Jason Murray

Mr. Murray practices in the area of franchise and distribution law and provides counsel and assistance with creating, managing, licensing, protecting and enforcing franchised business relationships, product distribution systems and dealership networks. His franchise and distribution law practice specifically relates to licensing and development, regulation and compliance, and dispute resolution through mediation, arbitration and litigation. Mr. Murrayâs litigation experience consists of general commercial litigation in state and federal courts, including franchise and distribution law, intellectual property, and real property matters.

His extensive experience in the area of franchise, distributor, and dealership dispute resolution includes negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation in matters involving disputes over termination, covenants not to compete, trademark infringement, wrongful use and/or theft of intellectual property, breach of contract, and statutory violations. Often times the resolution of these disputes includes a demand for injunctive relief. Specifically, Mr. Murray represents franchisors in actions in both state and federal courts to enforce post-termination provisions of franchise agreements, to prevent disclosure of confidential information, and to stop the wrongful use of trademarks and intellectual property by terminated franchisees. Additionally, he represents sub-franchisors, master franchisees, area developers, and multi-unit franchisees seeking to prevent a franchisor from wrongfully terminating a franchise relationship. In representing manufacturers/distributors, Mr. Murray has litigated complex antitrust issues regarding the termination of distribution arrangements.

Jason Murray provides full-service franchise legal compliance programs that include the structuring, registration and updating of franchise offering documents throughout the United States. He oversees the preparation of all the required federal and state-specific disclosure provisions and drafts all the contracts necessary to establish, protect and enforce franchised business relationships. Mr. Murray maintains the on-going disclosure, reporting and registration renewal needs of clients in strict compliance with all the federal and state laws that govern their franchise, distributor and dealer relationships.

Additionally, his practice includes the representation of developers, mortgage lenders and title companies in litigation involving disputes over real property.

Mr. Murray is a member of the American Arbitration Association Commercial Arbitrator Panel. Additionally, he serves as an arbitrator for Franchise Arbitration and Mediation Services, an arbitration and mediation referral service specializing in the resolution of disputes between franchisors and franchisees or otherwise involving franchising issues, using alternative dispute resolution techniques.

• Complex Commercial Litigation
• Franchise Law
• Franchise, Distribution & Dealership Law
• Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
• Real Estate Litigation

• Free Consultation

District of Columbia

Since 1994

Florida

Since 1991

11th Circuit

Since 1992

U.S. Supreme Court

Since 2005

Partner

K&L Gates LLP

2020 - Current

President & CEO

Murray Law, P.A.

2012 - Current

Shareholder, Franchise & Distribution Group Leader

Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A.

2018 - 2020

Shareholder

Carlton Fields, P.A.

1997 - 2012

Associate

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

1992 - 1997

Law Clerk for the Honorable Joseph W. Hatchett

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

1991 - 1992

University of Virginia

J.D. | Law

1988 - 1991

Duke University

B.A. | English, Political Science, and History

1984 - 1988

2019 Franchise Law "Lawyer of the Year" award winner in Miami

Best Lawyers in America

2019

Best Lawyers began designating “Lawyers of the Year” in the United States in high-profile legal practice areas in conjunction with its 15th edition (2009). Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant. Lawyers being honored as “Lawyer of the Year” are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the exhaustive peer-review assessments Best Lawyers conducts with thousands of leading lawyers each year. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.

Distinguished Honoree Award

The Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Foundation

2016

2013 Franchise Law "Lawyer of the Year" award winner in Miami

Best Lawyers in America

2013

Diversity Officer Leadership Award (DOLA)

Diversity Best Practices

2008

The DOLA award is presented by Diversity Best Practices annually to those individuals who innovate, inspire, and work above and across corporate borders to strengthen and grow the entire diversity sector. The organization honors top diversity thought leaders who generously and unselfishly share wisdom and best practices. The honorees are acknowledged for providing extraordinary support to their leadership to implement outstanding diversity and inclusion programs from the top.

Diversity and Gender Sensitivity Award

Florida Bar, Young Lawyers Division

2003

District of Columbia Bar

Member

1994 - Current

The Florida Bar

Member

1991 - Current

Dade County Bar Association

President & CEO

2015 - 2016

Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association

President & CEO

2000 - 2001

Franchising & Distribution Currents

ABA Franchise Law Journal

2015

Franchising & Distribution Currents

ABA Franchise Law Journal

2014

Covenants Against Competition in Franchise Agreements, Florida Chapter, 3rd Edition

ABA Forum on Franchising publication

2012

Covenants Not to Compete and Nonsignatories: Enjoining Unfair Conspiracies

ABA Franchise Law Journal

2007

White Ritual & Black Magic: Playing the Race Card

ABA Litigation Magazine

2004

Advanced Litigation Topics: The Franchisor And Franchisee Perspectives, 21st Annual Forum on Franchising, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 28, 1998

ABA Forum on Franchising

As Good As It Gets: The Rise of Mediation Options, 26th Annual Forum on Franchising, Hollywood, Florida

October 22, 2003

ABA Forum on Franchising

The Enforcement of Covenants Against Competition, 28th Annual Forum on Franchising, Orlando, Florida

October 19, 2005

ABA Forum on Franchising

Vicarious Liability, 31st Annual Forum on Franchising, Austin, Texas

October 15, 2008

ABA Forum on Franchising

Game Changers: New Laws Affecting Franchise Systems in 2011, 44th Annual Legal Symposium, Washington, D.C.

May 15, 2011

International Franchise Association