---
title: "Tom Spadea"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/72149d02-3e6d-4c9f-ba8e-aad2128e1e63
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/franchise-legal-players-tom-spadea-of-spadea-lignana-llc-2706117
category: "Suppliers"
industry: "Franchise Industry"
segment: "Suppliers"
published: 2018-04-02T13:08:30.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:04:12.138Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/9af6fa1a8a1262352c7ce170bdf18c6a2586.jpg
---

# Tom Spadea

**TL;DR:** Tom Spadea, founding partner, has a unique perspective on the franchise industry due to his experience selling franchises and as a franchise consultant. He believes that well-run franchise systems are a joy to work with, but is concerned about new franchisors who don't have their business model right.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2018-04-02. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/franchise-legal-players-tom-spadea-of-spadea-lignana-llc-2706117).*

## Story

We have a unique perspective and culture. Tom Spadea, the founding partner, sold franchises as both VP of Development for a few national brands and as a franchise consultant prior to becoming an attorney. That real world experience permeates the entire firm. We want to find solutions and solve problems, not just create legal bills that don't add value. Our perspective has enabled us, in consultation with our clients and industry experts, to create a unique proprietary custom designed software to manage FDD Disclosures, State Registrations and franchise agreement executions.

- What makes your firm stand out as a resource for the franchise industry?
- We have a unique perspective and culture.
- We want to find solutions and solve problems, not just create legal bills that don't add value.
- Our perspective has enabled us, in consultation with our clients and industry experts, to create a unique proprietary custom designed software to manage FDD Disclosures, State Registrations and franchise agreement executions.

Seeing brands grow and watching franchisees create wealth and independence. Well run franchise systems are a joy to work with. Fundamentally franchising is a people business and we get to work with people we like and enjoy every day, well mostly every day.

- What are your top concerns for the franchise industry in the next year?
- I think there are too many new franchisors that didn't spend the time and effort in getting their business model right and think franchising is an easy way to get rich.
- They don't hire the right professionals and don't go into the business ready to support their franchises.
- They think the work ends when they get an FDD, which is actually when the real work begins.
- These companies can hurt the entire industry which will ultimately turn away candidates that could be good franchisees with good franchise systems.

Times are good, deals are happening and people are making money. Status quo is normally a bad thing, although not in this case. So I am most optimistic that this run will continue.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Franchise Industry (sector)
- franchise industry (topic)
- franchise law (topic)
- franchise consulting (topic)
- Tom Spadea (person)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/franchise-legal-players-tom-spadea-of-spadea-lignana-llc-2706117). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/72149d02-3e6d-4c9f-ba8e-aad2128e1e63).