Leveling the Playing Field for Franchisees in Disputes Nationwide
For over 35 years, Zarco Einhorn Salkowski has represented franchisees in what Robert Zarco, Founding and Managing Partner describes as “David-vs-Goliath” disputes against powerful franchisors. I’m talking about franchise companies with teams of lawyers and deep pockets.
Based in Miami, Florida, with serious reach across the entire United States, including the states of California, Texas and New York, the firm has earned recognition as a “National Tier 1 Law Firm in Franchise Law” by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in America©. In addition, Zarco Einhorn Salkowski is one of only three top firms noted by Chambers USA specifically for franchisee representation.
Note: The firm has served franchisees from more than 500 brands in over 40 states and 20 countries.
Robert Zarco: The Foundation of Zarco Einhorn Salkowski
What distinguishes Zarco’s practice is the foundation upon which it was built.
Robert Zarco, founder and managing partner of Zarco Einhorn Salkowski, was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1961.
At age 7, he started his first business and invested his earnings into his first rental property by college.
This entrepreneurial foundation, combined with academic excellence at Harvard (Economics ), and practical experience as a management-level Financial Analyst at General Motors, created the basis for a legal career focused on protecting business owners.
Fluent in Spanish and deeply engaged in civic life, he is an active community leader and philanthropist in South Florida. He resides in Miami with his family.
The Bottom Line?
His business-first perspective informs every aspect of the firm’s legal strategy, treating litigation as a critical component of broader business objectives rather than an isolated legal exercise.
Notably, the firm has set significant legal precedents in franchise law, particularly in encroachment claims, breaches of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud in the inducement, and violations of state and federal franchise statutes.
Why Franchisees Choose Zarco Einhorn Salkowski Franchise Lawyers
A Practice Built to Be a Great Equalizer
When Robert Zarco entered the legal profession, he recognized a fundamental imbalance: franchisees facing oppression from franchisors often lacked access to justice due to prohibitive legal costs.
Seeing that, he committed his practice to changing that reality through creative contingent and hybrid fee arrangements, providing franchisees access to trial-tested representation that can stand toe-to-toe with the largest corporate legal teams.
Decades of Experience Representing Franchisees, Franchisee Associations, and Multi-Unit Operators Across the United States
Franchise Lawyers With Proven Results Across Major Franchise Systems
The firm’s experience spans virtually every major franchise system operating today; 7-Eleven, McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Planet Fitness, Holiday Inn, Jack in the Box, Massage Envy, Edible Arrangements, and Harley-Davidson, among hundreds of others.
And beyond individual franchisees, Zarco has represented more than 40 franchisee associations, providing sophisticated counsel on governance, collective bargaining strategies, and systemic disputes.
Strategic, Business-Minded Advocacy
Many attorneys at Zarco Einhorn Salkowski brings backgrounds in economics, banking, or accounting. Those things ensure that legal strategy aligns with business reality.
In a nutshell, the firm doesn’t simply react to franchisor actions; it anticipates them, structures defenses proactively, and pursues outcomes that preserve and enhance franchisee business value.
What Clients Say
“For over thirty years, Robert Zarco and his firm, Zarco Einhorn Salkowski, P.A., have been a beacon of resilience and determination, fighting against unfair practices by franchisors and emerging victorious in numerous battles on behalf of franchisees. As a franchisee for nearly forty years, I first encountered Robert Zarco about three decades ago during a complex franchise legal dispute. It was a true David versus Goliath situation. Without his unwavering assistance, I would not have withstood the legal onslaught from the franchisor. His help was my lifeline, preventing me from being crushed by the franchisor’s aggression. With his sharp intellect and skill in assessing complex legal issues, Robert Zarco has earned my respect and trust over our long-standing relationship.”
–Leighton Hull, Church’s Franchisee
Testimonial collected from Best Lawyers® during their Best Law Firms® research process.
“Zarco Einhorn Salkowski has been instrumental in our association’s efforts to inform and educate our membership on franchise law and franchisee rights. Robert Zarco of Zarco Einhorn Salkowski is a master in franchise law, but is equally knowledgeable in labor, contract, real estate, and other laws. This allows Zarco Einhorn Salkowski to provide comprehensive legal and strategic counsel. The team at Zarco Einhorn Salkowski, P.A. is leveling the playing field between the powerful and well capitalized franchisors, and the less powerful franchisees who are loyal to their brand.”
–David Bear, McDonald’s National Owners Association, Testimonial collected from the Best Lawyers® website for the Best Law Firms® research process.
Zarco Einhorn Salkowski: Fee Structures Aligned with Client Success
Access to justice shouldn’t depend on matching the hourly rates of billion-dollar corporations.
That’s why Zarco Einhorn Salkowski offers flexible and creative fee arrangements, often including success-based and blended models that align the firm’s incentives directly with client results. These arrangements are crafted individually based on the merits and circumstances of each case, ensuring franchisees can pursue legitimate claims without shouldering unsustainable financial risk.
Practice Areas
The firm provides comprehensive representation across franchise disputes, transactions, trials, arbitration, and mediation, focusing on issues that most frequently threaten franchisee businesses:
- Wrongful termination and non-renewal of franchise agreements
- Breach of franchise agreement by franchisors
- Fraud, misrepresentation, and fraudulent inducement
- Unfair and deceptive trade practices
- Encroachment and territory violations
- Tortious interference with business relationships
- Complex commercial litigation and arbitration
- Appeals and injunctive relief
Franchisee Association Representation
Zarco has built a sophisticated practice representing franchisee associations. These associations are the collective voice of franchise owners within specific systems.
To that end, this work requires understanding governance structures, negotiating leverage points with franchisors, and when necessary, creating new associations from the ground up to give franchisees meaningful bargaining power.
Finally, the firm’s experience with more than 40 associations means it understands how to build consensus among diverse owners and translate collective concerns into actionable strategies.
As a matter of fact, The National Owners Association (NOA), an McDonald’s franchisee association recently approved a “Franchisee Bill of Rights.” It’s a comprehensive set of standards the group believes are crucial to fair franchising and a healthy relationship between the franchisor and franchisee. Robert Zarco and Robert Salkowski, who serves as legal counsel to the NOA played a central role in developing what’s being called a “landmark” framework.
Recognition and Industry Leadership
Robert Zarco has been named Lawyer of the Year for Franchise Law (2020) by Best Lawyers in America©, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Franchisees & Dealers (2021), and has been inducted into the Franchise Times Legal Eagle Hall of Fame. He holds the AV Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell since 1995 and is a Fellow with the Litigation Counsel of America. He actively lobbies federal and state legislators to promote “Fair Franchising” legislation and speaks regularly at major industry conferences.
Request a Free Initial Consultation
If you’re facing a dispute with your franchisor or seeking counsel on franchise association matters, Zarco Einhorn Salkowski offers a free initial consultation to discuss your situation.
Contact the Professionals at Zarco Einhorn Salkowski Today
