Legal Partners Who Can Help Your Business Thrive

Welcome to JohnstonVanderpool, a full-service firm dedicated to providing excellent legal representation in a relaxed atmosphere. With over 50 years of combined experience as inside general counsel, outside general counsel, and litigation attorneys, our partners bring top-tier expertise to vast areas of business and franchising without the big-firm expense. Whether you are navigating complex franchise disclosure documents, buying or selling a business, or seeking a trusted legal advisor to review contracts, we know the traps, pitfalls, and areas of concern.

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Services We Provide

Franchise Law

Franchise Law

We offer comprehensive guidance for franchisors and businesses looking to adopt the franchise model.

Experienced Eranchise Attorney

At JohnstonVanderpool, our franchise expert James "Duke" Johnston brings over 30 years of in-house general counsel experience to provide excellent, full-service representation for both franchisors and franchisees. We offer flat-fee pricing in a relaxed atmosphere, utilizing Duke's extensive knowledge of the industry's traps, pitfalls, and areas of concern.

Franchisor Representation

Whether you are an existing franchisor needing efficient management of FDDs and complex litigation, or you are looking to safely franchise your business without risking personal financial liability, we provide extensive experience at a reasonable cost. Duke offers boutique efficiency and monthly General Counsel options, acting as a sounding board to save you money and keep your company out of expensive litigation.

Franchisee Services

Because franchise disclosure documents contain complicated, esoteric terms with considerable responsibilities, JohnstonVanderpool will guide you through the negotiating process so you can make an informed decision and avoid a financial and emotional disaster. If you are already a franchisee, we can clarify your rights and help you communicate with your franchisor from a position of strength to resolve matters in a faster manner.

Business Law

Business Law

We handle a wide variety of transactional matters to keep your business operating smoothly.

Business formation

We provide timely, flat-fee business formation services to get your new company up and running with operational documents tailored to your specific needs.

Employment

From hiring to separation, we optimize your employment strategy with customized contracts and handbooks while answering complex legal questions so your employees fit seamlessly into your business.

Buying or Selling a Business

We guide you through the entire transaction, investigating your options and structuring the deal to meet your goals so that you can make informed decisions with no surprises.

Contracts

Drawing on our extensive litigation experience, we draft and review clear, effective contracts designed to protect your interests, eliminate hidden traps, and accomplish your goals.

Litigation

Whether defending you directly or managing outside counsel to prevent excessive billing, we leverage our years of experience to help you navigate the financial and emotional costs of litigation.

Your Personal General Counsel

Acting as the easily accessible attorneys right down your virtual hallway, we provide affordable outside general counsel services to spot issues upfront and give you a comfort level on your next business step.

General Counsel

Outside General Counsel

We provide the dedicated benefits of in-house counsel without the costly overhead.

Experienced Legal Advisors

The partners at JohnstonVanderpool bring over 50 years of combined general counsel and litigation experience to act as your trusted legal advisors. By consulting us before taking action, a brief phone call can alert you to potential traps and prevent a major impact to your business finances and operations.

General Counsel Services

For a relatively small monthly fee, we are available on a daily basis to handle crucial needs like contract drafting, corporate governance, employment matters, and litigation management. We manage your legal risks without the expense of a full-time attorney so you can get out there doing what you love and growing your business.

Outside the Box Skills

Beyond standard legal services, we bring high integrity, strategic crisis management, and a calming, relaxed presence to your team. We apply a can-do attitude and a deep understanding of financial and litigation costs to break your problems into multi-step solutions.