Current Employment Position(s)

Shareholder

Lawyer Overview

Chuck is an experienced and active participant in the franchise legal community. For over three decades, he has worked with franchisors and manufacturers on the business aspects of franchising and distribution. Chuck is the only practicing attorney in the Midwest to be designated a Certified Franchise Executive by the Institute of Franchise Executives and is also recognized as a leader in the franchise field by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers,® Who’s Who of International Franchise Lawyers and Minnesota Law & Politics Super Lawyers..®

Areas of Practice

• Corporate

West Practice Categories

Business Organizations

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1977
• U.S. Federal Courts, 1977

Certification/Specialties

• Designated Certified Franchise Executive, Intstitute of Certified Franchise Executives, 2002
• Certified Commercial Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association, 2000

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2001 - 2007 (Financial Officer, Member of Governing Committee)
• American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, Vancouver, British Columbia, 2004 (Program Chair)
• International Institute for Franchise Education at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2003 - 2004 (Member, Strategic Advisory Board)
• International Franchise Association, Council of Franchise Suppliers, 1995 - 2001 (Board Member)
• Franchise Management Institute, University of St. Thomas, 1990 - 2002 (Member, Board of Advisors)
• International Franchise Association, 1988 - Present (Member, Legal/Legislative and Franchise Relations Committees)
• Franchise Law Journal (American Bar Association) (Topics and Articles Editor, 1995-1996; Associate Editor, 1997-1998)
• American Bar Association, 1979 - Present (Member, Forum Committee on Franchising)

Honors and Awards

• Distinguished Attorney, Chambers USA, 2008 - Present
• Best Lawyers in America Franchising
• Legal Eagle, Top Franchise Lawyers in the U.S. and Canada, Franchise Times Magazine, 2006 - Present
• Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine, 2001 - Present
• Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition, 2008 - Present
• International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers, 2000 - Present
• International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, 2002 - Present

Classes and Seminars

• Hot Topics in Franchising, Fast Track in Franchise Management, Nova University Franchise Institute, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (also presented in Las Vegas, NV, 10/13/03 and in Ft. Lauderdale, FL 6/9/03, 5/3/04), April 11, 2005
• Developing and Managing a Franchise Sale Compliance Program, Roundtable Moderator at the IFA Annual Convention, Las Vegas, NV, March 9, 2004
• Secrets to Dynamic Franchise Success, Keeping an Eye on Business, a Discussion of Business Ethics Issues, Nova University Franchise Institute, Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 7, 2003
• Strategic Franchising Issues: Hot Topics in Franchising, University of St. Thomas Institute for Franchise Management Mini-MBA in Franchise Management, Minneapolis, MN, October 16, 2002
• Rescission of Franchise Agreements: Law and Policy, ABA Forum on Franchising, Scottsdale, AZ, October 11, 2002
• Structuring the Franchise Relationship, Fundamentals of Franchising Program, ABA Forum on Franchising, Scottsdale, AZ, October 9, 2002
• Ending a Franchise Relationship/Issues and Alternatives to Termination, IFA Legal Symposium, Washington, D.C., May 13, 2002 - May 14, 2002
• Purchasing Co-Ops, Roundtable Facilitator at IFA Annual Convention, February 12, 2002
• Bringing Franchisees Into the Family: Developing a Mentor Program, International Franchise Association Annual Convention, February 11, 2002
• Keeping the Enforcers at Bay - Handling the FTC or State Franchise Investigation, ABA Forum on Franchising, San Francisco, CA, October 11, 2001 - October 12, 2001
• Registration and Disclosure Update, International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Washington, D.C., May 6-8, 2001
• Mediation and Other Dispute Resolution Techniques, International Franchise Association Annual Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 24, 2001
• Mergers and Acquisitions of Franchise Companies, CLE International Franchise Law Conference, Denver, Colorado, November 17, 2000
• Mediations, CLE International Franchise Law Conference, Denver, Colorado, November 17, 2000
• Mediation of Franchise Disputes, Emerging Franchisor Conference, Minneapolis, MN, October 21, 2000
• Strategic Franchising Issues: Hot Topics in Franchising, University of St. Thomas Institute for Franchise Management Mini-MBA in Franchise Management, Minneapolis, MN; October 25, 2000; June 7, 2000; October 25, 1999; May 20, 1999; November 17, 1998; November 15, 1997; June 18, 1997
• Roundtable Facilitator, Dealing with Difficult and Under Performing Franchisees, International Franchise Association Annual Convention, San Diego, CA, 2000
• The UFOC: What Goes In It and How to Use It, Franchise Sales Compliance Seminar, Presented by Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren, Ltd., Bloomington, Minnesota, 1999
• Preparing Earnings Claims, Franchise Sales Compliance Seminar, Presented by Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren, Ltd., Bloomington, Minnesota, 1999
• Planning the Franchisee Exit: Strategies for Franchisors and Franchisees, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, Rancho Mirage, CA, October 14-15, 1999
• Effectively Structuring Earnings Disclosures: What to Disclose and How to Disclose it Without Creating Additional Liability for the Franchisor, International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Washington, D.C., 1999
• Franchise System Structuring and Development, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Bloomington, MN, 1999
• Laws of Franchising and Distribution, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Minneapolis, MN, 1998
• How to Franchise Your Business, Upper Midwest Hospitality Restaurant & Lodging Show, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1998
• Where is Franchising Headed As We Approach the New Millenium?, Emerging Franchisor Conference, Minneapolis, MN, 1997
• Earnings Claims, International Franchise Association Second Tuesday Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, 1997
• Expansion: Minimizing Legal Risk and Resolving Disputes, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising Mid-Year Meeting, Chicago, IL, 1997
• Franchise Advisory Councils and Franchisee Associations, Roundtable Moderator at the International Franchise Association Annual Convention, Orlando, FL, 1997
• Encroachment, International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Washington, DC, 1996
• Learning to Swim; Avoiding the Undertow-Presale Violations, Rescission, Remedies, and Damage Control, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, Orlando, FL, 1995
• Disclosure Issues, Fundamentals of Franchising, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, Orlando, FL, 1995
• Covenants Not to Compete, International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Washington, DC, 1995
• Taking a Realistic Look at the Franchise Relationship Process, Roundtable Moderator at the International Franchise Association Annual Convention, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1995
• The Essential Elements of a Franchise Distribution Agreement, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Minneapolis, MN, 1994
• The New Uniform Franchise Offering Circular Guidelines: Issues That a Franchisor Must Review and Consider as it Prepares its Offering Circular Under the New UFOC Guidelines (Panel Member), Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Minneapolis, MN, 1994

