A Go-To Firm for Franchisees Nationwide
Cantrell Schuette is a go-to law firm for franchise legal matters. The firm primarily represents franchisees. Its franchisor representation is limited to a select few franchisors, and only in dispute resolution matters.
That’s a deliberate choice. It keeps the firm’s focus where it belongs: protecting the people on the other side of the franchise agreement from the party that wrote it.
Cantrell Schuette Franchise Lawyers
Based in Tampa, Florida, with offices reaching St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Miami, and Atlanta, Georgia, Cantrell Schuette has built a national franchise practice around a simple idea. Franchisees deserve lawyers who know the industry as well as the franchisors do.
Franchise law rarely stays in its own lane. A dispute with a franchisor can pull in contract law, employment law, intellectual property, and restrictive covenants all at once. The firms experience across all of those areas means franchisee clients get one attorney who can see the whole picture, not four attorneys who each see a piece of it.
A Deep Bench, Not Just One Name on the Door
Franchisees who work with Cantrell Schuette gain access to a full team of franchise attorneys who’ve spent their careers in the trenches of business, employment, and franchise law.
That bench includes, William Cantrell, Michael Schuette, Jordan Behlman, J. Derek Kantaskas, Matthew Ceriale, Megan Frain, and David Petrantoni.
Each of those franchise attorneys bring their own subject-matter depth to the table. And that matters more than it might seem.
That’s because a franchise dispute rarely stays confined to one lane. It can touch contract law one week and employment law the next, then pull in questions about ownership structure or restrictive covenants before it’s resolved.
Having a talented group of lawyers on your side, rather than a single generalist, means a franchisee’s case gets looked at from every angle it needs. It also means the firm can move fast when a matter demands it, without waiting on one person to be available.
Why Franchisees Choose Cantrell Schuette Franchise Lawyers
Nearly Two Decades in the Trenches
Cantrell Schuette has spent close to twenty years representing franchisees and distributors in the United States and internationally. The firm is active in franchise and dealer associations, and it lobbies state and federal lawmakers on issues that affect franchisee rights.
Importantly, not every franchise relationship goes sideways. Plenty of franchisors treat their franchisees well. But predatory practices in franchising haven’t gone away, and Cantrell Schuette built its practice specifically to push back when they show up.
A Team Built Around the Fight
The firm’s franchise attorneys attended top law schools and graduated near the top of their classes. They also teach. The lawyers regularly provide continuing education to industry insiders and other attorneys on franchise-related topics, including panels through the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers.
Services for Franchisees and Aspiring Franchisees
Cantrell Schuette’s work for franchisees and aspiring franchisees covers the full lifecycle of a franchise relationship:
- Franchise Agreement/FDD Reviews
- Franchisee Associations
- Franchisee-Franchisor Disputes
- HR/Employment Law
- Litigation (Arbitrations & Trials)
- Ownership Disputes
That range matters. A franchisee might need help reviewing an FDD before signing. A few years later, the same franchisee might need help with an employment issue at their location, or a dispute with the franchisor over royalties, territory, or termination.
Cantrell Schuette handles all of it, so franchisees aren’t stuck rebuilding a relationship with a new law firm every time a new kind of problem shows up.
Decades of Combined Experience, One Core Focus
Cantrell Schuette brings over 30 years of combined experience serving clients across every franchise industry, from restaurants and hotels to fitness, food, home services, and e-commerce.
What sets the firm apart isn’t just the experience. It’s the combination of passion for the work, deep subject-matter knowledge, and credentials that hold up. Martindale-Hubbell has rated the firm’s attorneys AV Preeminent. Best Lawyers has recognized the firm among the Best Law Firms in the country. Franchise Times has named William Cantrell, Jordan Behlman, and Michael Schuette to its Legal Eagle list.
Practice Areas
Cantrell Schuette’s franchise practice covers the issues that most often put franchisees at risk:
- Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and Franchise Agreement reviews
- Franchisee-franchisor disputes, including termination, encroachment, and breach of contract claims
- Franchisee association representation and governance
- Ownership and partnership disputes among franchisee owners
- HR and employment law for franchisees as employers
- Litigation, arbitration, and trial representation nationwide
Request a Consultation with Franchise Lawyers From Cantrell Schuette
If you’re evaluating a franchise opportunity, reviewing an FDD, or facing a dispute with your franchisor, Cantrell Schuette offers a consultation to discuss your situation.
Contact the Professionals at Cantrell Schuette Today
