- P: 215.495.6532
- F: 215.495.6600
- hchernow@regerlaw.com
Cira Centre
2929 Arch St, 13th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104700 E Gate Dr #101
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
“I make it a point to get to know my clients, make them feel comfortable, and build the trust necessary in all successful relationships. I spend the necessary time with my clients, so they know I care about what’s important to them and provide practical, solution-focused legal advice and counseling by combining innovative thinking with a strong understanding of the law and the client’s business needs.”
Practice Areas
- Corporate & Business Services
- Bank & Institutional Borrowing
- Bankruptcy & Creditor’s Rights
- Business Succession Planning
- Contract Preparation, Negotiation, Review & Compliance
- Corporate Governance
- Entity Formation
- Franchising & Distribution
- Intellectual Property
- Hospitality
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
- Private Equity Investments
- Tax
- Litigation
- Commercial & Contract Disputes
- Franchising & Distribution Disputes
- Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Shareholder Disputes
- Sports & Entertainment
- Real Estate
- Acquisition, Sale & Development
- Commercial & Industrial Leasing
- Equity & Debt Financing of Projects
- Loan Workouts
- Employment
- Employment-Related Agreements
- Restrictive Covenants
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals
Education
- J.D., Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (1988)
- B.B.A., Temple University Fox School of Business and Management (1985)
Harris J. Chernow is a partner and chair of the firm’s national Franchise & Distribution Practice Group and an active member of the Corporate & Business Services Group and Hospitality Law Group. He has a national practice representing franchisors, franchisees, and distributors in many sectors, including in the hotel and hospitality industry. His experience is complemented by his significant business and corporate practice, including complex mergers and acquisitions, executive employment, leasing and real estate, and mediation and arbitration practices.
Much more than a franchise and hospitality lawyer, Harris is a well-respected corporate/business lawyer who improves his clients’ companies by delivering guidance through their business transactions and disputes.
With clients ranging from start-ups to large, long-established companies, Harris has worked with an array of businesses. His franchise and business practice extends across a range of industries, representing franchisors/brands, single and multi-unit franchisees/owners, area developers, master franchisees, franchisee associations, distributors, and private equity-backed businesses seeking to expand through franchising or distribution.
Harris is also highly sought after for his dispute resolution acumen in franchise, hospitality, and commercial business disputes. He has a reputation for being strong but reasonable. Harris and the firm’s Litigation Group are often called upon to represent clients in franchise and commercial litigation, arbitration, and mediation cases.
Due to Harris’ reputation for being knowledgeable, fair, and unbiased, he is frequently appointed as an arbitrator and mediator in franchise, hospitality, and commercial matters.
When clients consult Harris, they work with an attorney who prioritizes their objectives and takes a pragmatic and effective approach. Harris’ general practice:
- Day-to-day and overall franchise, hospitality, and business law counseling for franchisors, franchisees, brands, owners and businesses in general
- Franchise Disclosure Documents and related agreements and compliance
- Asset, stock, and merger and acquisition transactions
- General business/corporate transactions
- Hotel Management Agreements and related agreements
- Licensing agreements and co-branding arrangements
- Franchise system start-ups
- Business start-ups
- Contract negotiation and review
- Consulting and independent contractor agreements
- Financing arrangements
- Confidentiality and non-compete agreements
- Real estate development and leasing
- Trademarks, copyrights, licensing, and technology transfer
- Dispute Resolution – franchise and business litigation, arbitration, and mediation
Not just all work, Harris enjoys his family time and being out on the pickleball court, the slopes, the baseball field, the water and rooting for his favorite college (Temple) and pro teams, and simply having fun.
Managing Franchise Relationships Through Mediation
ABA Franchising Forum
Vincent A. Bifferato Trial Practice Forum – “Franchise Law CLE for Non-Franchise Law Attorney”
Project Magis Networking Event
Externship Program
Essentials of Franchising
American Bar Association
Legal Aspects of Franchising
Type of Entity
Distribution Law
A Practical Guide to Reviewing and Negotiating Franchise Agreements
Reviewing and Negotiating Franchise Agreements (Parts 1 and 2)
The Prevent Defense
Negotiation in the Franchise Relationship
Under Performing Franchisees
Technology Issues
Dealing with Franchise Associations
Multi-Unit Development Issues
Ethics and Liability Concerns of Franchise Lawyers
Developing and Using Franchisee Associations and FACs
Best Practices for Handling Defaults and Terminations
Update on Franchising Law and Practices
The Legal Aspects of Franchising
Understanding Franchise and Distribution Law Issues
Franchising Your Business
Franchising 101
International Franchise Association’s 41st Annual Conference
Total Quality Franchising
How to Be an Effective Advocate in Mediation
A Review of the Fundamentals and Annotated Bibliography of Helpful Resources
Is That a Fair Deal? Best Practices for Negotiation of the Franchise Agreement
Franchise Agreements, FDDs and Related Documents: Negotiating Key Terms
Review and Negotiating Franchise Agreements, Parts 1 and 2
Addressing Today’s Important Issues in Franchised Hotel Systems, Both Operational and Contractual
Coaching Your Client through Buying a Business Opportunity
Due Diligence When Buying a Franchise System
Hotel Owners & COVID-19: Extended Q&A on General Legal Considerations
Franchisee Point of Views
The Hotel Industry – The Hotel Brands, Hotel & Resort Operations, History of the Innkeeper & the Economic Models: Designing a Hotel, Marketing & Operations
COVID-19 Issues Affecting Small Businesses and Franchises
Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
Philadelphia Bar Association’ Business Law Section Outreach
Temple University Beasley School of Law
Philadelphia Bar Association’ Business Law Section Outreach
Rutgers Law School
Philadelphia Bar Association’ Business Law Section Outreach
Franchising 101, the Complete Guide to Evaluating, Buying and Growing Your Franchise Business
Managing Franchise Relationships Through Mediation – Chapter: Franchise Mediation from the Trenches
The Internet Hits a Brick Wall
Mergers and Acquisitions of Franchise Companies (Second Edition)
The Franchise Lawyer
The Legal Intelligencer
I Want To Be A Franchisee – What Should I Do Next?
I’m Ready to Turn My Business Into a Franchise
The CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program: How They Can Help Your Business During the COVID-19 Crisis
Opening Back Up: How to Plan for a Successful Return to Work
Small Business Administration Releases Statement Regarding Enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act
Mergers and Acquisitions of Franchise Companies (Second Edition).
Primer on Legal Relationships Among Major Players in the Hotel Industry
Fundamentals of Franchising
How to Advise and Protect Your Franchise Clients
The Big Business of Franchise Law
Have Multi-Unit and Multi-Brand Franchisees Set a New Standard for Franchisors?
Fundamental Legal Aspects of Franchising
Permission or Forgiveness: Dealing with Brands and Brand Standards
Franchise Law: From Soup to Donuts
Death by Dangled Carrot: Litigating Financial Performance Representations
Included in the Who’s Who Legal: Franchise List
Included in the Franchise Times list of Legal Eagles
Included in the list of Franchise Super Lawyers and Top 100 Attorneys by Franchise Times
Selected as one of only three franchise lawyers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and one of only 169 internationally, to be included in the list of International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers
Received the Member of the Year award from the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers
Included list of The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Franchise Law
Included in the list of 50 on the Fast Track by the Pennsylvania Law Weekly
Included in the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers by Philadelphia Magazine
Rated as an AV Preeminent® attorney by Martindale-Hubbell
Recipient of the Temple University F. Eugene Dixon Jr. Inspiration Award
Included in the list of 2017 Franchise Legal Players by 1851 Magazine
Temple University, Vice President of the Temple University Owl Club
Member of the Board of Directors of the Temple University Owl Club
Former President of the Temple University Owl Club
Member and Executive Committee Member of the Temple University Owl Club
Appointed Non-Voting Member of Trustee’s Committee on Student Affairs
Appointed to Trustee’s Task Force on Athletics
Appointed to Head Football Coach Selection Committee
Counsel for the Temple University Alumni Association
Upper Dublin/Beth Masada B’nai B’rith Lodge, Former Vice President
Temple Sinai, Board Member and Legal Committee Chair
International Franchise Association – Legal Symposium Task Force Member; Speaker
Center for Public Resources Institute for Dispute Resolution – Distinguished Franchise Panel Neutral; Franchise Mediation Committee Member
American Association of Franchisees and Dealers – Past Chair of the Legal Education Subcommittee; Speaker at Annual Conventions and Forums
National Franchise Mediation Program – Steering Committee Member
American Franchisee Association – Speaker at Legal Symposia
New Jersey State Bar Association – Franchise Law Committee Co-Chair
Pennsylvania Bar Association – Franchise and Business Sections Member
Montgomery County Bar Association – Vice Chair of the Franchise Law Committee; Past Chair of the Franchise Law Committee
Philadelphia Bar Association – Franchise and Business Sections Member
Georgetown Law School Hotel & Lodging Summit Advisory & Planning Committee Member