Gordon Drakes | Fieldfisher
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Professional background

Professional background

I have advised on high-profile and innovative deals in the retail, food & beverage, leisure and entertainment, services, healthcare and education sectors. With over 18 years of experience, I can help clients with their strategic planning and ensure that they avoid common pitfalls and maximise the commercial opportunity, part of which involves navigating them through complex international regulatory and local law issues.

I am very proud that our team is ranked consistently in the top-tier for commercial contracts, franchising and licensing by Chambers & Partners, the Legal500 and Who's Who Legal.

  • Who's Who Franchising 2024 ranks me as a "Global Elite Thought Leader"
  • Legal 500 2024 ranks me as a Leading Individual for Franchising (the Fieldfisher franchise team is Tier 1)
  • Chambers & Partners UK ranks Fieldfisher in Tier 1 for franchising, and has done for the last 17 consecutive years.
  • Gordon is a member of the British Franchise Association's Legal Committee, and Fieldfisher has been a BFA accredited law firm since 1997.
Awards & recognition

Awards & recognition

Legal 500
Fieldfisher had created our entire franchise agreement and all the related documents such as the adoption agreement, nondisclosure, etc. Gordon and his team are very professional and supportive, as we are new in the field and have little experience in legal procedure and contracts, they answered our questions in-depth patiently. It is something certainly very appreciated. The team is also very responsive and organized. You can always find the key person for your questions.
Legal 500
Gordon Drakes has not only a profound knowledge of franchise law, but he is also willing to share and teach our team. It’s not easy to work with someone who has no legal background like me. Gordon supported us through the whole contract negotiation process and provided to-the-point answers, arguments, and negotiations to the counterpart. He never hesitates to support us and give us quick feedback and suggestion.
Legal 500
Highly recommended for his incredibly specialised repertoire in franchising law and is held in high esteem for his incisive handling of complex franchising and hospitality matters.
Chambers UK
Gordon is very good at franchising; he understands it inside-out.

Authored pieces

All Resources
A digital representation of a hand made of glowing blue pixels places a piece in a jigsaw puzzle. The background features digital data elements such as graphs and abstract world maps, suggesting a blend of technology and problem-solving themes.
Franchising & Licensing
Insight

Franchise case law update: why franchisor IP protection matters

14.01.2026
In Battlekart Europe SA v Chaos Karts 1 Ltd & Others ([2025] EWHC 1936 (IPEC)), the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (“IPEC”) considered a dispute between a European franchisor of an extended‑reality (“XR”) karting concept and a UK operator who, after engaging in early franchise discussions, went on to launch its own immersive karting experience.
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View of the Palace of Westminster, including Big Ben, from across the River Thames in London. The image shows a cloudy sky with sunlight breaking through, creating a dramatic atmosphere. The Westminster Bridge crosses the river in the foreground.
Franchising & Licensing
Insight

2025 in review: a turning point for franchising in the UK?

23.12.2025
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Two people are seated at a desk covered with paperwork. One person, partially visible and wearing a dark blazer, is holding a pen and pointing at a document. The other person's hands are visible, resting on the desk. The scene suggests a discussion or meeting.
Franchising & Licensing
Insight

Franchising regulation in the UK: What could 2026 bring?

22.12.2025
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Close-up of a person's hand with purple nail polish resting on the trackpad of an open laptop. The background is softly blurred with pink and blue tones. The person appears to be using the laptop, which is situated on a flat surface.
Franchising & Licensing
Insight

Website compliance in a franchise business: legal developments and practical insights

22.12.2025
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Franchising & Licensing
Insight

A spotlight on franchising in the UK — the recent UK Parliament debate on franchising regulation

05.09.2025
High profile franchising cases in recent years, such as Vodafone, Bodyshop, Dwyer Group, and most recently JBL, along with the issues faced by McDonalds in respect of sexual harassment in the workplace, have led the UK Government to consider whether the UK franchising sector is in need of regulation.
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Lawyers I've worked with
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What others say…

Legal 500
Gordon Drakes has not only a profound knowledge of franchise law, but he is also willing to share and teach our team. It’s not easy to work with someone who has no legal background like me. Gordon supported us through the whole contract negotiation process and provided to-the-point answers, arguments, and negotiations to the counterpart. He never hesitates to support us and give us quick feedback and suggestion.
Legal 500
Highly recommended for his incredibly specialised repertoire in franchising law and is held in high esteem for his incisive handling of complex franchising and hospitality matters.
Chambers UK
Gordon is very good at franchising; he understands it inside-out.