Warren Lee Lewis

People

Warren Lee Lewis serves as co-chair of Akerman's Franchise and Licensing Sector Team, a highly experienced group handling U.S. and international franchising, licensing, dealership and trademark counseling, registration and litigation matters for franchisors, licensors, subfranchisors, dealers and other business clients.

In the field of franchising, Warren has authored books, studies, articles and regulatory comments, frequently speaks at U.S. and international franchise conferences, and has testified before Congress. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Committee on Small Business of the U.S. House of Representatives have cited his studies and regulatory comments.

Numerous industry publications, including International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, Franchise Times and Super Lawyers, have recognized Warren for his franchising experience.

Notable Work

Franchising or Licensing a Business:

Represents clients in all aspects of franchising and licensing, including structuring franchise and licensing systems; drafting franchise and licensing agreements; and protecting intellectual property such as trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.

Franchise Disclosure Documents and Registrations:

Drafts and updates franchise disclosure documents (FDDs) that comply with U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), state and international laws and regulations. Obtains and updates franchisors’ and subfranchisors’ state registrations.

Franchise System Acquisitions and Sales:

Represents purchasers and sellers of franchise systems.

Franchise Relationship and Termination Counseling:

Helps clients to maintain their franchise relationships, and to avoid and resolve disputes with franchisees, taking into account business and legal issues common to franchise and licensing systems. Counsels franchisors and subfranchisors when they must terminate franchisees, in compliance with their franchise agreements, or with even stricter standards in some state franchise relationship laws.

International Franchise Association (IFA) Annual Convention, Speaker, “Franchise Relationship Survival: Franchisee Associations," February 19, 2024
Franchise-Info, LinkedIn Audio Event, Speaker, "How to Sell More Franchises with AI," January 26, 2024
Titus Center for Franchising at Palm Beach Atlantic University, Annual Selling Franchises Summit, Speaker, "Roundtable Sessions: Financial Performance Representations," January 18, 2024
Titus Center for Franchising a Palm Beach Atlantic University, Moderator, “More Regulation of Franchising – Why?” November 15, 2023
Comment in Response to the FTC’s March 10, 2023 Request for Information (RFI) on the Franchise Industry, Co-Author, June 7, 2023
Titus Center for Franchising’s Selling Franchises Bootcamp, Speaker, "Using Numbers, Including Item 19 Numbers, To Sell Franchises," January 20, 2023
2022 Denver Franchise Business Network Conference, Moderator, "Raising Capital for Franchise Expansion – Understanding How Crowdfunding Can Be Used By Franchisors and Franchisees," July 14, 2022
The Franchise Seller's Handbook, Author, 2010, 2017
FRANCHISES: Dollars & Sense, Author, 1991
Oceanfront FRS Franchise Registration Software User’s Handbook, Co-Author, 2009, 2017
ABA Forum on Franchising, Chapter 1 of The FTC Franchise Rule, Author, "Overview of the FTC Rule and Related Authorities," 2012
ABA Forum on Franchising, Co-Author, "Is Your System Compliant? Recent Changes and Hot Issues in Federal and State Franchise Regulation," 2015
ABA Forum on Franchising, Co-Author, "The Use of Consultants and Paralegals in Franchising: Are You Aiding and Abetting the Unauthorized Practice of Law," 2011

American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising, Member
Franchise Times Magazine, Legal Eagle Hall of Fame Member
Capital Area Franchise Association, General Counsel
North American Securities Administrators Association, Franchise and Business Opportunities Project Group, Advisory Committee, Member
International Franchise Association, Legal/Legislative Committee and Council of Franchise Suppliers, Member

Franchise Times Magazine, 2006-2024, Recognized as Legal Eagle
Best Lawyers, 2009-2025, Listed in Washington, D.C. for Franchise Law
Lexology Index Thought Leaders: USA, 2025, Recognized as a Leading Practitioner for Franchising
Who's Who Legal, 2019-2023, Listed for Franchise Law
International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers, 2002-2020, Listed internationally and in U.S. for Franchise Law
Super Lawyers Magazine, 2006-2021, Listed in Washington, D.C. for Franchise/Dealership Law

Warren Lee Lewis

Notable Work

Publication and Lectures

Affiliations

Honors and Distinctions

Areas of Experience

Education

Admissions

Bars

Courts

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