Eleanor Vaida Gerhards
Eleanor works with startup and established franchise clients in structuring franchise programs, drafting franchise documents and counseling clients on regulatory compliance matters. She also handles matters related to master franchising, multi-unit licensing and area-development business arrangements. Eleanor also represents franchisors and franchisees in connection with the acquisitions and sales of franchise businesses.
A partner in the firm’s Corporate Department and Co-Chair of the Franchising & Distribution Practice Group, Eleanor represents regional, national and international clients in a broad range of matters with an emphasis on:
- Franchising, licensing and distribution
- Corporate insurance and regulatory
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Venture capital and angel financing
- Securities and private placements
Eleanor is a Certified Franchise Executive – a designation received from the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives, an academic branch of the International Franchise Association’s Educational Foundation.
Eleanor also works with entrepreneurs and startup companies as well as established and emerging growth companies in the particular requirements, challenges and opportunities of their businesses. She has experience drafting operating and shareholders’ agreements, non-competition agreements, private offering documents, supply and vendor agreements, commercial agreements and asset and stock purchase agreements.
As a member of the firm’s Privacy & Data Security Practice Group, Eleanor regularly assists businesses in navigating cyber insurance coverage and data security matters. Insurance industry clients, including agencies, captive insurance companies and underwriters, rely on Eleanor’s counsel in insurance coverage, regulatory and compliance matters.
Leadership
Eleanor serves as Chair of the IFA Philadelphia Women’s Franchise Network and is a member of the IFA Legal Symposium Task Force and the ABA Forum on Franchising Women’s Caucus. She is a former member of the ABA Forum on Franchising Program Committee. Eleanor frequently writes and speaks on legal issues in the franchise industry and has presented at ABA Forum on Franchising Annual Meetings and the IFA Legal Symposium.
Eleanor authored a chapter in the ABA book Exemptions and Exclusions Under Federal and State Franchise Registration and Disclosure Laws, as well as a chapter in the ABA Franchise Deskbook Selected State Laws, Commentary and Annotations, Third Edition.
Her articles have been published in the ABA Forum’s Franchise Lawyer newsletter, the Franchise Law Journal, Law360 and Property Casualty 360.
Client Resources
Eleanor is among the contributors to the firm’s Franchise Law Update blog, which focuses on regulatory aspects of franchising as well as diverse topics such as business finance, employment, litigation and the protection of intellectual property including trademarks and copyrights.
Beyond Fox Rothschild
Eleanor is active in the Bucks County Bar Association and currently serves on its Budget Committee, Bylaws Committee and Technology Committee. She is a former Director of the Bucks County Bar Association and past Chair of its Young Lawyers Division.
Eleanor also donates her time in a wide range of pro bono matters. She represents local nonprofits in business and corporate matters, provides free basic estate planning documents to first responders – including police, firefighters and paramedics – in the Wills For Heroes program and successfully argued before the New Jersey State Parole Board for the release of an indigent client imprisoned for a parole violation.
Honors & Awards
- Named to the “Pennsylvania Lawyers on the Fast Track” list by The Legal Intelligencer (2018)*
- Named to the “Who’s Who Legal” list for Franchising by Who’s Who Legal (2018, 2019)*
- Selected to the “40 Under 40” list by the Philadelphia Business Journal (2018)*
- Selected to the “Super Lawyers – Rising Stars” list for Business/Corporate Law in Pennsylvania (2017)*
- Named to the “Legal Eagles” list by the Franchise Times (2016-2020)*