Rob Lauer is a franchise lawyer who devotes 100 percent of his practice to domestic and international franchise matters. Rob also concurrently serves as the administrative partner for Haynes and Boone's Austin office and co-head of the Franchise and Distribution Practice Group. Rob is extremely active on the ABA's Forum on Franchising as an editor, writer and speaker at forum events, and is currently serving on the Forum's Governing Committee through 2022. Rob also currently serves as a Committee Member on the IBA's International Franchising Committee through 2019.

Rob focuses on franchise transactional matters, and is recognized in both Chambers USA (2012 to 2019) and Chambers Global (2011 to 2019) published by Chambers and Partners as well as The Best Lawyers in America (2008 to 2019), for his experience in both domestic and international franchising. Rob helps both large and small/startup franchisors structure domestic and international franchise offerings, comply with domestic and international franchise disclosure and registration requirements, negotiate franchise and related agreements around the world, analyze and help resolve pre-litigation franchise disputes, structure supply chain programs and prepare and negotiate supplier and vendor agreements for franchise systems and perform and defend due diligence reviews involving mergers and acquisitions of franchise companies. Rob has a particular focus on restaurant and hospitality franchising. In fact, before Haynes and Boone, Rob was the in-house franchise and litigation attorney for a large public restaurant franchisor and operator.

Bar Admissions
Texas

Education
J.D., St. Mary's University, 1997, cum laude, Who's Who: American Law Students (17th ed.); Corpus Juris Secundum Award in Torts, 1994-1995; Outstanding Staff Writer Award, St. Mary's Law Journal (1995-1996)
B.A., Trinity University, 1994

Significant Accomplishments
The structuring and negotiation of multiple franchise transactions, including international franchise and master franchise agreements in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Central and South America;

The preparation, interpretation and enforcement of franchise, license and distribution agreements and related documentation both domestically and abroad;

Advising clients regarding matters of compliance with domestic and international franchise registration and disclosure laws;

Performing of due diligence reviews with respect to mergers and acquisitions involving franchise companies;

Resolution of disputes arising between franchisors and franchisees;

The establishment and structuring of new franchise systems; and

A Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by a franchisor and subsequent sale of franchise assets through a bankruptcy court approved auction and sale.

• New NASAA Guidance on FPRs Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

  By Robert Lauer |June 2020

• What Franchise and Hospitality Companies Should Know! A Guide to CARES and Other Relief Programs

  By Robert Lauer |April 2020

• Potential Government Relief for Hospitality Industry - Including Franchised Businesses

  By Robert Lauer |March 2020