As the leader of the firm’s business practice, Mark is committed to helping clients design and execute their dreams. He focuses on developing and implementing growth strategies for businesses with an emphasis on franchising, liquor licensing and regulation, general corporate matters, mergers, acquisitions, or other corporate transactions, bank debt or equity private placement financing transactions, real estate, and other business-related matters.

The brainstorming, collaboration, and curiosity surrounding what clients seek drive Mark’s passion for his work. He’s proud to become part of his clients’ circle of trusted advisors, engaging with them sometimes daily to guide them through the process of growing their businesses.

His work is specially tailored to the hospitality industry, but his experience allows him to assist virtually any business segment. Mark knows business decisions often have legal implications, and he’s dedicated to ensuring his clients understand the real-world implications of their choices as they pursue expansion strategies. With more than 30 years of experience practicing law, Mark has seen it all in franchising, and he is eager to share his expertise with his clients.

Outside of the office, Mark enjoys spending time with his family, especially on Lake Charlevoix. He’s an avid golfer and a fan of MSU sports.

EXPERIENCE

• Franchisor outside counsel: provide “trusted advisor” counsel to franchisor from start-up to now Top 300 franchise system; perform general counsel services for franchisor; daily advice and counsel regarding franchise sales, relationship management, supply chain contracting, marketing, and operations.
• Franchise Regulatory counsel: provide franchise regulatory counsel to franchisors, from start-up franchisors to iconic brands; perform federal and state law regulatory compliance for franchisors with advice and counsel on franchise sales and relationship management.
• Corporate General Counsel: provide general counsel work to multi-generational closely held business, prepare company for acquisition, representation of company in sale of company to private equity purchaser; assisted closely held company in raising $10 Million in new equity capital private placement with federal and state securities laws compliance.
• Liquor License acquisition (manufacturers and retailers); Liquor law violation hearings; manufacturer-wholesaler relationship management.
• Trademark prosecution and enforcement.

Michael works in FSBR’s business practice, specializing in franchising, intellectual property, liquor licensing, and general business law. He works with businesses of all sizes, offering legal advice regarding business decisions and helping clients manage risk and executive growth strategies through franchising.

Every time a client sells a franchise, Michael shares in their pride. He enjoys the relationships he builds with clients as their trusted legal and business advisor just as much as he likes digging into the details of industry specifics. Applying the nuances of business and franchise law drives his passion for the work he does, and he’s dedicated to helping clients make informed decisions about whatever legal risk or challenge lies in front of them, through every stage of their business growth.

Michael came to FSBR in 2013. Prior to that, he worked on a wide range of corporate, transactional, compliance, and regulatory matters with a Washington, D.C., law firm.

Outside of the office, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and rooting for MSU and Detroit sports teams.

EXPERIENCE

• Goldfish Swim School
• Beyond Juicery + Eatery
• Detroit Wing Company
• Auto-Lab Complete Car care Center
• Ellison Brewery + Spirits

John focuses on all aspects of representing franchisors and small businesses, including franchise and distribution, commercial contracts, business planning, and corporate law.

He excels at listening to what his clients want to accomplish, analyzing it quickly, and then turning that into the legal documents they need. He’s committed to timely, quality service for his clients, and he’s proud to be part of a team of leading franchise lawyers in Michigan.

A practicing attorney since 1981, John has decades of experience representing and advising established and start-up franchisors in all aspects of franchise, business opportunity, and distribution law, including drafting disclosure documents and registering franchises under state franchise laws for many franchisors. He also has experience in the buying and selling of franchisor companies.

John has worked with a broad range of franchise clients, including Tuffy Tire and Auto Service Centers, Two Men and a Truck International, BIGGBY Coffee, Fowling Warehouse, Massage Green International Franchise Corp., Milkster Nitrogen Creamery, Red Effect Infrared Fitness, Stretch Smart Infrared Therapy, Zoup! Systems, LLC, LOOK! Insurance Agencies, Inc., Tropi-Tan Tanning Salons, Happy’s Pizza, Airtime Trampoline & Game Park, and Wild Bills Tobacco.

When he’s not working, John enjoys downhill skiing, golfing with his wife, having dinner with friends, and spending time with their children and grandchildren.

John came to FSBR in 2018 after serving as a shareholder at Butzel Long in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

EXPERIENCE

• Responsible for compliance with federal and state franchise and business opportunity laws.
• Drafting franchise and distribution related documents, including franchise agreements, area development agreements, area representations agreements, subfranchise agreements, co-branding agreements, confidentiality agreements, guaranties, franchise termination agreements, agreements relating to the sale of company-owned stores and the purchase of franchise stores, finance documents, promissory notes, security agreements, form agreements for use by franchisors in all aspects of the franchise business, transfer materials, administrative provisions for operations manuals, documents related to special franchise programs, supplier agreements and settlement agreements.
• Advising franchisors in antitrust, price discrimination, supplier, and other trade regulation issues, as well as to all aspects of franchise dispute resolution.
• Buying and selling of franchisor companies.
• Significant experience in other aspects of commercial transactions and business planning, representing and advising clients on matters relating to corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and other entities, buying and selling businesses, business and tax planning, secured transactions, real estate, employment, and estate planning, as well as other areas of commercial law.

