi Beta Kappa, with honors (2000)

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • Best Practices in Enhancing Likelihood of Your International Franchise Success
    Chapter author, International Comparative Legal Guide, 2018
  • Five Key Difference Makers: Best Practices in Enhancing the Likelihood of Your International Franchise Success
    Co-author, International Comparative Legal Guide, September 2017
  • Franchising in Latin America and the Caribbean
    American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2016
  • USA
    Chapter co-author in The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Franchise 2015, First Edition, American Bar Association, 2014 
  • International Issues
    Chapter co-author in Mergers and Acquisitions of Franchise Companies, Second Edition, American Bar Association, 2014

Leadership & Community

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • ABA Forum on Franchising International Division Committee Member (2019-present)
  • Women’s Franchise Network — Colorado Chapter (Board Member, 2018 – 2019)
  • International Franchise Association Task Force— Legal Symposium (Program Session Coordinator, 2017-18)

Civic Activities

  • Boulder Country Day School — Former Trustee
  • Eldorado K-8 — Volunteer

Honors

  • Chambers USA — Nationwide, Franchising, “Up and Coming” Lawyer, 2021-23
  • Best Lawyers® — Franchise Law, 2025
  • Franchise Times — Legal Eagles, 2021-23
  • Who’s Who Legal — Franchising, 2016, 2018, 2019-2021, 2023
  • BizWest — 40 Under Forty, 2015
  • Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) — Leadership 20 Program, 2010