Benjamin Reed

Experience

Ben has been working with franchisors for over twenty years on a variety of litigation, counseling, transactional, and regulatory matters. He provides counsel to franchisors in a variety of industries, including restaurants and food service; hotels; retail, business and consumer services; and product distribution. Even though his experience spans a broad range of areas, Ben’s expertise is in representing franchisors in franchise litigation and arbitration matters throughout the United States. He’s handled suits involving breaches of franchise agreements, trademark and service mark infringement, franchise terminations, tort claims arising out of the franchise sales process, franchise law claims, and enforcement of post-termination obligations. From alleged pre-sale violations to contested terminations, Ben has assisted clients in navigating the perils of litigation throughout the span of the franchise relationship.

Ben has also worked as outside “in-house” counsel for a number of franchised companies, providing counsel and advice to those companies in their litigation and bankruptcy matters and supervising counsel assigned by insurance companies to defend the franchisor in litigation matters or working with counsel hired by the franchisor to represent the company. While winning the case is always the goal, Ben understands from his work as outside “in-house” counsel and his experience with transactional, regulatory, and counseling matters that the most important consideration is how the resolution of an individual dispute impacts a franchisor’s overriding business goals.

Ben’s experience beyond litigation includes advising clients in trademark prosecutions and trademark protection matters and counseling franchisors in all aspects of the franchise relationship. 

Bar Admissions

• District of Columbia
• Virginia
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
• U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia
• U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
• U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Professional Associations

• American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising (Governing Committee (2020-present); Information Officer (2023-present); Annual Meeting Co-chair (2022); Annual Meeting Planning Committee (2021-2023); Publications Officer (2021-2023); Program Officer (2020)); Forum on Franchising Publications Committee (2019); Forum on Franchising Litigation and Dispute Resolution Division Steering Committee (Division Director (2017-2019); Steering Committee Member (2015-2017))
• International Franchise Association (Legal Symposium Task Force (2006-2007; 2024-present); Legal and Legislative Committee)
• American Bar Association, Section of Litigation
• District of Columbia Bar Association
• Virginia State Bar Association