Biography
Kendal handles domestic and cross-border transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, as well as licensing, distribution and franchise matters.
What do you focus on?
Franchising
With over 29 years of experience, I counsel companies expanding through master franchising, area development franchising, international franchising, management contracts, joint venture agreements, licensing agreements and product distribution arrangements throughout the world. I also have extensive experience structuring, negotiating and enforcing domestic and international franchise, license, distribution and acquisition agreements.
I am a frequent contributor to franchise publications and a frequent speaker at franchise programs held by the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising and the International Franchise Association. I am also the executive director of the LexNoir Foundation and serve as an editor and author for the Franchising In international book series published by the LexNoir Foundation. His recent books include International Franchising 2016: Legal and Business Considerations, a 600-page publication that covers 41 countries and was a collaboration of over 60 legal practitioners across the globe.
Currently, he serves as the co-editor of the third edition of International Franchise Sales Law, an American Bar Association Forum on Franchising publication, which will be published in spring 2022. The book covers the rules and regulations governing franchise and distribution law in over 35 different countries.
Region Focus (Africa)
I am a global thought leader regarding franchising in Africa. My African practice builds on deep cross-border transaction skills and an understanding of the varying local African economies. I also leverage personal ties to the continent to deliver skilled, high quality service to facilitate the specific needs of businesses in Africa. I understand the region, culture, and needs of African clients and global clients with interests in Africa. I maintain close working relationships with law firms in Africa and has strong connections to businesses in South Africa. I have been appointed to serve in my second term as a member of the Trade Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA), which is a US federal advisory committee that advises the US government on US trade policy in Africa.
Outside General Counsel
I act as outside general counsel to many companies and assist those companies with respect to commercial contracts and a full range of operational issues while coordinating with other specialists at the firm when needed.
