What Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins does

Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins LLP is a boutique law firm founded in 1985 and headquartered in a single office at 2 Grand Central Tower, 140 East 45th Street, Manhattan. The firm operates as a Limited Liability Partnership with approximately eight attorneys specializing in franchise law, litigation and appeals, corporate/M&A, securities arbitration, commercial real estate, and estate planning. Its franchise practice is the defining business: the firm is ranked Tier 1 Nationwide for Franchise Law by Best Lawyers in America, represents a roster of major enterprise franchisors including YUM! Brands, Wendy's, Marriott, 7-Eleven, InterContinental Hotels Group, Wyndham Worldwide, and Enterprise Holdings, and has acted as franchise counsel on transactions aggregating over $50 billion in acquisition value and over $35 billion in franchise securitizations. The firm's founding partners authored the field's most-cited reference works — including David J. Kaufmann's co-authored An Introduction to the Law of Franchising and David E. Robbins's 4,200+ page Securities Arbitration Procedure Manual — and the firm co-developed the structural template used in virtually every successful franchise securitization in the United States.

The firm monetizes through traditional professional services billing, with arrangements ranging from hourly fees to fixed-fee and contingency structures (the latter in the securities arbitration practice representing defrauded investors). Distribution is driven almost entirely by reputation, referrals from investment banks and private equity sponsors (Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, Trian, Castle Harlan, Cerberus, Levine Leichtman), and recurring client relationships rather than by outbound sales. The firm maintains regulatory entanglements with the International Franchise Association (for which it serves as counsel) and the NASAA Franchise Project Group (advised by David J. Kaufmann), giving it early visibility into franchise law and policy developments. The client base spans large national franchisors, PE-backed franchisees, startup franchisors, defrauded retail investors, brokers and brokerage firms under regulatory scrutiny, commercial real estate tenants and buyers, and high-net-worth individuals seeking estate planning. There are no subsidiaries, no external investors, and no public financial disclosures.

Name

Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins

Legal name

Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins LLP

Website

https://kaufmanngildin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins is a Manhattan-based boutique law firm, founded in 1985, specializing in franchise law, securities arbitration, M&A, and litigation for major national franchisors, private equity sponsors, and investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services - Franchise Law

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Offices of Lawyers (54111)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Securities Law (BPAHAAAI)

Keywords

• Franchise law services
• Securities arbitration
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Commercial litigation
• Estate planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Professional Fees: Law firm providing legal representation and counsel to franchisors, investors, brokers, and corporations. Services include franchise structuring, litigation, M&A, securities arbitration, real estate transactions, and estate planning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins LLP is a boutique New York City law firm providing specialized legal services across six practice areas: franchise law (structuring, FDDs, registration, securitization), commercial litigation and appeals, corporate/M&A, securities industry representation (investor fraud recovery and broker defense), commercial real estate/leasing, and estate planning. The firm primarily serves franchisors, private equity firms, brokerage firms, and high net worth individuals, and is recognized as a Tier 1 – Nationwide franchise law practice by Best Lawyers in America.

