karen marchiano
Senior Counsel
Karen Marchiano is the rare combination of transactional and litigation counsel. Drawing on her 20+ years of experience guiding franchisors and other businesses in executive decision-making and courtroom strategy, Karen provides practical, business-oriented advice while securing noteworthy results.
In her transactional practice, Karen prepares and registers franchise disclosure documents, assists clients in a wide range of commercial transactions including franchise system acquisitions, represents businesses in commercial leasing and vendor negotiations, and provides counseling related to regulatory compliance, diligence, advertising and business strategies.
In her litigation practice, Karen represents clients in complex disputes involving claims related to franchise and other regulatory compliance, consumer protection laws, fraud, breach of contract, and employment. She has extensive experience in the courtroom and in arbitration and mediation.
Before joining Caiola and Rose, Karen served as in-house counsel for two franchisors in different industries, and advised on growth strategies, consumer marketing, product launches, regulatory compliance, commercial leasing, and vendor contracts. In her most recent in-house role, she was General Counsel and on the senior leadership team.
Prior to her in-house roles, Karen spent more than 15 years at two of the world’s largest law firms, representing franchisors in high-stakes litigation. She also advised on franchise regulatory compliance and conducted due diligence for acquisitions of franchise systems.
An active leader in the franchise law community, Karen served as Editor-in-Chief of The Franchise Lawyer, an ABA publication, and on the Governing Committee for the ABA Forum on Franchising. She was also an appointed member of the Franchise Law Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California.
Karen is licensed to practice law in California.
Education:
Juris Doctor, University of California Berkeley School of Law, 2004
Order of the Coif (top 10% of class). Prosser Award for Civil Procedure and Conflict of Laws (2nd highest grade in each)
Bachelor of Science, Duke University, 2001
Magna cum laude (top 15% of class). Concentration in Neuroscience. Minors in Philosophy and supporting the Blue Devils
Recognitions:
Selected by Franchise Times as Legal Eagle
Selected by Who's Who Legal: Franchise
Speaking Engagement:
Exiting Gracefully - Effective Resale and Refranchising Practices in the United States and Canada. ABA Forum on Franchising Oct 16, 2024
The Terms of Our Endearment or Separation: Settling Disputes Before and During Litigation. ABA Forum on Franchising Oct 1, 2022
Griffin and Weil One Year Later - Has a Clearer Picture of the Joint Employer Conundrum Come into Focus? ABA Forum on Franchising Nov 1, 2016
Life After Termination – Ensuring a Smooth Transition. IFA Legal Symposium · May 1, 2015
So It Really Is a Franchise: Bringing Non-Compliant Franchisors Into Compliance. ABA Forum on Franchising · Oct 1, 2014
Roadmap for the Default and Termination Process. ABA Forum on Franchising · Oct 1, 2012
Arbitration in 2011. IFA Legal Symposium · May 1, 2011