Bio

Mark Kirsch focuses his practice on domestic and international franchising and distribution matters. He counsels clients on various corporate, commercial, licensing, franchise, and business development matters. His work involves primarily transactional and regulatory matters, mergers and acquisitions, international franchising and distribution, as well as counseling on dispute resolution, and mediation of franchise-related disputes. Mark enjoys working with a variety of clients, which range from large national and international chains to emerging systems, across a wide range of industries, including restaurants and food service, hotels and the hospitality industry, health care, equipment manufacturing and distribution, educational and training businesses, technology and telecommunications, car rental and automotive services, staffing personnel agencies, convenience stores, real estate, cosmetics and hair care, and various retail product and service businesses. This has given him extensive experience including developing and structuring franchise and distribution systems; drafting and negotiating franchise, licensing, and distribution agreements, asset purchase agreements and related commercial contracts and counseling clients on compliance with state and federal regulatory issues. Mark has been involved in numerous corporate, commercial, and merger transactions, including many private equity backed deals, related to the acquisition, sale and/or combination of franchise systems. Mark has served in the past as an informal advisor to Atlanta-based investment firm 10 Point Capital, where he leveraged his deep knowledge of the franchise industry to identify investment opportunities for the firm’s portfolio companies. Mark is active in the franchise industry, including past service as chair of the International Franchise Association’s Supplier Forum, and was a member of the IFA’s Board of Directors. Mark is also a guest lecturer at franchise classes for undergraduate and MBA students.