Caroline Bundy Fichter is a franchisee attorney based in Seattle, Washington, who works with franchisees in Washington, Oregon, and around the country. She limits her practice to franchise law.
As a second-generation franchise attorney, Caroline understands the unique needs of her franchise clients, whether her client is a prospective franchisee looking to open their own business, a multi-unit franchisee operator seeking guidance in a dispute with their franchisor, or a franchisee looking to exit the system, Caroline brings the same pragmatic, results-oriented approach to each case. Caroline helps clients evaluate the franchise agreement by reviewing the FDD and franchise agreement and negotiating revisions that set her clients up for success.
As a litigator, Caroline has represented franchisees in mediation, arbitrations, state and federal court and in the Washington State Court of Appeals. In her career, she has helped franchisees recover more than $10 million dollars from franchisors. She has helped franchisees defeat restraining orders, injunction and trade secret claims that would have put them out of business and forced them into bankruptcy.
Caroline frequently writes and speaks on franchise-related topics. She is a member of the governing committee for the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising and a former director of its litigation and alternative dispute resolution section. Her papers have been published in the American Bar Association Franchise Law Journal, the Franchise Lawyer, and the Washington State Bar Association Bar Journal. As franchise expert, she has been quoted in the Franchise Times, the Seattle Times, and Restaurant Business News.
Caroline has been recognized by Best Lawyers of America and Super Lawyers in the area of franchise law and is five-time Franchise Times Legal Eagle.