Franchise Specialists

Award winning franchise lawyers, Franchising is what we do

Yes, we're lawyers, but we're also franchise specialists. We've been working with the franchise industry for 40 years, and franchising is "What We Do".

You can buy templates on-line, have a non-specialist lawyer draft your documents, use a consultant, or enter into a franchise agreement without getting advice from a specialist, and things might be fine.

But we see too many people when things aren't fine. When the "template franchise agreement" doesn't cover what it needs to, or the lawyer who drafts your documents doesn't really understand franchising, or the "franchise consultant" outsources most of the work to people you never meet, or the guarantee that the franchisor gave you wasn't a guarantee at all, or the financials you were given turned out to be bogus, or you've agreed to things you didn't know you'd agreed to ...

What we hear the most then is,  "if only we'd  seen you before".

Sometimes you just need a specialist on your team to provide support, or share experience, so that you can make long term decisions that are really the best for you and your business.  

Directors

Articles by Stephen

Stephen Haarsma
Director and Founder

Stephen is not only one of Australia’s leading franchise lawyers, having acted for clients in the franchise industry for over 40 years, but has extensive commercial experience in franchising.

He was on the board of directors of one of Australia’s largest franchise companies for over 10 years. Stephen played an integral role in developing the business from just a few franchisees to over 1,000 franchisees in Australia and New Zealand.

As a result, Stephen is in the unique position of providing advice and assistance using both his extensive business experience and his considerable experience as a franchise lawyer over the last 40 years.

Stephen has assisted many well known Australian brands to franchise their businesses, providing not only legal but relevant and experiential commercial advice.

In addition to his commercial expertise, Stephen is an accredited mediator and a highly experienced litigator.  Stephen appeared before the High Court of Australia in the leading misleading and deceptive conduct case of Yorke v Lucas [1985] HCA 65 and has acted in a number of other significant High Court cases.

Stephen is a member of the Law Society of South Australia. He has lectured in franchise law and has presented papers in contract law. Stephen was awarded Australian Franchise Lawyer of the Year in 2016 by Lawyer Monthly.

Articles by Ana

Ana Haarsma
Director

Ana has been working for clients in the franchise industry for almost 30 years.

Ana works closely with her clients to understand their businesses. This combined with her depth of knowledge and experience in franchise disputes enables Ana to tailor her advice and her approach to meet her client’s differing needs, which range from the protection of large franchise systems to the protection small franchise business units.

Ana has been involved in litigation at all levels of the Australian judicial system, including the High Court of Australia.

Ana was awarded the Most Influential Woman in Franchise Dispute Resolution – Australia in the  APAC Businesswoman Awards 2017.

Ana has presented papers in franchise law, particularly in dispute resolution and insolvency. Her submission to the 2018 inquiry into the operation and effectiveness of the Franchising Code of Conduct, resulted in changes to the Franchising Code. 

Ana has a commitment and passion for the business environment in which she works. She studied a Masters in Business Administration through the University of New South Wales and was a board member of the South Australian chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organisation and a Regional Director of the Entrepreneurs Organisation. Ana also holds a bachelors degree in economics.

Lawyers

Articles by Joe

Joseph Haarsma

Lawyer

Joseph provides assistance with commercial and ongoing franchise work. He has considerable experience in franchise business sales, franchise grants and employment issues. 

Joseph has also assisted in ACCC investigations and the litigation of franchise disputes at the District and Supreme Court level.

Joseph was admitted to practice in 2021, but has been part of the team (initially as a clerk) since 2016.

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