Thomas R. Brule, Esq.
[email protected]
Office: (216) 789-4229
Thomas Brule has extensive experience in all facets of business and franchising. Thomas Brule was the former U.S. Franchise and Litigation counsel as well as Senior Executive for Kentucky Fried Chicken - a division of PepsiCo, - a Fortune 25 company. Thomas Brule was additionally responsible for handling all U.S. franchise sales, development and contract administration for the United States. He handled all aspects of transfers, sales, terminations, system upgrading, advertising, and renewals. He has developed and implemented innovative models for growth. He has also served as the Chair of the Franchise Practice Group at two prominent Cleveland, Ohio law firms and was the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of two international retail companies. In addition, Mr. Brule is on the National Commercial Arbitration Panel for the American Arbitration Association.
His franchise practice is focused on strategic advice for existing franchisors, as well as companies who are exploring franchising as a growth vehicle. He also advises both existing and prospective franchisees with the sales process or ongoing contractual compliance and legal business needs. In addition to his practice of franchising, commercial litigation and arbitration, Mr. Thomas Brule regularly advises clients in all aspects of distribution, analysis of distribution models, restaurants, liquor licenses, retail, leasing, advertising, cooperatives, trademarks, non-competition agreements, confidentiality agreements, licensing and buying and selling companies. See Services. While not an exclusive listing it does offer information to the breadth and scope of services.
Mr. Brule’s experience includes the purchase of franchise companies through leveraged buyouts or by investment groups. He has acted as counsel to a number of franchised businesses in Cleveland, Ohio and around the country. Mr. Thomas Brule regularly drafts, reviews and consults on Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD) and Franchise Agreements, related agreements and State Registrations.
Court & Bar Associations:
Education:
Experience:
Employment History
Other Affiliations and Honors
Professional Associations
Presentations and Other Speaking Engagements
Publications
[email protected]
Office: (216) 789-4229
Thomas Brule has extensive experience in all facets of business and franchising. Thomas Brule was the former U.S. Franchise and Litigation counsel as well as Senior Executive for Kentucky Fried Chicken - a division of PepsiCo, - a Fortune 25 company. Thomas Brule was additionally responsible for handling all U.S. franchise sales, development and contract administration for the United States. He handled all aspects of transfers, sales, terminations, system upgrading, advertising, and renewals. He has developed and implemented innovative models for growth. He has also served as the Chair of the Franchise Practice Group at two prominent Cleveland, Ohio law firms and was the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of two international retail companies. In addition, Mr. Brule is on the National Commercial Arbitration Panel for the American Arbitration Association.
His franchise practice is focused on strategic advice for existing franchisors, as well as companies who are exploring franchising as a growth vehicle. He also advises both existing and prospective franchisees with the sales process or ongoing contractual compliance and legal business needs. In addition to his practice of franchising, commercial litigation and arbitration, Mr. Thomas Brule regularly advises clients in all aspects of distribution, analysis of distribution models, restaurants, liquor licenses, retail, leasing, advertising, cooperatives, trademarks, non-competition agreements, confidentiality agreements, licensing and buying and selling companies. See Services. While not an exclusive listing it does offer information to the breadth and scope of services.
Mr. Brule’s experience includes the purchase of franchise companies through leveraged buyouts or by investment groups. He has acted as counsel to a number of franchised businesses in Cleveland, Ohio and around the country. Mr. Thomas Brule regularly drafts, reviews and consults on Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD) and Franchise Agreements, related agreements and State Registrations.
Court & Bar Associations:
- Admitted to U.S. Supreme Court
- Admitted to U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- Admitted to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- Admitted to U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- Admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- Admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- Admitted to Ohio State Bar
- Admitted to Commonwealth of Kentucky
- Member - American Bar Association
- Member - Ohio State Bar Association
- Member - Kentucky Bar Association
- Member - American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising
- Arbitrator - American Arbitration Association - Commercial Panel
Education:
- University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, J.D.
- University of Kentucky, M.B.A. (Scholarship)
- Indiana University (PA), B.S. (Accounting and Economics)
Experience:
- First Chair Federal and Trial Experience; Complex Cases Including Injunctive Relief
- National Leveraged Purchase of Companies, Including a Purchase with over 500 Locations
- Founding Chair of Franchise Practice and Parter with two Prominent Ohio Law Firms
- National Registration of Commercial Documentation / Regulatory Practice
- National Counsel with KFC Including Extensive Work with Outside Counsel
- Chair of Royalty Collection Committee with over $100MM Revenue / $1.8B Sales
- Successfully Resolved Multi-Party/Class Action-Type Federal Litigation
- Drafted Numerous Extensive Commercial Documents
- Resolved Federal Trade Commission Action
- National Arbitrator for Multiple Commercial Disputes - American Arbitration Association
- Structuring National Programs and Rollouts
- Managing Budget of over $8M with 800 Franchisees and 3,500 Restaurants
Employment History
- Founder, Brule Law Firm, LLC, 2009 - Present
- Partner, Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP, Cleveland, Ohio 2003 - 2008
- Partner, Buckingham Doolittle & Burroughs LLP, Northeast, Ohio 1996 - 2003
- Senior Vice President/General Counsel of PWLC, et al.
- National Franchise & Litigation Attorney/Senior Executive for Kentucky Fried Chicken
- Adjunct Professor at the University of Akron School of Law
- University of Louisville School of Business, Lecturer
Other Affiliations and Honors
- Commercial Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association
- Visiting Board at Cleveland State University School of Business
- Trustee at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Senior Executive Development PepsiCo (Fortune 25)
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Kentucky Bar Association
- ABA Forum on Franchising
Presentations and Other Speaking Engagements
- Retail, Office and Restaurant Leases: Key Provisions and Warranties, National Bar Institute, 2015
- Introduction to Real Estate Practice, Ohio State Bar Association, 2014
- Resolving Real Estate Related Disputes in Ohio, National Bar Institute, 2014
- Commercial Real Estate from A to Z, National Business Institute, 2014
- Introduction to Real Estate Practice, Ohio State Bar Association, 2011 - 2013
- Ohio State University - Franchising Panel Moderator, 2008
- International Franchise Association, Cleveland Seminar, 2008
- Ohio State Bar Association, Commercial Real Estate Law, 2003 - 2007
- International Franchise Association - Panel Moderator, 2006
- Akron Regional Development Board, 1998
- SCORE, U.S. Small Business Administration, 1999
- Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association, 1999
- Ohio State Bar Association - Business Lawyers Institute, Franchising, Cleveland and Columbus, 1999
- Ohio State Bar Association, Northeast Ohio, Non-Traditional Development, 1997
- The New Uniform Offering Circular, 1996
- Financial Executive Seminar, 1998
- PricewaterhouseCoopers - General Counsel Forum, 1999
- Multiple Speaking Engagements at KFC
- University of Akron, College of Business Administration, Professor of the Day, 1999 - 2000
- How to Buy a Franchise Business, Multiple Presentations, Cuyahoga Public Library System
- National Summit Urban League - Legal Aspects of Franchising, 1997
- Protect Your Franchise: Franchise Sales - A Primer, 2005
- Franchise Marketing Practices, 2007
- Franchising's New Rules (FDD), 2007
- Franchising 101 for Franchisors, 2006
- Franchising 101 for CPA's, 2006
- Franchising 101, 2005
- Franchising 101 for Bulding Sales through Local Advertising, 2007
Publications
- Corporate Counsel's International Advisor
- Quoted in the Wall Street Journal
- Profiled in the National Law Journal