Thomas M. Pitegoff
Top rated Franchise & Dealership attorney in New York, New York
Offit Kurman, P.A.
Practice Areas: Franchise & Dealership, Business & Corporate, Intellectual Property view more
Licensed in New York since: 1977
Education: Syracuse University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2023 Details
A principal attorney in the New York City office of Offit Kurman, Attorneys At Law, Thomas M. Pitegoff focuses his practice primarily on franchise law. He represents company and individual clients throughout the metropolitan area and across the country. Mr. Pitegoff has a deserved reputation as one of the leading practitioners in his field, and his honors have included an AV Preeminent* peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell and a “Superb” peer review rating through Avvo. In addition, he has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America every year since 2013.
Mr. Pitegoff’s client base is largely made up of prospective franchisors that are looking to establish their businesses as well as established ones that are seeking to expand their operations. His experience has encompassed the preparation and review of agreements as well as the structuring of his clients’ operations so that they are in compliance with state and federal regulations and laws. Mr. Pitegoff has additionally provided advice and counsel to foreign franchise companies that want to establish a presence in the United States as well as to domestic franchisors who are interested in international expansion.
Mr. Pitegoff has handled mergers and acquisitions of franchisors, and he helps his clients comply with applicable state and federal regulations. For those of his clients who are not interested in the franchise process, he has assisted them in growing their businesses through drafting and review of a wide range of contracts, and he has helped many of his clients preserve and protect their trademarks and other intellectual property rights. Mr. Pitegoff has had several articles published in industry and professional journals on topics related to his practice areas.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Franchise/Dealership, Business/Corporate, Intellectual Property, International, Technology TransactionsFirst Admitted: 1977, New York
Professional Webpage: https://www.offitkurman.com/attorney/thomas-pitegoff/
- New York City Bar Association, Member
- Forum on Franchising, American Bar Association, Member
- Business Law Section, New York State Bar Association, Chair (starting 6/1/2022)
- Legal and Legislative Committee, International Franchise Association, Member
- Legal Eagle, Franchise Times Magazine
- Listed among The Best Lawyers in America® for Franchise Law, 2013 – 2021
- Named among the best franchise lawyers in the U.S. each year since 1999., Who's Who Legal - Franchise Law, Who's Who Legal (London), 2022
- AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, 2020
- Listed each year from 2008 through 2022, Metro New York Super Lawyer - Franchise/Dealership, Law & Politics magazine, 2022
- Listed among The Best Lawyers in America for franchise law each year from 2013 through 2021, The Best Lawyers in America, 2022
- "Choice of Law in Franchise Relationships: Staying Within Bounds," Vol. 15, Issue 4 of the Franchise Law Journal, Spring 1995 (Author)
- The definition of a "franchise" under New York law is exceedingly broad. What this means for businesses in New York and why the law should be changed., Author, The Terrifying New York Definition of a Franchise, NYSBA NY Business Law Journal, Business Lawyers, 2021
- "Ways to Avoid Being a Franchise," Vol. 12 Issue 2 of the Franchise Law Journal, Fall 1992 (Author)
- "Drafting Effective Franchise Agreements," Essentials of Franchising, July 2000 (Co-Author)
- “Will Recent Changes in California’s Franchise Law Blaze a Path for Other States?” Modern Restaurant Management, February 2016 (Author)
- "International Franchising," Franchise, Distribution and Licensing Law Presentation for New York State Bar Association, June 2002 (Author)
- "Fashion Law: A Guide for Designers, Fashion Executives and Attorneys," Chapter: Starting the Business and Launching the Line, Fairchild Books, 2010 (Author)
- “Expanding Smart: Is Franchising Right for Your Restaurant Concept?” Food & Drink Magazine, Spring 2014 (Author)
- “To Franchise or Not to Franchise," The Franchise Handbook, Summer 2014 (Author)
- “Momentum Builds for New York to Revamp Its Franchise Law," Vol. 17 Issue 1 of The Franchise Lawyer American Bar Association, 2014 (Author)
- “An Undesirable Consequence," QSR, November 2014 (Author)
- “Albany Bill Would Scare Off New Biz," Crain’s New York Business, May 2015 (Author)
- “Is Qualification Necessary to Franchise Across State Lines?" Vol. 18 Issue 2 of The Franchise Lawyer, American Bar Association, 2015 (Co-Author)
- “State Regulation of Business Opportunities," Core Compass, January 2016 (Author)
- “California Toughens Its Franchise Relationship Law," The Licensing Journal - Wolters Kluwer, February 2016 and Core Compass, November 2015 (Author)
- “When Are Parent Company Financial Disclosures Required?" Modern Restaurant Management, June 2017 (Author)
- “Ins and Outs of Suspending Franchise Sales," Modern Restaurant Management, September 2016 (Author)
- "Testing a New Franchise Concept," Vol. 37, Issue 4 of The Licensing Journal - Wolters Kluwer and Modern Restaurant Management, April 2017 (Author)
- Suggests changes in the New York Franchise Act., Franchising in New York After the Revised FTC Rule, New York Business Law Journal, New York State Bar Association, Franchising, 2007
- “Structuring a Multi-Unit Franchise," Modern Restaurant Management, July 2017 (Author)
- Explains the scope and effect of the various state franchise laws relating to termination, nonrenewal and related topics. Based on the article by Thomas Pitegoff entitled “Franchise Relationship Laws: A Minefield for Franchisors," Vol. 45 Issue 289 Business Law, 1989, Co-author of the chapter on Franchise Relationship Laws, Fundamentals of Franchising, 3rd Edition, American Bar Association's Forum on Franchising, Franchising, 2008
- Explains the scope of the New York Franchise Sales Act, Co-author of the New York law chapter, Exemptions and Exclusions under Federal and State Franchise Registration and Disclosure Laws, American Bar Association's Forum on Franchising, Franchising, 2017
- The NY Franchise Sales Act is an impediment to both inbound and outbound international franchising. This article suggests improvements to the law., Author, How New York Can Be a Center for International Franchising, New York Business Law Journal, New York State Bar Association, Franchising, 2020
- Sarah Lawrence College, B.A., Bachelor of Arts, 1971
- American Bar Association's Forum on Franchising - Former member of the Governing Committee and former editor of the Franchise Law Journal
- Various
Office location for Thomas M. Pitegoff
590 Madison Ave
6th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 929-476-0026
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2023
