Bio

Allison Grow Ryan is a commercial litigator and trial lawyer who represents clients in courts and alternative dispute resolution forums across the country. She routinely handles claims for breach of contract, trademark violations, unfair and deceptive trade practices, wage and hour law violations, and franchise registration and relationship law violations. Allison has extensive experience with large and complex cases involving multiple franchisees or franchisee associations, as well as employment and other class actions. Allison is particularly skilled at managing electronic discovery. She works closely with internal IT departments and outside vendors to develop creative and efficient solutions to ESI challenges. Allison advises inside general counsel, boards of directors, and other executives regarding numerous aspects of the franchisor-franchisee relationship. She drafts complex advice memoranda, litigation avoidance strategies, and practical checklists for use in franchise systems. For example, Allison renders advice regarding joint employer liability, brand transformations, minimum wage laws, vicarious liability, the litigation risks of mergers and acquisitions, and best practices for document retention and storage. Prior to joining Cheng Cohen, Allison was a commercial litigator at a Chicago law firm where she prosecuted and defended claims regarding D&O liability, commercial contracts, employment, intellectual property, and corporate governance.