Brett M. Buterick is a partner in the Franchise Law, Litigation, Hospitality, Alcohol & Leisure and Innovation & Technology practice groups at Greenspoon Marder LLP. He regularly advises franchisors, technology startups, consumer products companies, and established businesses in matters involving licensing, regulatory compliance, and complex business litigation. He routinely assists brands leveraging social media and emerging industries, including ghost and virtual kitchens, to accelerate growth.
Mr. Buterick has substantial experience in launching more than 60 franchise brands and annually assists companies navigate state and federal franchise registration and renewal laws. He regularly helps early-stage franchise clients devise formation, expansion, and sale strategies by leveraging broad litigation experience to provide balanced, protective advice. Working with franchisors, entrepreneurs, and business owners of all sizes and across a wide range of industries, Mr. Buterick offers each client a detail-oriented, experienced, and practical approach to addressing any franchise-related issue.
Mr. Buterick is also a sought-after litigator representing clients in commercial and civil matters litigating in state and federal courts throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He has successfully defended companies in matters involving breach of contract, fraud, business competition, consumer protection, and trademark infringement claims. In addition, Mr. Buterick has extensive experience assisting commercial lenders in asset recovery matters and loan workouts.
Prior to joining Greenspoon Marder, Mr. Buterick served as Counsel at a New Jersey and New York-based business and real estate boutique law firm. Prior to that, Mr. Buterick was an associate at a prominent regional law firm in the firm’s Princeton, New Jersey office, where he assisted venture capital firms, emerging companies, and franchisor/franchisee clients in commercial, intellectual property, and corporate matters. Before entering private practice, he clerked for the Honorable Paula T. Dow, P.J. Ch., Superior Court of New Jersey, where he assisted in resolving shareholder oppression, partnership dissolution, and corporate and personal property disputes.
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, New Jersey
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
Education
- J.D., Rutgers School of Law, 2015
- B.S., Rutgers University, Accounting, 2011
Representative Experience
- Co-represented a 10-unit development agreement with Illinois-based Tapville Social, a technology-forward food and beverage franchisor offering self-pour beverage kiosks, that brings ten Tapville kiosks to locations throughout Texas.
- Represent ghost kitchen concept in launch and expansion of brand from three corporate units to over seventy-five units, nationwide.
- Represent brick-and-mortar, kiosk, and mobile self-pour beer concept from launch to over fifty units under development.
- Represented CEO in acquisition of health care technology company by UK-based health conglomerate.
Speaking Engagements
- Featured, “Franchise Considerations Excerpt,” LexisNexis, August 18, 2023
- Speaker, “Know Before You Go! Six Key Considerations Before You Sell” IRUS, July 26, 2022
- Presenter, “The Ghost Kitchen Opportunity” The Main Course Podcast, June 22, 2021
- Presenter, “Ghost Kitchens & Virtual Brands-What’s Now and What’s Next?” May 14, 2021
- Co-Panelist, “Franchising 101,” LawPractice CLE, May 2020
- Presenter, “Navigating the Franchise Buying Process: What to Know Before You Invest,” Startup Grind Princeton, February 6, 2020
Recognitions
- U.S. News and World Report, “Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch,” Commercial Litigation, 2024
- Super Lawyers magazine, “New Jersey Rising Stars,” 2019-2023
- Franchise Times, “Legal Eagle,” 2022-2023
Publications
- Author, “What Attorneys Should Know About ‘Ghost Kitchen’ Clients,” Law360, September 2, 2021
- Author, “Opening a Ghost Kitchen? Know the Laws That Will Impact Your Business,” Modern Restaurant Management, February 18, 2021
- Co-Author, “Developments in Non-Signatory Liability in Franchise Agreements, Where and When Does it Apply?,” American Bar Association, The Franchise Lawyer, June 2020
- Co-Author, “The Practical and Abstract Implications of ‘In re Linear Electric’,” New Jersey Law Journal, March 2018
- Author, “Terminable-at-Will Clauses and Executory Contracts in Bankruptcy: An Examination of Third Circuit Treatment and Practitioner Guidance,” Rutgers Journal of Law & Public Policy, January 22, 2015
In the News
- Quoted, “Do Ghost Kitchens Make the Grade for Food Safety?” Food Quality and Safety, October 6, 2021
- Quoted, “Ghost Kitchens Disrupting Traditional Expansion Channels” Eatery Pulse, January 7, 2022
News
- Aug 17, 2023 23 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America©: Ones to Watch 2024 Edition
- May 11, 2023 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Kelly Purcaro, Brett Buterick, and Kory Ann Ferro Recognized Among Super Lawyers New Jersey for 2023
- Apr 5, 2023 Six Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Recognized as 2023 Legal Eagles by Franchise Times
- Mar 6, 2023 Greenspoon Marder Partners with The Health Benefit Alliance for Private Event at IFA
- May 9, 2022 Greenspoon Marder Continues Expansion and Moves To New Office In Newark, N.J. at 1037 Raymond Blvd
- Apr 4, 2022 Four Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Recognized as 2022 Legal Eagles by Franchise Times
- Mar 18, 2022 Greenspoon Marder Partners Brett Buterick and Evan Goldman Recognized Among The 2022 “New Jersey Rising Stars” By Super Lawyers
- Mar 1, 2022 Greenspoon Marder Launches Franchise Law Practice Group Nationwide
