Education
Juris Doctor- University of Virginia School of Law, 1978
B.S.- Public Accounting, Magna Cum Laude, State University of New York at Albany, 1975
Educational Positions
Tenured Professor of Law- Pace University (27 years)
Lecturer- Franchise Law- Pace University
Lecturer- Franchise Law- Oral Roberts University
Lecturer- Franchise Law- Berkeley College
Lecturer- Franchise Law- University of Virginia School of Law (invited to teach a class on Franchise Law)
Lecturer- Franchise Law- University of Hawaii (invited to make a presentation)
Lecturer- Franchise Law- Rutgers University (invited to make a presentation)
Lecturer- Franchise Law- Romanian Franchise Association (Bucharest, Romania- invited to make a presentation)
Moderator- Franchise Law- New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Lecturer- Franchise Law- Northeast Academy of Legal Studies in Business
Lecturer- Franchise Law- The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Lecturer- Franchise Law- New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Lecturer- Franchise Law- National Academy of Continuing Legal Education
Lecturer- Franchise Law- Strafford Continuing Legal Education
Lecturer- Franchise Law- Stand With Us
Published Articles
Resolving Venue and Jurisdictional Conflicts in Franchise Matters- New Jersey Law Journal
The Legal and Business Aspects of Franchising- Westchester County Business Journal
Business Week (Mr. Kassoff is the attorney for the subject of the article)
Sacramento Business Journal (Mr. Kassoff was interviewed for this article)
Next Step Magazine (Feature Article about Mr. Kassoff)
Complex of Federal and State Laws Regulates Franchise Operations– The Edhec Journal of Law
And You Thought the Code Was Complex– Franchising (an Australian publication)
Admission of Computer Produced Evidence– American Bar Association
Professional Recognitions, Positions Held and Memberships
Eagle Scout- Boy Scouts of America
Commissioner- Boy Scouts of America
Avvo Legal Rating Rank is “Superb,” which is above Excellent and is the highest possible rating
Have successfully prosecuted cases for former United States Military Personnel
Expert Witness in Franchise Litigation, including a case involving McDonald’s Corporation
Expert Witness in a Franchise Legal Malpractice case
Arbitrator- American Arbitration Association (invited to apply)
Mediator- American Arbitration Association (invited to apply)
Named a “Legal Eagle” by Franchise Times
Reported in LJN’s (Law Journal Newsletters) Franchising Business & Law Alert
Nominated as the International Legal Professional of the Year (International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England)
President- North East Academy of Legal Studies in Business
Chairman- American Bar Association Committee on the Use of Computer Produced Data
Judge for Inter-University Moot Court Competition
Reported in Business Week
Listed in Who’s Who in the World
Listed in Global Who’s Who
Listed in International Who’s Who of Professionals
Listed in Who’s Who in America
Listed in Who’s Who in American Law
Listed in Who’s Who in Executives and Business
Listed in Who’s Who in Finance and Business
Listed in Who’s Who in the East
Listed in Biltmore’s Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals
Listed in Biltmore’s Honors Edition
Listed in Covington Who’s Who
Recognized as a “Top Lawyer in New Jersey”
American Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
Essex County Bar Association
Association of the Bar of the City of New York
New York County Bar Association
Queens County Bar Association
Qualifications accepted by MENSA (Top 2% Intelligence in the World)
Concentration of Law Practice
All areas of Franchise Law in all 50 states including litigation both for and against franchisors and franchisees, Expert Witness in Franchise Litigation, Franchise Disclosure Document preparation, state registration, corporate aspects, business aspects and the detailed analysis of a FDD of a franchisor for a person who is interested in purchasing a franchise.
Unlike other attorneys and law firms who engage in many areas of the law, Mr. Kassoff deals exclusively with Franchise Law. Which attorney or law firm would you want to represent you and your interests, an attorney or law firm that divides their interests and attention among many areas of the law or Mr. Kassoff who spends his entire time exclusively on Franchise Law?
