Michael G. Brennan has concentrated his practice on domestic and international business, licensing and franchising matters for more than 25 years.

Mr. Brennan is the former chairman of the Franchising Committee of the International Bar Association. He has frequently been an author and speaker on topics of domestic and international business law. He has addressed meetings of the Chicago Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the International Bar Association, the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, the International Franchise Association, the Canadian Franchise Association, the Licensing Executives Society and the International Young Lawyers Association on subjects including international franchising, international arbitration, the North American Free Trade Agreement, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, intellectual property, immigration law and international transactions. He has also spoken on domestic and international franchising as part of programs organized by the American Bar Association, the International Franchise Association, the Practicing Law Institute, the University of Texas School of Law, the McGeorge School of Law, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.

Mr. Brennan has served as a co-editor of the International Encyclopedia of Franchising and was a member of the Drafting Committee of the franchise law project sponsored by the Institute for the Unification of International Private Law (UNIDROIT) in Rome. He is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Franchising Law.

Additionally, he has authored articles published in the International Franchise Association's Franchise Legal Digest, the Franchise Law Journal of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, the Louisiana Bar Journal, Franchise Update, The Journal of International Franchising & Distribution Law, Venture Japan, Corporate Legal Times, Franchising World, The National Law Journal, Continental Franchise Review and the Commerce Clearing House Business Franchise Guide. Articles published have dealt with the US Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, European Union competition law, structuring international franchises, the applicability of US franchise laws to international transactions, the resolution of international franchise disputes, regulatory and tax aspects of international franchising and licensing, and franchising in various countries.

The respected English publisher Chambers and Partners names Mr. Brennan in both Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business and in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. In Chambers Global, the publisher notes that Mr. Brennan "stands out for the global nature of his practice and regularly represents big-name clients in international franchisings." Chambers USA has noted that he "has a vast wealth of experience in domestic and international franchising arrangements," "is especially renowned for his work in international franchising" and is "universally regarded as one of the top international transaction lawyers." Chambers also quotes clients who commented, "He is an excellent player in this area" and "He is well respected, and deservedly so. He has always been thoughtful and careful, and even across the table he is a treat to work with." Mr. Brennan is also named in Chambers Global, which says he "is recognized for his fantastic work on international franchising matters."

Mr. Brennan is listed as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois by the Leading Lawyers Network and is cited in The Best Lawyers in America. He has been designated an Illinois Super Lawyer. He has been listed in Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers and named among Franchise Times' "Legal Eagles," the top franchise lawyers in the US and Canada.

Representative matters in which Mr. Brennan has been involved include:

• Franchise counsel to major retail chains with respect to launch and operation of sophisticated multinational franchise programs.
• Franchise and business counsel to numerous US-based franchisors in the restaurant, retail and business services sectors.
• Franchise and business counsel to foreign companies launching franchising and distribution networks in the United States.
• Representing US-based businesses in connection with their acquisition of franchise rights for North America.
• International franchise counsel to a Fortune 500 company in the transportation sector.
• Representation of a European public company concerning a $100 million acquisition in the US and in the structuring of its distribution network in the United States.
• Advising a major food company in connection with its $50 million acquisition of a specialty food manufacturer.
• Representation of a major European manufacturing and services group concerning its US market entry strategy.
• International licensing and joint ventures for a major American foodservice company.
• Representing a US database licensor in a $5 million purchase in a private placement of shares in a European Internet services provider.
• Joint ventures to develop and operate themed restaurants in East Asia.
• International brand licensing counsel to a major American company in the insurance sector.
• Obtaining a competition law exemption from the Commission of the European Union for an agreement between two public companies, one English and the other American, to build and operate entertainment centers in the United Kingdom.
• Advising representatives of the government of Malaysia on proposed legislation regulating franchising.
• Representation of an American manufacturing company concerning acquisitions in Malaysia and Ireland.
• Advising an American car rental company concerning the revision of its arrangements with its foreign licensees.