Mr. Kanouse has been practicing Franchise Law for forty years, representing Franchisors, Franchisees, Franchise Area Developers and Representatives, and Sub-franchisors across the United States and internationally. He has gained extensive recognition in the Franchise Law field since 1977, including being named “Lawyer of the Year” by Finance Monthly, listed in Franchise Time Magazine‘s Hall of Fame of Franchise Attorneys, selected as “Leading Florida Attorney” in Franchise and Distribution Law, and consistently ranked highly by legal directories.
In addition to his many accolades, Mr. Kanouse has demonstrated a career-long commitment to the Franchise Law bar. He was a leading member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (“AAFD”) and founding Chair of the AAFD’s Fair Franchising Standards Committee, a founding member and a past Chair of the Franchise Law Committee of The Florida Bar, and a member of the Council of Franchise Suppliers of the International Franchise Association. Mr. Kanouse is also the author of 3 books: (1) Understanding a Franchise Offering Circular and Negotiating a Franchise Agreement; (2) Negotiating a Business Lease; and (3) Selecting the Best Entity to Own and Operate Your Business. He is also a co-author of 3 other books: (4) Franchise Law and Practice; (5) Franchising 101; and (6) the Florida Laws Section of the Franchise Deskbook published by the ABA Forum on Franchising. For many seasons during the 1990s, Mr. Kanouse was Executive Producer and Co-Host of Start Your Own Business, which was aired in 66 markets on public television.
Mr. Kanouse graduated from Bradley University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, magna cum laude, and earned his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School, also magna cum laude, where he served on the Notre Dame Law Review as an Editor. He is admitted to practice law in Florida, New York, and Georgia.