Profile
David W. Oppenheim, Co-Managing Shareholder of the New Jersey office, concentrates his practice on domestic and international franchising, licensing, and distribution matters. He is recognized by Chambers USA as a leading, national franchise attorney. He advises both emerging and mature companies with respect to planning, structuring, and implementing national and international franchise, distribution, and licensing programs, including negotiating franchise agreements, ancillary agreements, regulatory compliance, including the preparation of franchise disclosure documents, and securing registration of franchise offerings in the United States and abroad.
David is also experienced in mergers and acquisitions and sophisticated financing transactions, including the securitizations of a franchisor’s royalty stream. He represents private equity firms and public and private companies in the acquisition of franchise, licensing, and distribution systems. David routinely counsels clients regarding the implementation of compliance programs and system-wide standards. He also advises franchise clients regarding complex franchise relationship issues and disputes.
Concentrations
- Franchising, licensing, and distribution
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Corporate law
- Dispute resolution
The attorney is providing legal services through and affiliated with Greenberg Traurig, LLP, a New York Limited Liability Partnership. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Capabilities
Experience
- Serve as franchise counsel to several of the nation’s largest quick service restaurants and their multiple U.S. franchise programs.
- Serve as franchise counsel to the nation’s largest sign and graphics franchisor.
- Serve as franchise counsel to several fast casual, casual, and fine dining restaurant concepts.
- Serve as franchise counsel to one of the nation’s largest guest lodging licensing companies.
- Serve as franchise counsel to several emerging and mature service-based franchise systems.
- Represent numerous startup franchise companies in structuring their franchise programs.
- Represent several restaurant concepts (QSRs, fast casual, casual and fine dining) in all international matters.
- Represent the world’s leading sign and lettering franchise in all international matters.
- Represent the world’s leading beauty pageant licensors in all international licensing matters.
- Represent world-renowned museum and retail outlet licensor in all international licensing matters.
- Represented private equity firm in its acquisition of a leading franchisor, retailer, manufacturer and distributor of premium quality chocolate, ice cream, and confectionary products.
- Served as franchise counsel in connection with the sale of the assets of the world’s leading beauty pageant licensors.
- Represented a private equity firm in its investment in a national pet grooming franchise.
- Represented private equity firm in its $26 billion acquisition of a California-based guest lodging franchisor of seven separate franchised brands and securitization financing of the franchisor’s royalty stream.
- Represented private equity firm in its $1.9 billion acquisition of one of the nation’s largest motel and extended stay chains.
- Represented private equity firm in its acquisition of one of the world’s largest quick service chicken restaurants.
- Represented private equity firm in its $2.4 billion acquisition of one of the country’s largest hamburger quick service restaurants.
- Represented private equity firm in its acquisition of a leading residential lawn care franchisor.
- Represented private equity firm in the acquisition of the nation’s largest sign and graphics franchisor.
- Represented numerous franchisors in the guest lodging and restaurant sectors and lenders and insurers in the whole business securitization of franchise royalty streams.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers In America, Franchise Law Section, 2009-2025
- Listed, “Franchise Lawyer of the Year - New York,” 2013, 2017, 2019, and 2024
- Listed, Chambers USA Guide, Nationwide Franchising, 2013-2024
- Listed, Chambers Global, Global Market Leaders - Franchising, 2022-2024
- Who’s Who Legal, Global Franchise Guide
- Global Elite Thought Leader, 2022-2024
- Thought Leader – USA, 2023-2024
- Recommended, 2020-2021
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2010-2024
- Team Member, Benchmark Litigation’s “New Jersey Law Firm of the Year,” Shortlisted, 2022
- Team Member, The American Lawyer’s “Regional Litigation Department of the Year – New Jersey,” Finalist, 2019
- Named, Client Service All-Star, BTI Client Service All-Stars Report, 2015
A description of the selection methodology for the above awards can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
- Member, American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising
- Governing Committee, 2013-Present
- Co-Chair, 39th Annual Forum on Franchising, November 2016
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Executive Committee, Business Law Section, 2009-Present
- Chair, Business Law Section, 2015-2016
- Chair, Franchise Licensing & Distribution Law Committee, 2010-2013
- Member, New Jersey Bar Association, Franchise Law Committee
- Member, International Franchise Association
Credentials
- J.D., Widener University School of Law, 1994
- B.A., University of Michigan, 1991
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania