Himanshu Patel

Himanshu Patel was born in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in December, 1994 with a B.A. in Economics, then earned his J.D. from the University of Louisville School of Law in May, 1998.

During law school, Himanshu clerked for various law firms in Louisville, Kentucky and gained valuable experience in all aspects of corporate, tax and probate law. He was a member of the Securities Law Moot Court Team and represented his school in a national competition. He was also the Membership Director of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, Managing Editor of the Brandeis Brief and a member of the International Law Society.

Himanshu is fluent in Gujarati and is a member of the American, Florida and Dade County Bar Associations, along with the American Bar Association's Forum on Franchising. In addition, he is a member of the Business, Litigation, Tax and Real Property Sections of the American Bar Association. Himanshu is also a member of the Asian American Hotel Owner's Association ("AAHOA").

Himanshu is licensed to practice law before all state courts in Florida, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

• Partner

• Complex Commercial Litigation
• Franchise Arbitration
• Litigation and Mediation
• General Business
• Corporate Law
• Appellate Practice

• Chambers USA National Ranking in Franchising (mainly Franchisee)
• ‘Best Lawyers’ Commercial Litigation and Franchise Law – Best Lawyers in America, since 2022
• “AV Pre-eminent” Peer Rating, Martindale-Hubbell/LexisNexis, Highest peer review rating for professional legal ability and ethical standards, 2011- Current
• ‘Super Lawyers’, Franchise & Dealership, Business Litigation - Florida Super Lawyers – since 2021
• Top 10 Influential Franchisee Lawyers in the USA, Business Today, 2023
• “Top Young Attorneys in Florida” - The Wall Street Journal & Miami Magazine, 2012-2013
• ‘Legal Elite’ - Florida Trend Magazine
• “Florida Rising Star” – Super Lawyers, 2010, 2012, 2013
• “Cambridge Who’s Who Registry Among Executives and Professionals” representative for Miami, Florida, 2010-2012
• Who's Who Legal (WWL) Global Leaders in Franchise Law

• Delta Theta Phi

• Brandeis Brief, Managing Editor
• International Law Society, Member
• American Bar Association, Member
• Florida Bar Association, Member
• Miami-Dade County Bar Association, Member
• Forum on Franchising, Member
• American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Member
• American Bar Association, Tax Section, Member
• American Bar Association, Real Property Section, Member
• Asian American Hotel Owner's Association (AAHOA)
• AAHOA Industry Relations Committee
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• International Franchise Association (IFA)
• American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD)
• Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA)

• English
• Gujarati

• University of Louisville School of Law, Louisville, Kentucky
  • J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence - 1998
  • Honors: Securities Law Moot Court Team
• Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1994
  • Major: Economics

• Florida, 1999
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court District of Arizona
• U.S. District Court District of Colorado
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit

Classes & Seminars

• 2018, “From Franchise Disclosure Agreements to Chapter 11 Disclosure Statements: A Deep Dive into Thorny Franchise Insolvency Issues” Business Law Section Spring Meeting
• 2009, October, “Common Discovery Issues in Franchising” 32nd Annual ABA Forum on Franchising, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 2006, “Common Issues in Hospitality Franchising” AAHOA Lodging Business
• 2005, February, “The Franchisor/Franchisee Relationship” 3rd Annual Hospitality Law Conference, Houston, TX
• 2003, April, “How to Successfully Negotiate a Franchise Agreement” Asian American Hotel Owners’ Association Annual Convention & Trade Show, Long Beach, CA
• 2002, March, “All in the Family” AAHOA Lodging Business

• 2023, “W-5” Recovery of Attorneys’ Fees in Franchise Litigation: Success Is No Accident!” 46th Annual ABA Forum on Franchising, Dallas, TX
• 2021, October, “The Absentee Franchisor: When Franchisors Don’t Live Up to their Obligations” 44th Annual ABA Forum on Franchising, Washington, DC
• 2012 – 2014, ‘The Franchise Lawyer,’ Associate Editor
• 2012, October, “Changes in System Standards – What is the Extend of the Franchisor’s Latitude?” 35th Annual ABA Forum on Franchising, Los Angeles, CA
• 2009, October, “Common Discovery Issues in Franchising” 32nd Annual ABA Forum on Franchising, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 2006, “Does Your Franchise Agreement Allow an Opportunity to Cure?” HL Comment
• 2004, “Is the Franchisee Responsible When the Guest is Injured on Hotel Property?” HL Comment