Will K. Woods

About Will K. Woods

Will K. Woods is a Chambers Band 1 ranked lawyer specializing in US and global franchise, distribution and brand expansion matters. He is the Chair of Baker McKenzie\'s Americas Commercial Practice Group and leads the Firm\'s Franchise, Distribution & Global Brand Expansion team. He concentrates his practice in franchise and distribution law. He counsels clients on structuring international and domestic franchise transactions, distribution of products and services, and franchise registration and disclosure matters. He represents franchisors throughout their business life cycle: in the start-up stage; as middle-market franchisors; and as mature, global franchisors. Will has developed a strong reputation for providing strategic, practical, and implementable guidance on many critical franchise-related matters to some of the largest and most sophisticated franchise brands in the world. Will represents many of the leading hotel, lodging and hospitality franchise companies and has vast experience in negotiating complex franchise and licensing transactions both in the U.S. and in many other countries around the world and in counseling clients across industries with respect to system restructuring and related relationship issues.He is a frequent author and speaker on franchise and distribution related topics. He is the editor of the Forum on Franchising book, Fundamentals of International Franchising, Second Edition.Will is an active member of various trade and bar associations, including the International Franchise Association and the ABA Forum on Franchising. He is a Past Chair of the ABA Forum on Franchising.He is Band 1 ranked in both Chambers USA (Franchising) and Chambers Global (Franchising); has been listed as a leading lawyer in America in The Best Lawyers in America in Franchising; has been named in Franchise Times’ “Legal Eagles” as one of the top 101 franchise lawyers in the US and Canada; has been consistently listed as one of the top franchise lawyers (including as a Global Thought Leader for multiple years) in the world by International Who’s Who Legal (now Lexology Index) for Franchise Lawyers; and has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine for almost two decades.

Experience

1. Partner

   Baker McKenzie

   Feb 2014 — Present

Education

• Baylor University School of Law

  JD, Law

  1996 — 1998

• Baylor University

  BBA

  1990 — 1994

Skills

• Trademarks
• Corporate Law
• Trade Secrets
• Dispute Resolution
• Mediation
• Corporate Governance
• Joint Ventures
• Franchising
• Intellectual Property