Contract Franchise and Distribution Attorney
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is seeking an experienced franchise and distribution attorney for engagement through the firm’s alternative-track contract attorney and staffing program, DWTSurge. The selected attorney will work with the firm’s Business & Tax practice group and clients handling business franchise and distribution matters. Attorneys who are seeking more flexibility in their hours and remote work are encouraged to apply.
The chosen resource will assist the firm's Business & Tax practice group in supporting clients in a wide range of industries with franchise law matters, with a focus on transactional and regulatory matters. The selected attorney must have experience with franchise disclosure documents, traditional and exemption-based franchise programs, franchise and distribution agreements, franchise administration and compliance, and registration filings.
Applicants must be knowledgeable and capable of advising clients on franchise compliance matters, advising on operating issues for franchise and non-franchise distribution systems, and assisting clients with developing and managing non-franchise programs.
This contract position offers the flexibility of remote work and a variable amount of hours per week. The anticipated hours of work will be part-time and will depend on candidate experience, the availability of work appropriate for the candidate’s experience, and the candidate’s preferences. While the engagement is for an initial 6-month contract term, there is a possibility of renewal of the contract position for successful candidates. We are looking for attorneys interested in establishing a long-term working relationship with the Firm.
The ideal candidate will have:
- 7+ years of franchise and distribution transactional experience in a mid-size or large law firm or in-house setting preferred. Candidates with less than 7 years but with significant experience and a high level of focus in the practice of franchise law may also be considered.
- Residency and active bar admission in one of the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, IL, MD, MN, MT, NJ, NY, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WA, and WDC. Attorneys must be barred in the states where they reside. Strong preference for attorneys barred in AK, CA, IL, NY, OR, WA, or WDC.
- Strong experience and familiarity with franchising and distribution transactional and regulatory matters.
- Demonstrated understanding of what factors constitute a franchise and experience with franchise agreements.
- Experience defending clients against claims of franchise status based on knowledge of franchise law.
- Membership to the ABA Forum on Franchising and participation in prior Forum on Franchising meetings is preferred.
- Availability to work a part-time and variable amount of hours a week. Candidates must have flexibility to potentially increase hours or decrease hours as needed.
- Strong ability to support and stay connected with a remote, distributed team.
- High-level of responsiveness and client service abilities.
- Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Excellent writing skills, strong attention to detail, and ability to produce high quality work product with minimal supervision and direction.
Please note that this is a temporary contract position managed by DWT’s flexible contract attorney program, DWTSurge. Compensation will be paid on an hourly basis, commensurate with experience and skill level (see below). This role is unbenefited. We are interested in candidates who are electing to pursue a more flexible way of providing continuous, high-value legal services to the firm and our clients. If you are interested in a more traditional law firm position, please check the DWT careers page for lateral opportunities.
Salary
The hourly compensation range for this position in CA, MD, NY, WA, and WDC is $140 - $175 per hour. Actual pay will be adjusted based on the candidate’s education, training, experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.
Additional benefits include:
- First Stop Health Telemedicine: Speak with a licensed physician or mental health counselor 24/7, covered by the firm
- TELUS Health Employee Assistance Program: Receive support with mental, financial, physical, and emotional wellbeing
- Voluntary Pet Insurance
- Milk Stork: Virtual lactation consulting, breast milk shipping and nutritional testing covered by the firm
Wellness Benefits:
WASHINGTON STATE
Paid sick leave is accrued on a biweekly basis at a rate of 1 hour per 30 hours worked.
All applications should be submitted via LinkedIn or by sending a resume and cover letter directly to DWTSurge Recruiting Manager, Mariah Watson, at mariahwatson@dwt.com. The DWTSurge Recruiting team will be in touch as we review your application materials.
For this opportunity, we are not accepting third party submissions.
We are an AmLaw 100 law firm with eleven offices nationwide. We are relentlessly committed to client service and look for candidates who share that commitment. At DWT, client service means having empathy for each client’s and each lawyer’s work and personal pressures, business objectives, and legal needs; anticipating their needs; and having the capabilities and commitment to deliver what matters most to them.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. It brings out the best of what each individual has to offer and inspires us to build strong and lasting connections with each other, our clients, and our communities.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are part of the fabric of Davis Wright Tremaine – central to who we are and what we do. Our vision is to foster a culture where all talented individuals – including those who are from traditionally underrepresented communities in the legal profession – can have, and can see, a path to success. We embed DEI throughout our law firm with our four-pillar framework: Community, Growth, Education, and Engagement. We invite you to learn more about our commitment to DEI at https://www.dwt.com/about/diversity-equity-and-inclusion.
In order to support our effort to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive law firm, we request that you voluntarily provide demographic data. All self-reported demographic information is stored securely in a manner that is compliant with DWT’s privacy and security policies and is only accessible by authorized members of the Talent Acquisition and HR Departments; it is not shared with any of the hiring decision-makers.
It is our policy to hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all other employment-related decisions without regard to an employee’s sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religious creed, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military or veteran status or any other basis prohibited by applicable local, state, or federal laws. To review our Anti-Harassment Policy, click on this URL, https://www.dwt.com/-/media/files/policyagainstharassmentdiscrimination.pdf?la=en&hash=66A1B0095748A5E76B0B8A00773F5246.
As an equal opportunity employer, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP values the diversity of our work force and the knowledge of our personnel. Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) for specialty occupation petitions are displayed electronically in accordance with notice requirements pursuant to U.S. Department of Labor regulations, and public access files are available pursuant to regulation. See 20 CFR § 655.734, 655.760.
Davis Wright Tremaine provides reasonable accommodations for those who need them to complete the application or recruiting process and for employees who need reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their positions due to a disability or for religious reasons. If you need to request accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please email HumanResources_Confidential@dwt.com.