Past Employment Positions

• Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren, Ltd., Chief Financial Officer, 1986-1990

Education

• University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, 1977
  Juris Doctor
  Honors: High Honors, Order of the Coif
  
  Law Review: Managing Editor, University of Florida Law Review, 1975 - 1977
• University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1974
  B.S., Broadcasting

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Alpha Delta
• Phi Kappa Phi

Published Works

• Stretching the Truth, and Other Advertising Pitfalls, Advertising Compliance Service Bulletin, May, 2008
• Franchisors Face New Rules in '08, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, January 7, 2008
• Six Simple Steps, Franchise Times, November/December, 2007
• Imitation is Not Always the Greatest Form of Flattery and Other Advertising Faux Pas, Franchise Times, September, 2007
• Memo to Franchisors: Help Your Franchisees Plan For Succession, Franchise Times, May, 2006
• Memo to franchisees: Is it time to sell?, Franchise Times, October, 2005
• Strengthening Franchise Relationships-Keeping Trial Lawyers Out of Your Business, Franchising World Magazine, October, 2005
• Are You Ready To Franchise? Take This Test, Upsize Minnesota, October, 2004
• What Do Personal Guarantees Offer? Don't Do Business Without One, Franchise Law Journal, Winter, at 138, 2004
• Is It Time To Rethink Those Franchise Agreements?, Franchise Times, February, at 45, 2004
• The Accidental Franchise, Business Law Today, January/February, at 45, 2004
• Avoiding the Accidental Franchise (co-authored with Joseph J. Fittante, Jr.), Wisconsin Lawyer, May, 2003
• Franchise Renewals - You Want Me To Do What? (co-authored with Genevieve A. Beck), Franchise Law Journal, Summer, 2002
• Before You Start Selling Franchises - A Legal Checklist For New Franchisors, Franchising World, May/June, 2002
• Successful Mediating: Tips for Successfully Mediating Franchise Disputes, Franchise Update, 4th Quarter, 2001
• Advertising Tips for Franchisors: Knowing the Laws and Regulations (co-authored with Joseph J. Fittante, Jr.), LJN's Franchising Business & Law Alert, June, 2001
• Discovering That Your Franchisor Client Has Violated the Franchise Disclosure Laws, LJN's Franchising Business & Law Alert, February, 2001
• When the Franchisee Wants to Get Out of the Business, Franchise Update, 2000
• Franchisor Involvement in Real Estate (co-author with Joseph J. Fittante, Jr.) (reprints available), Franchise Law Journal, Spring, 1999

Address

1500 Wells Fargo Plaza
7900 Xerxes Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55431

Phones

(952) 896-3341

Faxes

(952) 896-1511

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.larkinhoffman.com