Gordon Drakes

My practice centres on helping businesses to protect their IP and grow their presence in domestic and international markets. I specialise in third-party relationship models such as agency, distribution, selective distribution, franchising, manufacturing and licensing, commercial joint ventures and strategic alliances.

I have advised on high-profile and innovative deals in the retail, food & beverage, leisure and entertainment, services, healthcare and education sectors. With over 15 years of experience, I can help clients with their strategic planning and ensure that they avoid common pitfalls, including 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 and the Legal500.

What others say…

A rising star in the franchising world

Chambers and Partners UK 2019

[Gordon] is thorough in explaining how everything works in language which is easy to understand

Chambers and Partners UK 2019

Articles Written

Associations and Accreditations

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Lawyers I've worked with

Partner, IP and Technology, Protection and Enforcement
Harriet Seymour

London, England

+44 (0)20 7861 4899

Email Harriet
Partner, IP and Technology, Protection and Enforcement
Andrew Dodd

London, England

+44 (0)20 7861 4225

Email Andrew

Digital Media Franchising Intellectual Property
Partner, Intellectual Property
Ady Nieuwenhuizen

Amsterdam, Netherlands

+31202252220

Email Ady

Anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy services Copyright and Database Rights Data Privacy
Partner - Legal - Head of Governance, Legal, Risk and Compliance
Fabio Ambrosiani

Milan, Italy

+39 02 806731

Email Fabio
Partner, Co-head of Franchising and Commercial and Head of Advertising
David Bond

London, England

+44 (0)20 7861 4079

Email David

Advertising and Consumer Protection Commercial Franchising
Partner - Legal - Intellectual Property
Marco Durante

Turin, Italy

+39 011 417241

Email Marco
Partner, Commercial IP
Franck Veisse

Paris, France

+33 (0)17037 8124

Email Franck

Commercial Commercial and Distribution Competition
Partner, Brand Development – Franchising, Advertising and Commercial
James Corlett

Manchester, England

+44 (0)161 835 8028

Email James
Managing Partner - Brussels, Litigation
Jean-François Germain

Brussels, Belgium

+32 2 2742 70 30

Email Jean-François

Arbitration Banking Litigation Dispute Resolution
Partner, Competition, Anti-trust and Regulatory
Manish Bahl

Amsterdam, Netherlands

+31202252219

Email Manish

Antitrust Commercial Competition
Senior Associate, Franchising
Miguel Mejías González

Barcelona, Spain

+34 934 150 088

Email Miguel

Commercial Franchising
Senior Associate, Franchising and Bank Litigation
Cristina Ruiz de Alda

Barcelona, Spain

+34 93 415 00 88

Email Cristina

Banking and Finance Banking Litigation Franchising
Partner, LL.M. (San Francisco), Corporate, Commercial and Distribution
Sara Bandehzadeh

Hamburg, Germany

+49 (0)40 87 88 69 8 118

Email Sara

Corporate and Commercial Distribution and Franchise Fashion and Beauty
Director, Brand Development
Sonal Patel Oliva

London, England

+44 207 861 4535

Email Sonal
Partner, Commercial IP
Dr. Stefanie Greifeneder

Munich , Germany

+49 89 62030 6221

Email Dr. Stefanie

Corporate Intellectual Property Life Sciences & Healthcare
Associate, Franchising
Tim Rickard

London, England

+44 (0)20 7861 6764

Email Tim

Advertising and Consumer Protection Distribution and Agency Distribution and Franchise
Senior Associate, Commercial IP
Vicky Reinhardt

London, England

+44 (0)20 7861 4931

Email Vicky

Food and Beverage Food and Beverage Franchising

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Gordon Drakes

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What others say…

Articles Written

A game of three-dimensional chess – data protection after Brexit

Another great year for the Franchise, Advertising and Commercial team in the legal rankings

New Franchise Law in Saudi Arabia

Good Faith and "Relational Contracts"

It's a wrap – what lessons can franchisors learn from the demise of Wrapchic?

