Profile
Alan R. Greenfield concentrates his practice on international and domestic franchising, licensing and distribution matters. Alan works with both experienced and startup franchise companies in structuring franchise programs and drafting franchise-related documents. He counsels franchisors and manufacturers on everyday compliance and other franchise or distributor-related issues, such as registration and disclosure matters, negotiating agreements, relationship termination laws, maintaining good franchisee/distributor relations, and resolving disputes with franchisees/distributors.
Alan also works on international franchising, licensing and distribution transactions, and has helped clients with transactions in excess of 75 countries throughout North America, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. He counsels a broad range of clients in expanding their brands internationally through all types of arrangements, such as master franchise and area development relationships, joint ventures, distribution relationships, non-traditional venue franchises (such as military bases, airports or train stations), area representative relationships, and any combination of these arrangements.
He is also experienced in mergers and acquisitions, with a focus on franchise/distribution transactions, and general corporate law.
Concentrations
- Franchise/distribution agreements – domestic and international
- Medical device and industrial equipment manufacturer distributorships
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Corporate law
Capabilities
Experience
- Australia & New Zealand
- Canada
- Mexico, South America & Central America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela)
- The Caribbean & Mid-Atlantic (Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cuba, Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Virgin Islands)
- Africa & the Middle East (the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia)
- Europe (the Baltics, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom)
- Asia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam)
- Serve as international counsel to:
- A well-known publicly traded QSR franchisor concerning its worldwide franchise operations.
- Multiple well-known publicly traded retailers concerning their worldwide international expansion.
- A well-known publicly traded furniture manufacturer concerning its worldwide distributor network.
- Numerous franchisors in various industries concerning their international franchise expansion efforts.
- Represent a major oil company in the expansion of its retail gasoline business and operations in Mexico.
- Represented a well-known QSR franchisor in negotiating and documenting a multi-unit development agreement to open cloud kitchens in India.
- Represented a well-known QSR franchisor concerning its renegotiation of a multi-unit development agreement for Japan.
- Represented a well-known QSR franchisor in multiple acquisitions of international franchisee-owned restaurants.
- Represented a major oil company concerning the revision of its arrangement with its foreign franchisee in Brazil.
- Represented a global hotel and casino company in establishing hotel and casino operations in Macau through a license agreement.°
- Represented a global medical device manufacturer in its post-acquisition integration of more than 60 U.S. and international distributors.°
- Represented a U.S.-based franchisor in the business services sector with respect to structuring master franchise agreements throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.°
- Represented a major oil company concerning the revision of its arrangement with its foreign franchisees in Japan.°
- Serve as franchise counsel to:
- A major oil company concerning its multiple U.S. franchise programs.
- Numerous international franchisors concerning their U.S. franchise expansion efforts.
- A well-known QSR franchisor concerning its U.S. franchise program for multiple brands.
- A medical service franchisor concerning its U.S. franchise program.
- Numerous franchisors across the country in various industries concerning their U.S. franchise programs.
- Numerous startup franchise companies in structuring their franchise programs.
- Serve as distribution counsel for a medical device manufacturer.
- Serve as U.S. distribution counsel for a Canada-based automotive paint manufacturer.
- Serve as U.S. distribution counsel for an Australian-based manufacturer of polyethylene compression pipe fittings.
- Representation of nation’s largest barbecue franchisor concerning its U.S. and international franchise operations.
- Represented a Florida-based distributor of chemical products in structuring and on-going advice concerning a sophisticated distribution network in the United States.
- Represented a health club franchise program concerning its rebranding of the franchise system.
- Represented a UK manufacturer in structuring a sophisticated distribution network in the United States.°
- Represented a global manufacturer of engineered access covers and surface water drainage products concerning its U.S. market entry strategy and structuring of a distribution network in the United States.°
- Represented a well-known QSR franchisor in its sale to private-equity firm.
- Represented a veterinary clinic franchisor in its acquisition of approximately 100 separate franchisee-owned hospitals.
- Represented a mortgage brokerage franchisor in its sale to a publicly traded real estate brokerage company.
- Represented a fast casual franchisor in separate acquisitions of franchisee-owned restaurants.
- Represented a well-known pizza franchisor in its acquisition of multi-unit franchisee-owned restaurants.
- Represented numerous private equity firms in their acquisition of multiple well-known QSR branded restaurants owned by large multi-unit franchisees.
- Represented a large multi-unit franchisee in its sale of multiple gyms to well-known private equity firm.
- Represented a private equity firm in its purchase of multiple gyms owned by large multi-unit franchisee.
- Represented a private equity firm in its purchase of multiple well-known donut branded stores owned by large multi-unit franchisee.
- Represented a Miami-based private equity firm in its acquisition of a jewelry and watch repair franchise program.
- Represented an investment partnership in its acquisition of a health club franchise program.
- Advised a major oil company regarding franchise law matters in connection with the US$2.5 billion sale of its Southern California refining and marketing businesses, including approximately 800 retail gas stations in Southern California, Nevada and Arizona.°
- Represented a global medical device manufacturer in its acquisition of a German-based medical equipment franchise program.°
- Represented a Chicago-based private equity firm in its acquisition of a performance-based music franchise program.°
- Represented a San Francisco-based private equity firm in its acquisition of a used-car franchise program.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Greenfield prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Chambers Global, 2021-2024
- Global Market Leaders, 2022-2024
- Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2015-2024
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Franchise Law, 2020-2025
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Illinois Super Lawyers, 2023-2024
- "Rising Stars," 2009-2019
- Listed, Franchise Times, "Legal Eagle," 2014-2020 and 2022
- Listed, Who's Who Legal, Global Franchise Guide
- Recommended, 2018-2024
- Thought Leader – USA, 2023-2024
- Listed, Leading Lawyers Network, 2022-2024
- Emerging Lawyer, 2015-2021
- Listed, Acritas Stars™ Independently Rated Lawyers, “Star Lawyers,” 2018-2021
- Member, International Bar Association (IBA)
- International Franchising Committee
- Secretary, 2025-2026
- Treasurer, 2024-2025
- Officer
- International Franchising Committee
- Member, International Franchise Association (IFA)
- International Committee, 2024-Present
- Legal Symposium Task Force, 2015-2016
- Member, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising
- Liaison, Young Lawyers Division, Franchise Forum Governing Committee, 2011-2013
- Member, Florida Bar Association
- Member, Illinois Bar Association
Credentials
Education
- J.D., cum laude, University of Miami School of Law
- B.A., cum laude, University of Central Florida
Admissions
- Colorado
- Florida
- Illinois