Profile
Kyle is a transactional attorney who focuses his practice on franchising, licensing, distribution, and general corporate matters. He helps clients structure their franchise programs to meet their short- and long-term goals and assists clients with purchasing and selling franchise systems through mergers and acquisitions. Kyle advises clients on federal and state franchise laws and regulations, including franchise compliance and exemption strategies. He drafts documents such as franchise agreements, franchise disclosure documents, master franchise agreements, and development agreements, and negotiates franchise-related disputes often resulting in termination agreements, release agreements, and settlement agreements. Kyle also provides companies counsel on general corporate matters, such as corporate governance, joint ventures and business organization.
Kyle maintains a particular focus in international law and regularly helps clients expand their brands to various international markets, including Canada, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. He also assists international companies seeking to expand their brands to the United States.
Concentrations
- Domestic franchise and distribution
- International franchise and distribution
- Regulatory and compliance
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Corporate
- Licensing
- Joint ventures
Capabilities
Experience
- Assisted client with expansion to Southeast Asia by drafting and negotiating franchise agreements and master development agreements in five countries, including working with local counsel to navigate local laws relating to the client’s expansion.°
- Assisted client with expansion to the United States from China by advising client on the structure of their franchise program and drafting all the client’s underlying franchise documents, including its form franchise agreement, development agreement, and franchise disclosure document.°
- Represented franchisor in connection with purchasing over 50 units owned by its franchisees.°
- Represented a private equity group selling multiple QSRs to another private equity group.°
- Assisted client with its expansion to various countries in Latin America by negotiating and drafting master franchise agreements with qualified master franchisees.°
- Negotiated and drafted a joint venture and operating agreement between a start-up client and a private equity group to assist client’s expansion efforts in the United States and Canada.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Lennox prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," Corporate Law, 2021-2025
- Listed, Franchise Times, "Legal Eagle," 2022-2023
- Member, International Franchise Association, 2015-Present
- Legal Symposium Task Force, 2023-2024
- Member, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2015-Present
- Member, Chicago Bar Association, 2013-Present
Credentials
-
J.D., cum laude, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 2013
- International Law Certificate
- Member of Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society
- Awarded John H. Calhoun Vis Moot Court Fellow as a result of advocacy competition in China
- B.A., magna cum laude, University of Dayton, 2008
- Illinois
- New York