Why Franchise Business Owners Should Use Attorneys Specializing in Franchise Law

About the Episode

If you’re a franchisor or a franchisee, or if you are considering purchasing a franchise, I think you might find this segment particularly informative, because the needs of franchise business owners are different from independent business owners. How are those needs different? We’re going to find out. Our guest on this edition is Tom Spadea. He’s a business and franchisee attorney and principal at Spadea, Lanard, & Lignana in Philadelphia.

Meet Our Guest

Tom Spadea

Tom Spadea

Franchise Lawyer at Spadea Lignana

Tom Spadea spent more than 15 years in corporate and entrepreneurial positions before completing law school at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law in 2010. His undergraduate degree is in finance from Marquette University, where he graduated Cum Laude. Tom is a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE), a non-legal designation earned from the International Franchise Association. Tom and his firm have consistently been ranked at or near the top of all major industry lists and publications, winning multiple awards and recognition year after year as elite franchise lawyers. Tom co-founded Spadea Lignana in 2011 with his best friend from high school Josh Lignana to focus on helping entrepreneurs build generational wealth through franchising.

Tom’s journey in the franchising world began in the early 2000s as a Franchise and Business Broker. He acted as an adviser to clients looking to transition into the ownership of a franchise or the purchase or sale of an existing small business. Tom handled dozens of transactions every year, ranging from listing businesses for sale to recruiting franchise buyers. It was while Tom was a broker that he decided to pursue his legal education. Balancing law school and a young family, Tom also managed to hold senior executive positions for multiple national franchise concepts throughout law school, including a 100+ unit fast-casual restaurant chain; a franchised chain of over 400 supplemental education centers; and a 500-unit retail chain of franchised frozen dessert restaurants.

Tom is perhaps the only franchise lawyer that can say he paid for law school at night by selling franchises during the day. This intimate understanding of the franchise industry has enabled Tom to build his legal practice around the true needs of entrepreneurs in franchising. Spadea Lignana today represents over 300 franchisors nationally, ranging from emerging concepts just entering the franchise game to nationally recognized brands.

Specialties: Awarded Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) distinction in February 2008 from the International Franchise Association

Inventor, U.S. Patent 6,550,734 granted April 22, 2003

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