Attorney
Margaret is a member of Cairncross & Hempelmann’s Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions and Business Transactions team. Her business practice focuses on franchise system development, structuring and compliance, system management and corporate governance. With more than 30 years’ experience in franchise law, she skillfully and efficiently shepherds her clients through the regulatory process. Margaret provides proactive business advice to her clients, getting to know their businesses so that she can anticipate and mitigate any potential risks.
Representing privately and publicly held clients, Margaret provides counsel on stock and asset acquisitions and venture capital investments. She represents clients in a range of industries with a particular emphasis on emerging and entrepreneurial businesses. She is also an active advisor and assists in formation, compliance and governance to nonprofit boards in the Seattle community.
Introduction
Margaret is a member of Cairncross & Hempelmann’s Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions and Business Transactions team. Her business practice focuses on franchise system development, structuring and compliance, system management and corporate governance. With more than 30 years’ experience in franchise law, she skillfully and efficiently shepherds her clients through the regulatory process. Margaret provides proactive business advice to her clients, getting to know their businesses so that she can anticipate and mitigate any potential risks.
Representing privately and publicly held clients, Margaret provides counsel on stock and asset acquisitions and venture capital investments. She represents clients in a range of industries with a particular emphasis on emerging and entrepreneurial businesses. She is also an active advisor and assists in formation, compliance and governance to nonprofit boards in the Seattle community.
Experience & Results
- Ezell’s Famous Chicken – Drafted master license agreement for franchising entity; drafted contracts and compliance for franchisor
- Comfort Dental – Defended investigation and negotiated settlement. Negotiated ownership transition and handles continuing franchise compliance
- Sky High Sports – Implemented franchising operations, conducted continuing compliance and negotiated sale of developed system
- UBuiltIt – Hired to help with franchising compliance, assisted in sale of franchise to two successful, existing franchises within the system representing the seller, once sale closed was brought on by buyers for continuing operations
- City Sweats – Worked with startup franchise to develop a system to franchise including regulatory documents
- Urban Float – Drafted master license agreement for startup franchisor and handled continuing compliance
Education
- Bryn Mawr College (A.B., 1982)
- University of Chicago Law School (J.D., 1987)
Admissions
- Washington, 1988
Honors & Recognition
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in Corporate Law since 2020
- Top Lawyer – Business/Commercial Award Recipient, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent 5.0 out of 5
Professional & Community Involvement
- American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising
- Bryn Mawr College, Trustee, Past Major Gifts Committee member; Past Chair of Class Annual Fund
- ARCS Foundation (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists), Vice President and Director
- Washington Women’s Foundation, Founding Member
- Rainier Club, Past Trustee, Governance Committee Chair
- Lakeside School, Past Trustee, Past President of Parents’ Association, Past Chair of Major Gifts Committee; Past Chair of Major Annual Fundraising Event
- 2019 Plymouth Housing Award Honoree