Top Franchise Legal Players: Jan Gilbert, Polsinelli Partner

With more than 30 years of experience in franchising, franchise attorney Jan Gilbert of Polsinelli law firm advises start-ups and developed franchisors and franchisees on a wide variety of franchise relationship matters. Gilbert leverages his previous experience to negotiate both domestic and international agreements and resolve franchisee disputes.

When it comes to what Gilbert has grown to love most about the franchising world over the years, he says it is all about the people.

“My clients and colleagues are all very entrepreneurial, and I love dealing with business people and helping them achieve their objectives,” Gilbert said. “From a legal perspective, franchising brings in a bunch of areas of law, and there is a lot of subtlety in the relationships. There are also often unexpected challenges that happen all the time. I once had a client who found razor blades in their products and came to me to ask what they should do! Each day is different, and that can be really fun and interesting.”