Indonesia: key changes to franchising law as Minister of Trade issues new regulation

Getting the house in order - preparing for a franchise business sale

Legalities of Franchising in the UK

Selective Distribution and Online Selling in Europe - Commission imposes heavy fine on Guess

Diamonds are forever – Court of Appeal rules in favour of diamond broker

Terminating the right to terminate – UK Government announces measures to protect distressed businesses

Retention of title and insolvency – best practice tips on how to protect your position

Brand Development Team news – new offices in Spain and latest law firm rankings

US Supreme Court alters tax landscape for foreign retailers doing business in the USA

Should've gone to Specsavers? – franchisees claim fraudulent misrepresentation against their franchisor

Online pricing algorithms - a new front in the battle against resale price maintenance

Ping – CAT takes a swing at ban on online sales of golf clubs

Malaysia's Bubble Tea War

Joint ventures and implied duties of good faith

Don't forget to renew those vows

Clucking Mad – what can franchise businesses learn from KFC's supply chain issues?

Lessons learnt – a review of 5 English law cases from 2017 and what franchise and distribution businesses can learn from them

Doing Business in the UAE - new VAT rules for 2018 and their impact on franchising

Doing business in the UAE - changes to restrictions on foreign ownership

The clock is ticking. Top 10 checklist to get your Franchise Business GDPR-ready

Top 10 legal pitfalls in franchising (and how to avoid them)

Autumn Budget 2017 – what does it mean for franchising?

Harmonising offline and online consumer rights in Europe

Fieldfisher remains top ranked for franchising, commercial contracts and brand management - with thanks to our clients and friends

Online selling restrictions - don't get caught in the cross hairs

European Parliament Resolution on franchising in the retail sector

Update from Australia - new bill to increase workplace liability for franchisors

A New Code of Ethics for Franchising in Britain – but how much is new?

Court of Appeal confirms more relaxed approach to exclusion clauses in commercial contracts

We're watching you! CMA reminds suppliers and resellers of the consequences of restricting online resale prices

New Payment Practices Regulations – so what does this mean for franchising in the UK?

Commission opens formal investigations into licensing and distribution practices

Joint Employer Contagion Crosses Continents - New franchise bill in Australia seeks to establish principle of joint employer liability

McDonald's in hot water in the EU over alleged price fixing

Gordon Drakes recognised in Global Franchise's list of "20 of the keenest legal minds in global franchising".

Preparing to Go Global

The new e-Privacy Regulation - What franchisors need to know

Franchising in the Middle East: VAT set to be rolled out across the Gulf States

BREXIT: What are the five key issues for franchisors to consider?

Preparing for Brexit: Top 5 considerations for franchisors in 2017

Franchising in Iran: Update on Trump, the Iran Nuclear Deal and recent sanctions guidance

Fieldfisher's franchising team top ranked in Chambers & Partners and Who's Who 2016

Preparing to Go Global

Franchising in Europe - wind of change or road to nowhere

Bad Hair Day - English High Court enforces restrictive covenants against former franchisee of hair salon franchise

Franchising in Europe – wind of change, or a road to nowhere?

Fieldfisher top ranked again for franchising and commercial contracts - with thanks to our clients and friends

My word is my bond – franchise agreements can be made and varied orally and by conduct

My word is my bond –franchise agreements can be made and varied orally and by conduct

Franchising in Argentina – a look at the new franchise law

Franchising in South Korea - important updates to disclosure rules

Consumer Credit and Franchising – are your franchise agreements compliant?

Franchising in Australia: 7-Eleven off the hook for franchisee wage violations....for now

Online traders must comply with new EU online dispute resolution requirements

New IP regulation gives foreign brands greater protection in Indonesia

Managing your franchise data – are you ready for the biggest shake-up in the past 20 years?

Important Changes to the English law rule on penalty clauses - what does it mean for franchising?

Franchising in Iran - a land of opportunity?

Indonesian Supreme Court rules that commercial agreements which are not in the Indonesian language are void

Supreme Court clarifies the law on implied terms in commercial contracts

Real deal? EU antitrust complaint against McDonald's

Good news for UK franchisors - Government proposes to reform complex energy tax and reporting schemes

Fieldfisher franchise lawyers confirmed by peers as world leading practitioners

Franchising and E-Commerce – the e-lephant in the room (1)

How to approach franchising with confidence - Q&A

Consumer Rights Act 2015 - is your franchise business ready?

Abuse of tipping in the restaurant sector - government launches an investigation.

To what extent are franchisors obliged to protect and enhance their brand in the face of competition?

Franchisors beware - High Court finds standard terms' limitations of liability unreasonable under UCTA

Franchising in Kazakhstan - a progressive change to the registration process

Being Part of the Crowd: Mini-bonds, crowdfunding and alternative financing for franchise growth