David S. Paris is one of the founding partners of Paris Ackerman LLP. David focuses his practice on sophisticated multi-unit franchise transactions and franchise financing. David’s client list includes some of the largest multi-unit operators in the nation’s top franchise systems.
In 2017, the Franchise Times inducted David into its prestigous Hall of Fame, based on his being recognized as one of the top franchise attorneys in North America for the tenth consecutive year. Additionally, in 2014 and 2015, David and his transactional group were awarded the coveted Franchise Times Deal Maker award, recognizing their hard work and success in the world of multi-unit franchise transactions. 2017 was also the fifth year in a row in which David was recognized as a New Jersey Super Lawyer in Franchise Law category.
David’s concentration is on franchise mergers and acquisitions, representing franchisees in hundreds of millions of dollars in complex multi-unit network transactions each year. David represents multi-unit operators in the purchase and sale of assets, transfers of stock and membership interests, 1031 like-kind asset exchanges, and internal transfers of interest. David also advises his multi-unit clients on the creation and implementation of their networks’ corporate infrastructure through the formation of multi-tiered entity ownership and management companies.
David’s background in franchise transactions also includes an extensive experience with franchise financing. David represents franchisee borrowers in all types of conventional financing transactions, including acquisition financing, network re-financing, and equipment and development financing. David’s vast network of financial institutions and non-traditional lenders allow him to provide creative solutions to address his clients’ broad array of borrowing needs, including short-term bridge loans and mezzanine financing.
David also counsels multi-unit operators seeking to expand their existing franchise portfolios by investing in additional concepts to supplement their core businesses. For these clients, David reviews franchise disclosure documents and negotiates franchise agreements and multi-unit development agreements.
On the opposite side of the franchise relationship, Dave represents established franchise systems and emerging companies seeking to expand their businesses through franchising, distribution and licensing. Representative clients include The Meat House, Gravity Vault, Lawn Doctor, Fresh-U, the Athlete’s Foot, Tiff’s Casual Grill & Bar, Magic Garage Cleaners, Dancer’s Pointe, and Acting-A-Part.
David is frequently called upon to speak at the industry’s premiere conferences, including the IFA Legal Symposium, the CFA Day Forum, and the Multi-Unit Franchise Conference. David also serves on the Board of Directors of the Independent Association of Franchise Operators, the Mid-Atlantic chapter of the Dunkin’ Donuts Independent Franchise Owners Association.
David earned his J.D. from the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, where he was a member of the Journal of Gender and the Law. David also served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Alfred J. Lechner, U.S.D.J. After graduating law school, Mr. Paris was an attorney in the New York office of Gibbons, P.C.
David is currently licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey.