Caiola & Rose

Hannah Fotsch is a seasoned franchise and distribution attorney who brings a sophisticated, business-oriented approach to advising clients across the franchise lifecycle. With extensive experience at a top-tier international law firm and a major, international, multi-brand franchise company, Hannah offers clients the benefit of deep industry insight and practical legal strategy.

Hannah focuses her practice on domestic and international franchising, licensing, and distribution matters. She is focused on working with start-up, emerging, and established franchise brands to structure new franchise programs, execute strategic initiatives for emerging and established franchise programs, and determine the most effective approach to single-unit, multi-unit, and multi-brand franchising.

Hannah counsels franchisors on day-to-day legal matters, including franchise disclosure document registration, exemption, and pre-sale disclosure compliance, drafting and negotiating franchise and development agreements, managing franchisee relationships, and resolving disputes. She advises on matters unique to franchisors, such as unique franchisee ownership matters and non-traditional development opportunities. She counsels franchisors and lenders on issues related to franchisee financing and has experience negotiating tri-party agreements. Hannah has also worked with franchisors to expand existing franchise programs internationally.

In her corporate practice, Hannah advises clients on mergers and acquisitions across a range of industries, with particular experience representing franchisors and parties interested in acquiring franchise companies. She supports clients through all phases of the deal process —pre-transaction considerations, deal structure, diligence, negotiations, and post-close matters. Hannah also counsels franchise businesses on general corporate matters, including entity formation, governance, strategic partnerships, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) and other distribution arrangements.

 Education: 

• Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Whitman College, 2013

• Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Mitchell Hamline College of Law, 2018

Recognitions: 

• Named 2021 Class of Legal Eagles by Franchise Times Magazine

Speaking Engagement:

• Presenter at the IFA Legal Symposium, 2023: “Basics Track: International”

Continuing Legal Education:

Hannah regularly attends and participates in national franchise conventions including:

• American Bar Association Forum on Franchising

• International Franchise Association Legal Symposium