Bird & Bird, the international law firm, has announced that leading global franchising specialist Mark Abell will join the firm as a partner in the newly created position of head of franchising, licensing and multi-channel strategies.
Abell (right) has built an impressive long-standing practice on matters relating to franchising and the internationalisation and exploitation of intellectual property rights. The Chambers legal directory rates him as the UK’s top franchising lawyer and describes him as ‘the guru of franchising’.
Bird & Bird recently appointed Victoria Hobbs and Graeme Payne in the same area of practice to complement its growing international capability in this field.
David Kerr, chief executive of Bird & Bird said: “There are excellent synergies between Mark’s expertise, the clients he works for and the firm’s strong reputation for protecting and commercialising ideas and brands. His practice aligns closely with our experience helping clients in industries that are being disrupted by technology. In addition, his practice is extremely international, which fits with our expanding global footprint. This is a very exciting move for us.”
Abell commented: “Franchising relies on an in-depth understanding of how businesses work and how to exploit brands and ideas. In addition, because it is a very effective way to expand operations internationally, you have to be able to work all around the world. Bird & Bird’s expertise in commercial contracts and its reputation for protecting brands, as well as its global reach, mean it is the perfect place in which to build a leading international franchising practice.”