Harris J. Chernow

Email: hchernow@chernowkatz.com Tel: 215-659-3600 ext 102

Harris J. Chernow has a diverse franchise and business background and has been associated with a number of prestigious national and regional law firms in the Philadelphia area. Harris concentrates in franchise, business and real estate matters. He prides himself in taking a sincere interest in each and every client, big or small; and has a reputation in the franchise, business and real estate community as being an advocate that understands both sides for the benefit of his clients.

Harris’ national franchise practice includes franchise transactions and dispute resolution matters, with emphasis on franchising, licensing, distribution, corporate structuring and retail development. His franchise clients include single and multi-unit franchise owners, area developers, master franchisees, franchisee associations, franchisors, distributors and businesses desiring to expand through franchising and distribution systems.

Harris and the firm also represent businesses of all sizes, including financial service companies, manufacturers and service-oriented companies, as well as professionals and individuals in a broad variety of matters, including general business and corporate matters, real estate, employment, healthcare, financial services, mergers and acquisitions, structuring transactions, document negotiation and preparation, day-to-day counseling and dispute resolutions.

By virtue of a broad base of legal experience, he also serves as “general counsel” to clients by coordinating and overseeing other attorneys and matters. Harris recently received the honor of being selected by Franchise Times as a "Top Legal Eagle" and “Hotshot Franchise Lawyer”; and by the Pennsylvania Law Weekly as one of “50 on the Fast Tract”. He has also been appointed to the CPR panel of distinguished neutrals Franchise Mediation Panel.

Harris has been elected to the Governing Committee of the American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) Forum on Franchising and has served as the Chair of its Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (“LADR”), served on the ABA Forum on Franchising’s Publications Committee, and has been (twice) one of the five members of the ABA Nominating Committee for the Board of Governors of the ABA Forum on Franchising. He also serves as Chair of the Montgomery County Franchise Law Committee; and is active with the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Philadelphia Franchise Law Committees, American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (“AAFD”), served as a past chair of the AAFD’s LegaLine and as chair and/or co-chair of its annual legal symposia, a member of the International Franchise Association’s ("IFA") Legal Symposium Task Force and a speaker, and served as a co-chair of the Second Annual Latin America Conference on Franchising, among other positions and organizations.

Harris is a frequent speaker at various venues on franchise and business related topics. Among his publications, he is a contributing author of Franchising 101, the Complete Guide to Evaluating, Buying and Growing Your Franchise Business, published by Upstart Publishing Company. With offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland, Harris and his firm are able to provide comprehensive, practical, solution-oriented legal advice and franchise and business counseling by combining innovative thinking with a solid foundation in the law.

Harris is a graduate of the Temple University School of Business and the Temple University School of Law. He is President of the Temple University Owl Club, which is the athletic fund raising arm for the University's 24 Division I student athlete programs. He has also serves on the trustee’s task Force on Athletics, the selction committee for the Temple Football Head Coach and on the President’s Athletic Advisory Board. He is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and District Courts for Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In addition to his professional associations, Harris is involved in numerous community and sports activities; and enjoys such with his wife and three children.