Susan A. Grueneberg

Susan A. Grueneberg

Franchise Law

4.0 (1 reviews)
Los Angeles, California
46+ years experience
Cozen O'Connor
Updated:

Contact Information

601 South Figueroa Street, Suite 3700, Los Angeles, CA 90017
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Bio

Susan advises clients on franchise and distribution law issues, including compliance with federal and state franchise and business opportunity laws. Clients are primarily franchisors with some large area developers, sub-franchisors, and multi-unit franchisees. Her clients range from startup franchisors to Fortune 500 companies. Susan is certified as a Franchise & Distribution Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization.Susan’s practice includes structuring franchise programs; preparing, structuring and registering franchise programs, including drafting Franchise Disclosure Documents, Franchise Agreements, Area Development Agreements, Subfranchise Agreements, Master License Agreements, Area Representative Agreements, Joint Venture Agreements, and ancillary agreements; counseling on compliance with disclosure and other regulatory requirements; exemption-based franchising, mergers and acquisitions of franchise companies; international expansion of U.S. franchise programs, introduction of non-U.S. franchise programs to the United States; franchise relationship issues involving transfers, defaults and terminations; counseling non-compliant programs and defending government enforcement actions and investigations; assisting in franchise disputes in conjunction with litigators; protection of intellectual property, working with trademark counsel; joint employment and vicarious liability avoidance including joint employment audits; and she also serves as an expert witness for franchisors in arbitration and litigation.Susan earned her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from University of California, Los Angeles. Susan earned her law degree from UCLA School of Law. While in law school, she attended Yale-in-China Studies Center and taught at United College, Chinese University of Hong Kong on a U.S. State Department Teaching Fellowship. After law school, Susan received a fellowship from post-graduate study in Chinese law and economics awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Scholarly Communication with the People’s Republic of China at the University of Beijing, China.Certified as a Franchise & Distribution Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization Susan advises clients on franchise and distribution law issues, including compliance with federal and state franchise and business opportunity laws. Clients are primarily franchisors with some large area developers, sub-franchisors, and multi-unit franchisees. Her clients range from startup franchisors to Fortune 500 companies. Susan is certified as a Franchise & Distribution Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization.Susan’s practice includes structuring franchise programs; preparing, structuring and registering franchise programs, including drafting Franchise Disclosure Documents, Franchise Agreements, Area Development Agreements, Subfranchise Agreements, Master License Agreements, Area Representative Agreements, Joint Venture Agreements, and ancillary agreements; counseling on compliance with disclosure and other regulatory requirements; exemption-based franchising, mergers and acquisitions of franchise companies; international expansion of U.S. franchise programs, introduction of non-U.S. franchise programs to the United States; franchise relationship issues involving transfers, defaults and terminations; counseling non-compliant programs and defending government enforcement actions and investigations; assisting in franchise disputes in conjunction with litigators; protection of intellectual property, working with trademark counsel; joint employment and vicarious liability avoidance including joint employment audits; and she also serves as an expert witness for franchisors in arbitration and litigation.Susan earned her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from University of California, Los Angeles. Susan earned her law degree from UCLA School of Law. While in law school, she attended Yale-in-China Studies Center and taught at United College, Chinese University of Hong Kong on a U.S. State Department Teaching Fellowship. After law school, Susan received a fellowship from post-graduate study in Chinese law and economics awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Scholarly Communication with the People’s Republic of China at the University of Beijing, China.Certified as a Franchise & Distribution Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization Susan advises clients on franchise and distribution law issues, including compliance with federal and state franchise and business opportunity laws. Clients are primarily franchisors with some large area developers, sub-franchisors, and multi-unit franchisees. Her clients range from startup franchisors to Fortune 500 companies. Susan is certified as a Franchise & Distribution Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization. Susan earned her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from University of California, Los Angeles. Susan earned her law degree from UCLA School of Law. While in law school, she attended Yale-in-China Studies Center and taught at United College, Chinese University of Hong Kong on a U.S. State Department Teaching Fellowship. After law school, Susan received a fellowship from post-graduate study in Chinese law and economics awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Scholarly Communication with the People’s Republic of China at the University of Beijing, China.

Practice Areas

Franchise Law

Awards & Recognition

  • Lawyer of the Year: Franchise Law, Los Angeles (2024)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Franchise Law, Los Angeles (2019)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Franchise Law, Los Angeles (2016)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Franchise Law, Los Angeles (2012)
  • Recognized: Franchise Law
  • Practice Area: Corporate Law
  • Special Focus: Business
  • Special Focus: Corporate Transactions
  • Special Focus: Dealers
  • Special Focus: Distribution
  • Special Focus: Distributors
  • Special Focus: Finance
  • Special Focus: Franchisors
  • Special Focus: International
  • Special Focus: Licensing

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2006

Education

  • University of California Los Angeles, J.D., graduated 1979
  • University of California - Los Angeles, graduated 1973
  • University of California - Los Angeles, graduated 1979

Reviews

D

Donald Bailey

2 weeks ago

Invaluable guidance for our franchise expansion

We engaged Susan Grueneberg at Cozen O'Connor to navigate the complex franchise registration process for expanding our brand into three new states. Her deep knowledge of franchise law, honed over decades, was immediately apparent. She expertly guided us through the FTC Rule and specific state disclosure requirements, anticipating issues we hadn't considered. Her recognition as a 'Lawyer of the Year' in this niche field is clearly well-earned. The work product was impeccable and her strategic advice saved us significant future liability. The only slight drawback was that, given her seniority and demand, there were occasional delays in receiving responses to non-urgent emails. However, when we had pressing deadlines, she was always available. For any franchisor facing compliance or expansion challenges, Susan's 46 years of experience in Los Angeles are an exceptional resource.

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