Product overview

Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins is a boutique law firm offering a unified portfolio of legal services rather than a technology product. The firm's core offerings span six practice areas: Franchise Law (including franchise registration, disclosure documents, litigation, and securitization financings), Litigation and Appeals, Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities Industry Representation (investor fraud and broker arbitration), Commercial Real Estate/Leasing, and Estate Planning and Administration. The firm is particularly renowned for its franchise law practice, ranked Tier 1 Nationwide by Best Lawyers in America, and has served major franchisors including YUM! Brands, Wendy's, 7-Eleven, and Marriott. The firm also offers specialized securities arbitration services led by David Robbins, author of the Securities Arbitration Procedure Manual.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Franchise Law / Franchising Comprehensive franchise legal services including structuring franchise networks, preparing franchise agreements and Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), securing franchise registrations domestically and internationally, and providing day-to-day counsel to franchisors from startup to mature operations.
• Litigation and Appeals Commercial litigation representation for individuals and corporations in trial courts, appellate courts, and arbitration forums throughout the United States, including franchise disputes, business fraud, contract disputes, and shareholder/LLC partnership disputes.
• Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions Corporate transactional services including mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, business contracts, regulatory compliance, venture capital investing, joint ventures, and franchise-related securitizations.
• Securities Industry Representation Representation of investors, brokers, and brokerage firms in securities arbitrations and regulatory proceedings, including defense against SEC charges, FINRA arbitrations, and investor fraud claims.
• Commercial Real Estate / Leasing Commercial real estate legal services including lease negotiations, property acquisitions and sales, development and construction matters, and complex real estate litigation.
• Estate Planning and Administration Wealth transfer and estate planning services including estate tax mitigation, trust creation, asset protection, business succession planning, executor and trustee support, and estate administration.
• Franchise Securitization Financings Specialized structuring of franchise-related financing solutions, including the co-development of the structural template used in the first successful franchisor securitization in 2000 and participation in subsequent franchise securitizations for major brands.
• Securities Arbitration Services for Defrauded Investors Specialized securities arbitration representation for defrauded investors, including evaluation of claims, strategic partnership with industry intelligence, and arbitration proceedings before FINRA and AAA.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully defended $50 million+ fraud claim settled for almost zero
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• International Franchise AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe firm serves as IFA's counsel and files amicus curiae briefs in critical franchise-related proceedings. David J. Kaufmann serves as Chair of the IFA Legal/Legislative Committee Franchise Law Committee.
• North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) - Franchise Project GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuasi-governmental body of federal and state franchise regulators. David J. Kaufmann serves as Advisor to NASAA Franchise Project Group, which coordinates and determines franchise regulatory policies and initiatives.
• American Bar Association Forum on FranchisingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional organization. Multiple attorneys serve on governing committees and contribute to ABA Franchise Law Journal publications.
• Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLPmajorOthersMajor law firm engaged as co-counsel or referred by the firm on complex franchise transactions.
• Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLPmajorOthersMajor law firm engaged as co-counsel on franchise-related transactions.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DLA Piper: Global law firm with large corporate, securities, and commercial real estate practices. Competes with KG&R on M&A and real estate matters tied to franchise clients, though franchise law is not its lead specialty.
• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom: Premier NYC M&A and corporate law firm that works alongside KG&R as co-counsel on franchise transactions; represents similar institutional clients and competes for lead counsel roles on the largest franchise deals.
• Norton Rose Fulbright: Global full-service law firm with a substantial corporate/M&A and securities practice that competes for the same franchisor and PE-backed transactions as KG&R, but as part of a much broader portfolio across industries.
• Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison: Elite NYC-based law firm that engages KG&R as co-counsel on complex franchise transactions; competes at the high end of M&A advisory for the same franchisor and PE clients.

Direct peers

• Snell & Wilmer: Full-service firm with a recognized franchise and distribution practice, providing FDD preparation, registration, and franchisor counsel. Overlaps with KG&R's franchise practice area and client type.
• Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath: Large law firm with a nationally recognized franchise and distribution practice serving major franchisors and franchisees; overlaps with KG&R on franchisor-side M&A, regulatory compliance, and litigation. Comparable client caliber and franchise specialization.
• Akerman LLP: Major national firm with one of the largest dedicated franchise practices in the US, serving both franchisors and franchisees with regulatory, transactional, and litigation services. Directly competes with KG&R on franchise-side matters.
• Dinsmore & Shohl: Full-service firm with a substantial franchise and distribution practice representing franchisors in registration, FDD preparation, and dispute resolution. Competes with KG&R for franchisor mandates across multiple industries.
• Lathrop GPM (formerly Gray Plant Mooty): Mid-sized law firm widely regarded as the principal national competitor to KG&R in franchise law, with deep franchisor representation, comparable Best Lawyers Tier 1 rankings, and similar boutique-style specialization. Directly competes for the same franchisor client roster.

Emerging players

• FisherBroyles: Cloud-based, partner-only law firm model offering fractional and outsourced legal services across practice areas including corporate and securities. Competes for boutique-style engagements with a leaner cost structure, representing a new model that could pressure traditional boutique firms like KG&R.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins