Dennis Dean Leone
Verified
Practice area
Top-rated franchise lawyers
Franchise lawyers and law firms, ranked by location with the LexRank methodology.
12 lawyers0 law firms2 rankings12 with verified professional data
LexRanked tracks 12 lawyers in franchise law. 12 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.
LexRanked ranks 12 franchise lawyers in Florida; the Miami ranking compares 9 of them. Every position follows the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source, such as each lawyer's Florida Bar profile; payment never changes a position.
Rankings
2 rankings, each ordering lawyers by the LexRank score; the statewide ranking, which compares every city, comes first.
Miami
- Franchise · 9 lawyers
Market statistics
- Lawyers
- 12
- Law firms
- 0
- Verified professional data
- 12 of 12
- Average rating
- Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
- Median review count
- Withheldtoo few sourced counts
- Median experience
- 4.5 years12 lawyers
Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld.
By city
The highest-scoring lawyers on this page, grouped by city; each ranking above lists every lawyer.
- Miami · 9 lawyers
- Boca Raton · 1 lawyer
- Fort Lauderdale · 1 lawyer
- St. Petersburg · 1 lawyer
Highest-scoring franchise lawyers
The 12 highest LexRank scores on this page; each profile shows the sources behind its facts.
65.6LexRank
64.4LexRank
63.1LexRank
56LexRank
56LexRank
54.8LexRank
54.8LexRank
53.6LexRank
53.6LexRank
51.1LexRank
50LexRank
What does a franchise lawyer do?
A franchise lawyer reviews franchise disclosure documents and agreements for buyers, prepares and registers franchise offerings for franchisors, and handles disputes over terminations, renewals and misrepresentation.
- Franchise disclosure document review
- Franchise agreement negotiation
- Franchisor compliance and offering documents
- Terminations and non-renewals
- Misrepresentation claims
- Non-compete disputes
When do you need a franchise lawyer?
Talk to a franchise lawyer before you sign: the disclosure document arrives at least 14 days before signing, and that is the time to review it.
- You received a franchise disclosure document
- A franchisor is threatening to terminate or not renew your franchise
- Earnings or costs differ sharply from what you were told
- You want to franchise your own business
Who are the best franchise lawyers in Florida?
The statewide ranking lists all 12 franchise lawyers LexRanked tracks in Florida, in order of their LexRank score. See the best franchise lawyers in Florida.
Where can I find a franchise lawyer in Florida?
LexRanked ranks franchise lawyers in Miami, where the ranking compares 9 lawyers with an office in the city.
| City ranking | Lawyers compared |
|---|---|
| Top-ranked franchise lawyers in Miami | 9 |
How much does a franchise lawyer cost in Florida?
Franchise lawyers usually charge a flat fee for reviewing a disclosure document and bill hourly for disputes. In a misrepresentation case under section 817.416 the court may award attorney fees to the franchisee. Under The Florida Bar's rules, a lawyer who has not represented you before must explain the basis or rate of the fee and costs, preferably in writing, and no fee may be clearly excessive.
Florida franchise rules to know
Federal rules require a franchisor to give you its disclosure document at least 14 calendar days before you sign or pay, and Florida law lets a franchisee recover the money invested when the franchisor intentionally misrepresented the deal.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Disclosure before signing | The franchisor must give a prospective franchisee its current disclosure document at least 14 calendar days before signing or paying (16 C.F.R. § 436.2(a)) |
| Florida misrepresentation | It is unlawful to intentionally misrepresent a franchise's prospects for success or the known total investment (Fla. Stat. § 817.416(2)(a)) |
| Florida remedy | A franchisee who proves a violation may recover all money invested in the franchise; the court may award attorney fees and shall award costs (§ 817.416(3)) |
| Non-compete clauses | A franchise non-compete is enforceable only if signed, reasonable in time, area and line of business, and supported by a legitimate business interest (§ 542.335(1)) |
Are franchise lawyers board certified in Florida?
No. Franchise is not one of the fields in which The Florida Bar board-certifies lawyers, so LexRanked includes lawyers who list franchise as a practice area on their Florida Bar profile. The lawyer adds that practice area, and The Florida Bar does not review it, so ask how much of the lawyer's work is franchise. Lawyers in these rankings may still hold a board certification in a related field, which their profiles show. About 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.
How to choose a franchise lawyer
Confirm the license in The Florida Bar's directory, then compare experience, certification and how often the lawyer handles cases like yours.
- Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory: the license must show as eligible to practice, and public discipline is listed there.
- Ask how much of the lawyer's work is franchise: practice areas on a Florida Bar profile are added by the lawyer and are not reviewed by The Florida Bar.
- Ask for the fee agreement in writing before work starts.
- Ask: How many franchise agreements in this system have you reviewed?
- Ask: Which terms can realistically be negotiated?
- Ask: What happens if I want to sell or exit early?
How LexRanked ranks franchise lawyers
By the LexRank score: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location, using only facts with a cited source. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Data checked October 2026 against each lawyer's Florida Bar profile. Payment never changes a position. See how we rank.
Sources
- 16 C.F.R. § 436.2 (FTC Franchise Rule: disclosure timing)
- Florida Statutes, section 817.416 (franchises and distributorships; misrepresentations)
- Florida Statutes, section 542.335 (valid restraints of trade)
- Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Rule 4-1.5 (fees and costs for legal services)
- The Florida Bar: Find a Lawyer directory
Frequently asked questions
What does a franchise lawyer do?
A franchise lawyer reviews franchise disclosure documents and agreements for buyers, prepares and registers franchise offerings for franchisors, and handles disputes over terminations, renewals and misrepresentation.
How much does a franchise lawyer cost in Florida?
Franchise lawyers usually charge a flat fee for reviewing a disclosure document and bill hourly for disputes. In a misrepresentation case under section 817.416 the court may award attorney fees to the franchisee.
When must a franchisor give me the disclosure document?
At least 14 calendar days before you sign a binding agreement or pay any money (16 C.F.R. § 436.2(a)).
What can I do if a franchisor lied about the investment or earnings?
Florida law makes intentional misrepresentation of a franchise's prospects or known total investment unlawful. A franchisee who proves it may recover all money invested, plus costs, and the court may award attorney fees (section 817.416).
Is the non-compete in my franchise agreement enforceable?
In Florida, only if it is signed, reasonable in time, area and line of business, and supported by a legitimate business interest (section 542.335).
Where are the best franchise lawyers in Florida?
LexRanked ranks franchise lawyers in Miami, where the ranking compares 9 lawyers. The statewide ranking compares all of them.
Are franchise lawyers board certified in Florida?
No. Franchise is not one of the fields in which The Florida Bar board-certifies lawyers, so LexRanked includes lawyers who list franchise as a practice area on their Florida Bar profile. The lawyer adds that practice area, and The Florida Bar does not review it, so ask how much of the lawyer's work is franchise.
How do I check a franchise lawyer's license in Florida?
Search the lawyer's name in The Florida Bar's Find a Lawyer directory: it shows whether the lawyer is eligible to practice, any board certification and public discipline. Concerns about a lawyer go to The Florida Bar's Attorney Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP), 866-352-0707.
Editorially reviewed by LexRanked editorial team on October 30, 2026.