Caiola & Rose

Annie started her career and developed her training and expertise at one of the largest, most well-respected international law firms in Atlanta before ultimately founding Caiola & Rose.  Annie is the rare combination of litigator and corporate counselor. Her robust litigation practice focuses on representing franchisors, commercial real estate owners and other businesses in disputes involving franchises, real estate, trademarks, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, consumer protection and construction.   Annie serves as national counsel to clients all over the country, representing clients in high-stakes jury trials and on appeal.

On the counseling side, Annie advises clients on issues involving franchise disclosure and registrations, supply chain practices, insurance coverage, risk management, consumer protection laws and marketing initiatives. Annie has also served as General Counsel to a major national restaurant franchisor and also to an international food service franchisor. In her role as General Counsel, Annie has been the crisis quarterback for a national foodborne illness outbreak involving multi-district consumer litigation and insurance coverage disputes.

Annie’s experience in the courtroom and the boardroom provides a unique blend of both legal and business expertise. Annie is admitted to practice in all Georgia's state, superior and appellate courts, as well as the United States District Court for the Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

In addition to her professional pursuits, Annie is also committed to her community and is active in legislative initiatives.  In 2013, Annie was elected to serve on the Board of Education for the City Schools of Decatur, she served as the Member At-Large through 2019. In 2016 and 2017, Annie was elected by her peers on the school board to serve as the Board Chair. In her role as School Board Member, Annie advocated at the State Capitol and worked closely with local legislators on issues affecting students, teachers and public education.

Annie was also elected to and served on Board of Directors for the DeKalb Bar Association from 2010-2012.  She is a proud member of the Leadership DeKalb Class of 2013, as well as an active parishioner and volunteer at St. Thomas More Church in Decatur.

Education: 

• Bachelor of Arts in English awarded with distinction from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2002.

• Juris Doctor received with Honors from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2005.

Recognitions: 

• Named 2016 Legal Elite by Franchise Times Magazine.

• Named a Top “40 Under 40” Lawyers by The Daily Report, 2015.

• Named “Rising Star” by Georgia Super Lawyers Magazine, 2013.

• Phi Beta Kappa.

• National Coca-Cola Scholar.

Publications:

• Co-Author of Protecting Real Estate Rights When the Franchise Relationship Ends, 37 Franchise L.J. 553 (Spring 2018).

• Co-author of U.S. Data Breach Notification Law: State by State, a handbook published by the American Bar Association, 2007.

Speaking Engagement

• Presenter at the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2018: “The Intersection of Franchise and Real Estate Law.”

• Presenter at the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2020: “Age of Disruption: Current Issues for Restaurant Franchises.”

• Presenter at the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2022: “Advertising Issues for Franchise Systems: From ‘A’ Customer to Prospective ‘Zees’.”

• Presenter for the Georgia Bar, Advanced Topics in Franchise Law (2019): “Crisis Mitigation and Management for Franchise Systems.”

• Presenter for Georgia Bar, Advanced Topics in Franchise Law (2017): “The Intersection of Franchise Litigation and Real Estate Law: Considering the Practical Implications of Real Estate While Exercising Rights Under Your Franchise Agreement.”

• DeKalb Bar Association Presenter on Landlord/Tenant Disputes.

Continuing Legal Education:

Annie regularly attends and participates in national and state wide franchise and real estate conventions including:

• American Bar Association Forum on Franchising.

• International Franchise Association Legal Symposium.

• Georgia Bar Association Franchise and Real Estate Section.