About W. Michael Garner

W. Michael Garner has practiced franchise and distribution law for over thirty years and is regarded as one of the nation's premier trial lawyers and legal writers in the field. He believes in excellence, hard work and dedication. Included among Michael’s notable cases are the following:

• The successful jury trial of a test case on behalf of a dozen franchisees that led to a global settlement in their favor in excess of $230 million.
  
  
• The settlement of a case against a Fortune 500 Company in excess of $3 million.
  
  
• The successful trial on behalf of State Farm Agents against State Farm for breaches of their contracts.

Michael has also established many legal precedents expanding the rights of franchisees, including:

• The right of franchisees to sue franchisors under New York law even though their franchise agreements prohibited them from doing so. This case has been followed by courts around the country in enforcing franchisee rights.
  
  
• The right of franchisee associations to sue on behalf of their members.
  
  
• The right of franchisees to be protected against encroachment by their franchisors over the Internet.
  
  
• The right of franchisees to enforce their franchise agreement despite the franchisor’s efforts to change their rights in the operations manuals.

You can read about some of Michael’s cases in our Case Studies section. »

Author of Franchise and Distribution Law and Practice

Michael is the author of Franchise and Distribution Law and Practice, a three-volume legal treatise described by the American Bar Association's Business Lawyer as the work that "eclipses the literature previously available . . . in the realm of franchising."

He served as the editor-in-chief of the American Bar Association's Franchise Law Journal from 1988 to 1993, and authored the New York forms of jury instructions on franchise law. 

He is also editor of the Franchise Desk Book, a leading reference work for franchise lawyers published by the ABA. His articles for franchisees have appeared in Entrepreneur and Franchise UPDATE, and he has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Business Week. He served for six years on the Governing Committee of the ABA Forum on Franchising. Click here to see a comprehensive list of Michael’s publications. »

The Ultimate Legal Professional

Clients who have worked with Michael praise his “extreme commitment to achieving the best possible outcome, and unwavering belief in our position.” They have called him “the ultimate legal professional” who presents a “brilliant case.” Chambers USA said he is a "litigator of significant prowess," who is "great on his feet." One client summed it up this way: “You are one awesome lawyer.” 

As a recognized authority on franchise law, Michael has testified before Congressional and state legislative committees in support of franchisee rights. He has been a featured speaker before the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers, International Franchise Association, the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, the Practicing Law Institute, the National Franchise Law Institute and various other bar and franchise industry associations. His writings have been cited by several courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Awards and Honors

Michael is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, was named an "Attorney of the Year" by Minnesota Lawyer, and has consistently been named one of Minnesota's "Super Lawyers" by Minnesota Law & Politics. He has won the Chairman’s Award of the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers. 

He holds an A.B. from Columbia University and is a 1975 graduate of New York University School of Law. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota with his wife, Christine and dog, Sera.  In his spare time he travels to places like Laos, Vietnam, Slovenia and France. He also writes literary fiction; a number of his stories have been published in university journals. He is a member of St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in St. Paul.