Will K. Woods
Biography
Will K. Woods is a Chambers Band 1 ranked lawyer specializing in US and global franchise, distribution and brand expansion matters. He is Chair of Baker McKenzie's North America International Commercial Practice Group and leads the Firm's Franchise, Distribution & Global Brand Expansion team. He represents franchisors throughout their business life cycle: in the start-up stage; as middle-market franchisors; and as mature, global franchisors. 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 US and in many other countries around the world and in counseling clients across industries with respect to system restructuring and related relationship issues and brand expansion.
Will has been listed in Chambers USA and Chambers Global as a leading franchise lawyer every year since 2010 and was praised by clients as a "thorough, diligent and hardworking lawyer: someone who always tries to find a solution." Chambers also noted that he "impresses with his sophisticated international transactions practice" and that he is "client-service oriented, giving practical, useful and implementable advice." He is included in An International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers and as a Legal Eagle and one of the top 101 franchise lawyers in the US and Canada by Franchise Times. He is regularly named one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine. He was also designated by The Best Lawyers in America as a "Best Lawyer of the Year – Franchise Law" on several occasions. Will is a Certified Franchise Executive. He is the Immediate Past Chair of the ABA Forum on Franchising and serves on the Forum's Governing Committee in that capacity.
Practice Focus
Representative Legal Matters
- Primary outside counsel on one of largest hotel franchise transactions ever completed by global hotel company involving the conversion of 20+ all-inclusive hotel properties in the Caribbean and Latin America to various brands owned by hotel company.
- Represented private equity company in the acquisition one of the largest water treatment companies in the world that operates under a franchise/dealership model.
- Represented large, global hotel company on a complex licensing transaction for a 4,000 room multi-brand luxury property in Las Vegas.
- Advised global quick-service restaurant franchisor on the spin-off and licensing of its China business.
- Represented global casual dining chain in a series of refranchising transactions involving 200+ restaurants.
- Represented leading hotel company in the negotiation of a franchise agreement and related documentation for a 3,400 room resort property in the Bahamas.
- Represented global hotel company in the licensing and related aspects of one of the first spin-offs of a timeshare and residential businesses into a new publicly-traded company.
- Updated and restructured a large luxury product retail chain’s licensed boutique agreement.
- Represented global hotel company in the negotiation of affiliation and license agreements for ultra-luxury property in Knightsbridge.
- Represented large hotel company in negotiation of a license agreement and related documentation for a 3,000 room condominium hotel in Las Vegas.
Professional Honors
- Ranked Band 1 in Chambers Global (Franchising)
- Listed in Chambers USA (Franchising)
- Listed in International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers
- Named in Franchise Times as "One of the Top 101 Franchise Lawyers in the US and Canada"
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Franchise Law
- Named by The Best Lawyers in America as "Best Lawyer of the Year - Franchise Law"
- Selected by D Magazine as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Dallas Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Certified Franchise Executive
Admissions
- Texas~United States (1998)
Education
- Baylor University School of Law (J.D., cum laude) (1998)
- Baylor University (B.B.A.) (1994)
Languages
- English