
Harris J. Chernow
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T: 215.495.6532
F: 215.495.6600
2929 Arch St 13th Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
700 E Gate Dr #101
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
Harris J. Chernow, Chair of Reger Rizzo & Darnall’s national Franchise & Distribution Practice Group, and member of the Firm’s Entertainment, Hospitality & Sports Law Group and Corporate Business Services Group, concentrates his practice on franchise and business matters. Mr. Chernow prides himself in taking a sincere interest in each and every client, big or small. He has developed a national franchise practice representing franchisors, franchisees and distributors of all industries, along with his corporate and business, retail development and leasing practices. Throughout his career, Mr. Chernow has been dedicated to providing comprehensive, practical, solution-oriented legal advice and franchise and business counseling by combining innovative thinking with a solid foundation in the law.
Mr. Chernow’s national franchise practice includes franchise transactions, including representation with M&A franchise related transactions including venture capital and private equity structuring of acquisitions, matters including franchise due diligence, negotiation of purchase and sale transactions, equity and debt investments, structuring of transactions for purchase/sale of franchise and distribution for multi-unit enterprises and systems, valuation and ownership structuring issues, financing and real estate related issues. The general corporate and business practice has an emphasis on franchising, licensing, distribution, corporate structuring and retail development. He represents leaders (and start-ups) in the franchising and retail distribution industries throughout the United States, and his clients include franchisors, single and multi-unit franchisee owners, area developers, master franchisees, franchisee associations, distributors, private equity, and venture capital businesses desiring to expand through franchising and distribution systems.
Additionally, a significant part of his practice includes representing parties in the hotel hospitality industry dealing with matters concerning franchise and licensing agreements, management agreements, the day to day operations. In addition, his practice involves financial service companies, manufacturers and service-oriented companies, as well as business and individuals in a wide range of legal matters, including general business matters, real estate, employment, financial services, mergers and acquisitions, day-to-day counseling and dispute resolution.
In addition, Mr. Chernow has an emphasis with dispute resolution matters, including franchise and commercial disputes. Due to his background, Mr. Chernow is called upon to represent clients in all facets of dispute resolution- litigation, arbitration, and mediation. As a result of his reputation, Mr. Chernow is frequently appointed as an arbitrator and mediator in franchise and commercial matters as he is known as being fair and unbiased.
J.D., Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (1988)
B.B.A., Temple University Fox School of Business and Management (1985)
New Jersey
U.S. District Court, District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals
American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising - Program Chair of the 30th Annual Forum on Franchising; Served as Finance Officer of the Forum on Franchising; Elected to Governing Committee as 1 of 11 from the ABA Forum; Governing Committee Liaison to Petroleum Marketing Group; Governing Committee Liaison to Solo/Small Firm Group; Governing Committee Liaison to Paralegal/Legal Administrators Group; Forum’s representative to the CPR National Franchise Mediation Program; Appointed to the Nominating Committees for the Board of Governors; Chair of the Forum’s Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee; Forum’s representative for the ABA’s Student Outreach Program; Appointed to Forum’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Division; Annual Forum Program Liaison; Appointed to Forum’s Publications Committee; Publication Liaison for Covenants Against\Competition in Franchise Agreements (second edition); Publication Liaison for “Fundamentals of Franchising” (second edition), Appointed to the Nominating Committees for the Governing Committee
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