Mr. Kassoff has been representing Franchisees, Franchisors and Franchisee Associations in all 50 states since 1979.
Mr. Kassoff is available to act as a Mediator or Arbitrator directly between a Franchisor and a Franchisee or through any organization (such as the American Arbitration Association) in all 50 states.
Client Base
Franchisees, Franchisors, startup companies, multi-state franchise systems, international franchise systems, closely held companies and publicly traded companies.
Has Successfully Taken Action Against
- Starbucks Coffee Company
- Dunkin’ Donuts Inc.
- Domino’s Pizza LLC
- 7-Eleven Inc.
- The Southland Corporation
- Curves International, Inc.
- United Parcel Service, Inc.
- Mail Boxes Etc., Inc.
- Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc.
- Menchie’s Group, Inc.
- Amazing Lash Studio Franchise, LLC
- Big Boy Franchise Management LLC
- Rita’s Water Ice Franchise Company, LLC
- Jimmy John’s Franchise, LLC
- Jimmy John’s Enterprises, LLC
- U-Swirl International, Inc.
- Anytime Fitness, LLC
- Red Mango FC, LLC
- Panchero’s Franchise Corporation
- Great Wraps, Inc.
- Wings To Go, Inc.
- MaggieMoo’s International, LLC
- Tutor Doctor Systems Inc.
- I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt Ltd.
- Candy Express Franchising Inc.
- Villa Pizza, LLC
- Camille’s Franchise System, Inc. (a subsidiary of Beautiful Brands International, L.L.C.)
- Muscle Maker Franchising, LLC (Muscle Maker Grill)
- Mr. Electric Corp.
- Wishwell International, Inc.
- Best Western International Inc.
- Days Inns Worldwide, Inc. (formerly known as Days Inns of America, Inc.)
- Firehouse Restaurant Group, Inc. (Firehouse Subs)
- The Basement Store Franchise Corp.
- Kahala Franchise Corp.
- HealthSource Chiropractic, Inc.
- Honig’s Whistle Stop, Inc.
- GoliathTech Inc. (Canada)
- Keng Group LLC d/b/a Tasty Image The World of Your Chocolate!
- CALLRN Franchise LLC (Assisted Living Locators franchise)
- FirstLight HomeCare Franchising, LLC
- Aaron Rents LLC (Aaron’s Lease to Own)
- Byrider Franchising LLC
- J.D. Byrider Systems, LLC
- Byrider Holding Corp.
- OTA Franchise Corporation
- Nissan North America, Inc.
- Shell Oil Company
- Black Entertainment Television Inc.
- United Airlines Inc.
- The Hertz Corporation
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
- LaSalle National Bank
- Amerigroup New Jersey, Inc.
- Amerigroup Corporation
- United States Internal Revenue Service
- Attorney General of the State of New York
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
- Woolworth Corporation
- Motiva Enterprises L.L.C.
- Allegiance Telecom Company Worldwide
- Allegiance Telecom of New York Inc.
- Equilon Enterprises L.L.C.
- Equiva Trading Company
- Venator Group Inc.
- Brice Foods Inc.
- Bajio, LLC
- Bajio National, LLC
- Bajio Franchising, LLC
- Obregon, LLC
- Abundant Brands, LLC
- Open Road of Morris County LLC
- Fremont Financial Corporation
- Alliance to Save Energy
- Public Service Electric & Gas
- And numerous other companies which are not nationally known
Courts Admitted to Practice
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Customs Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
United States Court of Claims
United States Tax Court
United States Customs Court
United States Court of International Trade
United States District Court for the District of Arizona (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the Northern District of California (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the Southern District of California (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (pro hac vice)
Florida (State) Circuit Court (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (pro hac vice)
Georgia State Court (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the District of Maryland (pro hac vice)
Nebraska (State) District Court (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
New Jersey- All Courts
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Western District of New York
New York- All Courts
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Texas (State) District Court (pro hac vice)
Cases are accepted for all 50 states