KENDAL H. TYRE

Kendal Tyre counsels franchise companies, manufacturing, retail, and financial services companies on international business transactions. He represents clients in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, joint ventures and strategic alliances, licensing and franchise matters as well as corporate law matters. 

Kendal’s client base spans the United States (including Florida, New York, and California) and foreign countries, including South Africa, Kenya and the United Kingdom. He has extensive business law and transactional experience, advising on angel and venture capital financings, entity formation and maintenance, corporate reorganizations, securities law compliance and business divorce.

In his franchise practice, Kendal counsels franchisor clients regarding domestic and foreign franchise laws, drafts franchise disclosure documents, and prepares and files U.S. state franchise registration and exemption applications. He has experience drafting and negotiating a variety of commercial agreements, including international franchise and development agreements, license agreements, and purchase and sale agreements.

Kendal is co-chair of the firm’s Diversity Action Committee and its Africa Group, and is an author and editor of the book, Franchising in Africa published by LexNoir Foundation.

Publications and Presentations

• “IP Protection May Promote Additional Franchise Growth in Africa,” Franchising Business & Law Alert, September 2012.
• “Market Potential For Franchising In Africa,” Franchising Business & Law Alert, June 2011.
• “The Impossible Dream: Controlling Your International Franchise System,” American Bar Association 33rd Annual Forum on Franchising, San Diego, California, October 14, 2010.
• “Drafting the Franchise Agreement,” IFA 43rd Annual Legal Symposium, Washington, DC, May 17, 2010.
• “A New Legal Landscape For Franchising in South Africa,” Franchising Business & Law Alert, September 2009.
• “The Basics of Franchising Domestically and Internationally,” National Bar Association’s 84th Annual Convention, San Diego, California, August 5, 2009.
• “News From Around the World: South Africa,” 25th Annual IBA/IFA Joint Conference, Navigating Rough Financial Seas in International Franchising, Washington, DC, May 20, 2009.
• “Legal Representation and Structuring Your Hotel Investment/Ownership Group,” National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers, Miami, Florida, July 24, 2009; Atlanta, Georgia, July 17, 2008.
• “Negotiating Hotel Franchise Agreements - You Can’t Always Get What You Want - But You Need to Understand It,” National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers, Miami, Florida, July 23, 2009; Atlanta, Georgia, July 16, 2008.
• “What is the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS) and How Does it Impact Cross-Border Deals?” LexNoir Foundation Corporate Counsel Forum, Washington, DC, April 24, 2009.
• “Strategies and Challenges for In-House Corporate Counsel, An International Perspective,” Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs/Nixon Peabody Forum, September 16, 2008, Cape Town, South Africa; September 18, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• “Understanding Mergers & Acquisitions,” National Bar Association, 83rd Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, July 30, 2008.
• “Who is Making an Impact on Diversifying Their Brands,” by Kendal Tyre and Phil Wilkins, Franchising World (June 2008).
• “Fusiones y Adquisiciones en los Estados Unidos: Tendencias, (Mergers and Acquisitions in the U.S.: Trends),” Seminar co-sponsored by Nixon Peabody LLP and Lupicinio Eversheds, Madrid, Spain, June 3, 2008.
• “Inadvertent Disclosure and Metadata: Lessons for Transactional Attorneys,” LexNoir Corporate Counsel Forum, Chicago, Illinois, April 17, 2008.
• “How to Choose and Fund Your Franchise,” Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 37th Annual Legislative Conference, Washington DC, September 28, 2007.
• “Franchise Opportunities for Women and Minorities,” International Franchise Association Educational Foundation MinorityFran Seminar Series, Detroit, Michigan, May 25, 2007; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 2, 2007; Buffalo, New York, June 19, 2007; Los Angeles, California, June 22, 2007. International Franchise Expo, Washington, DC, April 1, 2007,  June 3, 2006, April 9, 2005, April 10, 2004; and West Coast Franchise Expo, Los Angeles, California, November 4, 2005.
  Panelist providing legal primer on franchise law issues.
• “Trends, Insights and Navigating New Developments in the M&A Marketplace,” Metlife Law Forum, Long Island City, New York, January 10, 2007.
• “Fundamental Deal Terms Governing Risk Allocation in M&A Transactions,” Center of International Legal Studies; Cape Town, South Africa, November 17, 2006.
• “Embracing Diversity in Franchise Systems and Managing Associated legal Risks,” American Bar Association 29th Annual Forum on Franchising, Boston, Massachusetts, October 12, 2006.
• “Diversity Boot Camp—Proven Strategies for Large and Small Franchisors,” Institute of Certified Franchise Executives, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 24, 2007, and Palm Spring, California, February 26, 2006.
• “Doing Business in the U.S.,” seminar co-sponsored by Nixon Peabody LLP and Sonnenberg Hoffman Galombik (Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa), April 4–6, 2006; seminar co-sponsored by Nixon Peabody LLP and Ecija Abogados (Madrid, Spain), June 27, 2006.
  Panelist providing overview of corporate and commercial law issues related to doing business in the United States.
• “Understanding the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular,” Minority Franchise Buyers Conference, Queens, New York, March 25, 2006, and April 23, 2005.
  Panelist providing overview of legal issues involved in buying and selling franchises.
• “The Business Case for Diversity,” 2005 Business Diversity Conference, Manchester, New Hampshire, October 13, 2005.
  Panelist for seminar providing overview for the business case for diversity.
• “Representing the U.S. Franchisor Domestically and Abroad,” National Bar Association’s 80th Annual Convention, Orlando, Florida, August 2, 2005.
  Panelist providing overview of key legal issues involved in international franchising.
• “International Franchising Basic Track Workshop,” International Franchise Association’s 38th Annual Legal Symposium, Washington, DC, May 11, 2005.
  Panelist providing overview of key legal issues involved in international franchising.
• “Building a Practice,” Canadian Association of Black Lawyers Annual Conference, Toronto, Canada, February 7, 2005.
  Panelist for presentation on LexNoir.org, an international network for lawyers.
• “Current Issues in Mergers and Acquisitions,” NBA Commercial Law Section Corporate Counsel Conference, Miami, Florida, February 28, 2003.
  Panelist for presentation on the importance of due diligence in corporate transactions.
• “Current Issues in Cross-Border Transactions,” National Bar Association Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, August 10, 2002.
  Panelist for presentation on privacy legislation and its impact on cross-border deals.
• “The African Growth and Opportunity Act,” International Affiliates Meeting of National Bar Association, Cape Town, South Africa, June 15, 2001.
  Panel moderated by Kendal Tyre. In addition to Mr. Tyre, the panel included the then minister of justice of South Africa, Penuel Maduna, and advisors from the U.S. Embassy in South Africa.

Kendal Tyre, editor and contributor for new guide to franchising in Africa