Evan M. Goldman

Evan M. Goldman is a Founding Partner with The Franchise Firm focused on representing franchisors and franchisees in litigation, arbitration, and mediation, along with representing franchisors in drafting and registering their Franchise Disclosure Documents and negotiating franchise agreements, area development agreements, and area representative agreements on behalf of both franchisors and franchisees.

Evan has represented franchisors and franchisees through the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. In addition to his work in the franchise space, Evan regularly represents non-franchised clients in disputes involving termination issues, breach of contract, trademark infringement disputes, fraud claims, and enforcement of non-competition agreements. Evan has extensive experience advising clients in the hospitality industry, including hotels, bars, nightclubs, caterers, private clubs, commercial properties, and fitness centers.

Evan is a seasoned litigator, inside and outside the franchise and hospitality industries, representing clients in business litigation matters, in both federal and state trial and appellate courts in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, as well as before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) and Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“JAMS”). In this role, Evan has litigated, arbitrated, or mediated in 35-plus states throughout the United States.

Evan regularly speaks on all matters relating to franchising, including at the American Bar Association (“ABA”) Forum of Franchising, International Franchise Association (“IFA”) Legal Symposium, and the International Franchise Expo (“IFE”) in New York. Evan has also served as an expert witness on franchise matters on multiple occasions, including in Michigan, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and elsewhere.

Prior to co-founding The Franchise Firm, Evan was co-chair of the Franchise Practice Group at an AMLaw 200 law firm with offices throughout the United States and, prior to that, served as partner or chair of the franchise law practice group at preeminent law firms in New York and New Jersey, counseling numerous clients such as restaurants, retail chains, and franchise systems.

A native New Yorker, Evan lives in suburban New Jersey with his wife, Katie, and two daughters, Hailey and Emma. Outside the office, Evan loves to travel and his goal is to share the world with his family. Particularly Italy, where he and his family have been on a number of occasions, and to which his family has familial roots. When not traveling, Evan loves to be home with his family and their dog, Charli, and enjoys cooking Italian food for all to enjoy.

Evan is barred in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Evan is admitted in multiple district courts across the country including U.S. District Court, Northern Southern, and Eastern Districts of New York; the U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Pennsylvania; the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; the U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky; the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana; the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; the U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin; the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second, Third, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits.