Franchise Times has once again named Kevin Hein, Co-Chair, Franchise and Licensing Sector Team, and Office Managing Partner of Akerman’s Denver office; Warren Lee Lewis, Co-Chair, Franchise and Licensing Sector Team; Dale Alexandra Cohen, Partner, Corporate Practice Group; Marc A. Lieberstein, Partner, Intellectual Property Practice Group; William W. Sentell, Partner, Litigation Practice Group; and Trish Barrett MacAskill, Special Counsel, Corporate Practice Group, as 2026 Legal Eagles.
Franchise Times' Legal Eagles list recognizes franchise attorneys from firms across the United States and Canada who bring a depth of experience and perspective specific to franchising and whom franchisors and franchisees can turn to for guidance on the complex legal, regulatory, and business issues shaping the franchise industry.
Kevin focuses his practice on counseling companies that rely on franchising as part of their distribution models. For more than three decades, he has advised franchisors on state and federal disclosure requirements, franchise sales compliance, and compliance with franchise relationship laws, as well as restaurant and retail development matters. His experience also includes advising on franchising in the health and wellness industries, mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy and reorganization matters, and franchise-related dispute resolution.
Warren has extensive experience advising franchisors on structuring and operating franchise and licensing systems. He has authored books, studies, articles, and regulatory comments on franchising, frequently speaks at U.S. and international franchise conferences, and has testified before Congress. His work has been cited by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Committee on Small Business of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Dale advises emerging and established brands on domestic and international franchising, distribution, and licensing matters. Her experience includes structuring and implementing franchise programs, preparing franchise disclosure documents, securing registrations and exemptions, and counseling clients on franchise relationship issues. She also advises public and private companies and private equity firms on franchise-related mergers, acquisitions, and complex financing transactions.
Marc focuses his practice on intellectual property licensing and franchising, including the drafting, negotiation, and enforcement of franchise and license agreements, as well as the implementation of branding and commercialization strategies. With more than 30 years of experience, he advises clients across a range of industries on procuring, protecting, and enforcing global intellectual property assets and resolving franchise and licensing disputes.
William focuses his practice on franchise dispute resolution and related corporate, regulatory, and compliance matters. Drawing on his combined litigation and transactional experience, he advises franchisors on franchise sales compliance, disclosure issues, franchise relationship management, and risk mitigation throughout the franchise lifecycle. His experience includes representing franchisors in complex arbitration and litigation involving franchise termination, disclosure claims, and regulatory enforcement.
Trish focuses her practice on domestic and international franchise and distribution laws, as well as business transactions. She advises franchise startups, emerging brands, and established brands on franchise regulatory compliance, franchisee relationship matters, and franchise-related mergers and acquisitions. She also draws on her in-house experience when counseling clients on practical legal solutions aligned with their business goals.