DLA Piper announced today that Wayne P. Bunch, Jr. has joined the firm's Franchise and Distribution practice as a partner in the Houston office. Bunch provides business and legal counsel to emerging and established franchisors, assisting them with programs and distribution networks on a local, regional and national level. He represents domestic and foreign franchisors and prospective franchisees in a wide variety of industries, including food and beverage, hospitality, real estate, tax services, consumer technology, medical equipment, education and automotive, among others.
"Wayne is among the most highly regarded franchise lawyers in Texas and has an impressive skillset in the rapidly growing field of domestic and international distribution, licensing and franchising law," said Dennis Wieczorek, chair of DLA Piper's Franchise and Distribution practice. "His experience working with start-up and middle market companies, as well as serving as an officer for a national franchise company, will deepen the capabilities of the firm’s preeminent franchise and distribution practice."
Bunch joins DLA Piper from Jackson Walker LLP. Earlier in his career, he served as general counsel, president and CEO for Crescent City Beignets Inc. In these roles, Bunch was responsible for establishing the legal and business infrastructures for the franchise’s national growth strategy, which included locations from Georgia to California. After negotiating the sale of Crescent City to its most successful franchisee, Bunch operated his own boutique law firm until he joined Jackson Walker.
"Wayne represents the latest addition to the firm’s growing presence in the Southwest, which has long been a center of franchising activity," said Ileana Blanco, managing partner of DLA Piper’s Houston office. "He will be a tremendous asset to our clients and we’re pleased to welcome a practitioner of his caliber to the firm."
Bunch earned a J.D. and B.S. from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, as well as a LL.M. from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law.
