Franchise Law Attorney Profile

Domestic and International Franchise Partnership

We work directly with domestic and international franchises. In addition, Mario Herman has contributed articles on franchising to the Wall Street Journal and has been interviewed on television and radio about franchise issues. Arrange your consultation with an experienced franchise law attorney and contact us, Mario L Herman and Gregory O Herman, today.
Read more by viewing our profiles or visiting the News page.

Mario L Herman, Esq.

Mario L Herman is the firm’s founding partner and has devoted his career to representing franchisees, both across the United States and internationally. He earned his law degree (JD) from Georgetown University Law Center in 1982, following a cum laude bachelor’s degree from American University, and was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1983, where he remains a Member in Good Standing. Over a national and international legal career spanning more than four decades, Mr. Herman has represented clients from over 150 franchise systems and has served as an expert witness on franchise matters. He has represented franchisees of well-known systems including AAMCO, Baskin-Robbins, Choice Hotels, Cold Stone Creamery, Dunkin’ Donuts, GNC, McDonald’s, RE/MAX, and Subway, among many others. His international practice has included clients from more than ten countries in trade matters, such as international franchisees in litigation and arbitration against their U.S. and European franchisors, along with predatory pricing and antitrust, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act issues, and U.S. export controls. He is a member and lecturer with the American Bar Association’s International Law Section and its Forum on Franchising, and a member of the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers and the International Association of Franchisees and Dealers. He has lectured on franchising in Shanghai, San José, and Orlando. Mr. Herman has appeared on CNN, has been quoted repeatedly in the Wall Street Journal and throughout the franchise trade press, has contributed articles on franchising, and has been interviewed on television and radio. He speaks Spanish and English.

Read Mario L Herman’s full attorney profile.

Gregory O Herman, Esq.

Gregory O Herman is a partner at the firm, where he focuses on franchise law and related business matters. He advises franchisors, franchisees, and independent business owners on regulatory compliance, franchise agreements, franchise disclosure documents (FDDs), contract drafting and review, and dispute resolution. Gregory joined the practice as a law clerk in 2016 and progressed to attorney, then to partner, giving him a practical, ground-up understanding of how franchise matters develop from both strategic and day-to-day perspectives. He earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School and completed additional studies at the University of Helsinki to have that degree recognized as equivalent to a Master of Law in Finland. He also holds an LL.M. in International Business Law from the University of London’s International Programmes. A licensed attorney in the District of Columbia, Gregory is known for a detail-oriented, client-focused approach and speaks English and Finnish.

The Partnership

Together, Mario L Herman and Gregory O Herman focus their practice specifically on franchise law. The firm represents domestic and international franchisees across a wide range of industries, from restaurants and hotels to printing, real estate, and domestic services, advising them on franchise agreements, franchise disclosure documents, regulatory compliance, and disputes with their franchisors. Mr. Herman’s decades of experience and Gregory’s ground-up work in the practice give clients both seasoned judgment and close, detail-oriented attention.

Franchising entails many fields of law and requires its own specialization. It is highly recommended that you hire an experienced franchise attorney to review the franchise agreement and franchise disclosure document before you purchase a franchise. In the event of a dispute with the franchisor, you need an experienced litigator on your team.
We are licensed in Washington, D.C. That said, if you are involved in a franchise dispute and your case goes to trial in another state, we will hire local counsel to have us admitted pro hac vice for that specific case.
Franchise law attorney services provided by our law firm include, but are not limited to:

• Reviewing franchise agreements and franchise disclosure documents.
• Litigation
• Alternative dispute resolutions, such as arbitration and mediation