Rochelle Spandorf
Partner
Shelley Spandorf is a nationally recognized business franchise and distribution attorney with more than 35 years of experience representing franchisors, manufacturers, licensors, suppliers, franchisees, and distributors in their domestic and international expansion and strategic development. Shelley concentrates her practice on a broad spectrum of transactional and regulatory issues for clients in all industry sectors, from startups to mature public companies. Shelley assists clients with their contracts and legal compliance including preparing franchise disclosure documents, domestic and international franchise and distribution agreements, and registration filings. She counsels clients on franchise sales compliance duties, and advises franchise and non-franchise distribution systems on a broad array of operating issues ranging from contract enforcement to trademark protection, relationship disputes, antitrust and pricing matters, terminations and transfers, mergers and acquisitions, and implementation of system-wide changes.
Shelley is one of nine attorneys ranked by Chambers US in its highest category (Band One) of leading U.S. franchise attorneys and is recognized as a certified specialist in franchise and distribution law by the California State Bar. She has the distinction of being the first woman to chair the ABA Forum on Franchising, the nation's preeminent association of franchise attorneys, and has twice chaired the California State Bar Franchise Law Committee in North America. She is a frequent speaker and author on franchise topics and resource to the press on franchise issues. Shelley was named by her peers as a 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in the franchise law category in Best's Lawyers, and has consistently been recognized as a "Global Elite Thought Leader" in franchise law in Who's Who Legal USA, another annual peer ranking.
Admitted to Practice
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California
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New York
Education
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J.D., Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
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New York University School of Law
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B.S., Cornell University, 1973, with distinction
Memberships & Affiliations
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- Commissioner, Franchise and Distribution Law Advisory Commission, State Bar of California, 2009-2012
- Co-chair, Los Angeles Business Franchise Network, 2009-2013
- Southern California Women's Franchise Network, 2006-2008
- Board of Editors, Franchising Business & Law Alert
- Franchise Law Certification Committee, California Board of Legal Specialization, 2005-2007
- Chair, Franchise Law Committee, Business Law Section, California State Bar, 1987-1988; 2001-2002
- Chair, Forum on Franchising, 1995-1997; Member, Governing Committee, 1992-1999 – American Bar Association
- Executive Committee, California State Bar, 1990-1993
- Board of Trustees, Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
Professional Recognition
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- Named one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Franchising (Nationwide), 2007-2024; Received "Band 1," 2021-2024
- Named "Lawyer of the Year" in Franchise Law (Los Angeles), Best Lawyers, 2022
- Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in Franchise Law by Best Lawyers, 2008-present
- Selected to "Southern California Super Lawyers," Thomson Reuters, 2004-2007, 2010-2022
- Selected as a "Thought Leader" in Franchise Law by Who's Who Legal, 2024
- Named one of 13 U.S. "Thought Leaders: Global Elite" in Franchise Law by Who's Who Legal, 2020
- Named one of 10 U.S. "Thought Leaders: Global Elite" in Franchise Law by Who's Who Legal, 2017, 2019
- Named one of the 10 "Most Highly Regarded Individuals" in Franchise Law internationally by Who's Who Legal, 2013
- Certified Specialist in Franchise and Distribution Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, 2009
- Selected to the International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers, 2003-present
- Selected by Best Lawyers as Los Angeles' "Lawyer of the Year" in Franchise Law, 2017
- Selected as a "Franchise Times Legal Eagle" by Franchise Times Magazine, 2011-present