Franchise ownership transitions—whether through the resale of a franchised business, the transfer of an existing agreement, or the refranchising of a corporately owned location—create unique and often misunderstood disclosure obligations for franchisors. When not managed properly, these situations can expose systems to regulatory and legal risk.

This panel discussion will delve into disclosure best practices for franchisors navigating the complexities of ownership changes, with insights from both external counsel and in-house legal teams. The session will explore:

• Legal obligations and ethical considerations when a franchise agreement is transferred

• Disclosure requirements in the resale of franchised businesses by current owners

• How to approach disclosure when refranchising units previously operated by the franchisor or its affiliates

• Best practices for managing the transfer of multi-unit development agreements, particularly when development rights remain outstanding

With real-world examples and recent case law, the panel will provide practical strategies for drafting and delivering compliant disclosure documents that reflect the nuances of each type of transaction. Whether you're advising clients or managing disclosures internally, this session will help you safeguard legal enforceability and support a stable, compliant franchise system.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how disclosure obligations differ between initial sales and ownership transitions, including transfers, resales, and refranchising.

2. Learn best practices for tailoring disclosure documents to different transition scenarios—especially where multi-unit or affiliate ownership is involved.

3. Gain tools and insights to help franchisors avoid common pitfalls and maintain compliance during complex ownership changes.