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Leonard D. Vines

Of Counsel, Attorney at UB Greensfelder

Medium firm (21 to 100 attorneys)St. Louis, MO Website 314.516.2602 LinkedIn
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. LouisInternational Franchise Association (Legal Symposium Planning Committee, 2011-2012)American Bar Association Forum Committee on Franchising (Governing Committee, 2002-2005)University of Missouri School of Law, Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution (Certified Mediator)Law Journal Newsletter's "Franchising Business & Law Alert" (Editorial Board)former municipal judgemember in good standing of the mediation and arbitration panels of Forum

About

Leonard D. Vines, Of Counsel at UB Greensfelder, counsels companies and individuals through mergers and acquisitions of franchise businesses. He represents local, regional, and national franchisors, both new and established. He also represents distributors, franchisees, and franchisee associations. He designs franchise and distribution programs and other routes to market besides franchising. He guides franchise transfers and terminations. He helps lenders that finance a company buying another franchise business. He earned his J.D. from Washington University School of Law in 1972. Chambers USA has ranked him nationally in franchise law every year since 2010. He helps clients follow state and federal franchise rules. He handles real estate transactions for companies and individuals.

Who is a good fit for Leonard D. Vines

  • New and established franchisors selling a company or buying another franchise company.
  • Franchisees and franchisee associations completing a transfer of a franchised business.
  • Lenders financing a company's purchase of a franchise company.

Education and admissions

Education
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, B.S., 1969
  • Washington University School of Law, J.D., 1972
Bar admissions
Missouri

Recognition

  • Ranked nationally in Franchising by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2010-2026)
  • 1851 Franchise Top Franchise Lawyers You Should Know (2026)
  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America®, Franchise Law (1995-2027)
  • Named Best Lawyers® Franchise Law "Lawyer of the Year" in the St. Louis area (2012-2016; 2025)
  • 1851 Franchise Top Franchise Legal Players (2024; 2025)
  • Who's Who Legal: Franchise (2017-2022); USA Thought Leader (2023)
  • Lewis G. Rudnick Award, ABA Forum on Franchising (2021)
  • Franchise Times, Legal Eagles (2011-2020)
  • St. Louis Small Business Monthly, "100 St. Louisans You Should Know to Succeed in Business" (2015-2016)
  • "Drafting and Negotiating Franchise Agreements," Best Program - ABA Forum on Franchising (2015)

Specialties

Buy-side M&A representationSell-side M&A representationFranchise resales and transfers

Deal profile

Typical deal size
Any deal size
Remote work
In-person / regional

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