Bob focuses his practice on all aspects of franchise and corporate law. His comprehensive knowledge and experience in litigation, franchise, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, real estate transactions, and complex legal agreements make him ideally suited to help growth-oriented companies.

With over 30 years’ experience, Bob is well-regarded in his field and has a proven track record of success evidenced by his achievements. For over a decade he has been nationally recognized for his abilities and high ethical standards.  Bob has successfully handled complex commercial transactions, increasing revenue, profits, and creating value for his clients. Bob is committed to helping his clients achieve high-level growth initiatives in the most efficient manner possible.

Prior to joining FSBR, Bob has notably served as Deputy General Counsel of a large Midwest retailer working strategically with the executive team.  His success there included managing the growth of the company’s franchise system.  Prior to working in-house, Bob spent over 30 years in private practice including as an equity partner at a leading Detroit area law firm. Over the course of his career, he has counseled clients in every phase of the business life cycle, from inception to expansion and beyond. He prides himself on developing industry knowledge to better advise his clients on a range of issues and strategies; in turn, clients look to him as a close, trusted advisor for their decision-making.

When he is not in the office, Bob enjoys tennis, skiing, boating, and spending time at his cottage in Northern Michigan.

EXPERIENCE

• Implemented strategic growth and acquisition initiatives for domestic and international expansion leading to increase in sales
• Managed largest expansion of franchise division in company history
• Successfully represented company in acquisition by private equity firm
• Completed successful multi-company acquisition and integration leading to significant cost savings
• Successfully negotiated complex real estate transactions allowing Company to open additional stores increasing sales and profit
• Counseled senior leadership team on strategies to reduce risk and create efficiencies in supply chain
• Improved regulatory compliance by systemizing lease and franchise administration

Mitchell is an associate attorney with Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC, where he counsels clients in strategic approaches to achieve their goals. His practice focuses on general business law, franchising, intellectual property, as well as certain aspects of employment law that surround the business sector.

Mitch is dedicated to supporting all aspects of the client’s brand. He routinely conducts trademark clearance searches, prepares and prosecutes trademark applications, and manages the trademark registration process from beginning to end. When negotiating complex licensing and service agreements, he emphasizes communication and collaboration to arrive at a finished product that will not only meet the client’s needs and goals, but also mitigate risks. Mitch also regularly drafts legal memorandums and conducts legal research in his respective fields of practice.

Mitch joined FSBR as a law clerk in 2017 and became an associate with the firm in 2020. While attending law school, Mitch interned at the Legal Services of Eastern Michigan. He was also a member of the Trademark Moot Court Team, a teaching assistant, and served as a notes editor on the Editorial Board of the Michigan State Law Review.

Outside of the office, Mitch enjoys spending time in Northern Michigan at his family cottage on Houghton Lake. He also enjoys craft beer and visiting breweries around the state. As a true Michigan native, he is a loyal fan of the Detroit Lions, no matter the highs and lows that it brings.

EXPERIENCE

• Drafted a license agreement regarding indoor go-karting software. This involved extensive legal research into the issues involved in software licensing.
• Drafted a series of service agreements on behalf of a client.
• Regularly performs research regarding trademark rights and registration and drafts trademark applications, renewals, and responses to office actions with the USPTO for various clients.
• Performed comprehensive legal research and drafted opinion letters and memos for employers regarding FLSA wage and hour issues, including rules relating to handling tips and tip pools.

Jacob contributes his knowledge of law and writing acumen to the firm’s Municipal, Drain, Environmental, and Business Services and Franchising practice groups. He works with Drain and Water Resource Commissioners as well as Intercounty Drain Drainage Boards across the state to assist with issues such as drainage agreements, easement creation and acquisition, and property condemnation. Jacob has also been involved with Lake Level and Lake Improvement issues. When necessary, he coordinates with professional engineers and property owners from around the state to accurately and thoroughly address client matters.

Jacob also assists the firm in providing legal advice to small to mid-size businesses to help manage business risk and execute growth strategies, with a focus on franchising.

Jacob joined FSBR in 2019 as a law clerk and became an Associate in 2020. While attending law school, he worked for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget as a legal intern and was later a legal clerk for the Executive Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. He was also a Senior Preemption Editor for the Western Michigan University Cooley Law Review.

Outside of work, Jacob enjoys spending time with his family, his fiancée Alison, their dog Eggs Benny, and their two cats, Pancake and Waffle.

EXPERIENCE

• Easement drafting and acquisition
• Coordination with engineers, property owners, and other stakeholders on client matters
• Assist with lake level and improvement projects (NREPA Part 307 and 309)
• Assist in administrating a FEMA hazard mitigation grant program
• Review, draft, and revise agreements, including independent contractor agreements, franchise-related agreements, and real estate contracts
• Review deed work and other real estate materials