Professional background
I have advised on high-profile and innovative deals in the retail, food & beverage, leisure and entertainment, services, healthcare and education sectors. With over 18 years of experience, I can help clients with their strategic planning and ensure that they avoid common pitfalls and maximise the commercial opportunity, part of which involves navigating them through complex international regulatory and local law issues.
I am very proud that our team is ranked consistently in the top-tier for commercial contracts, franchising and licensing by Chambers & Partners, the Legal500 and Who's Who Legal.
- Who's Who Franchising 2024 ranks me as a "Global Elite Thought Leader"
- Legal 500 2024 ranks me as a Leading Individual for Franchising (the Fieldfisher franchise team is Tier 1)
- Chambers & Partners UK ranks Fieldfisher in Tier 1 for franchising, and has done for the last 17 consecutive years.
- Gordon is a member of the British Franchise Association's Legal Committee, and Fieldfisher has been a BFA accredited law firm since 1997.
Awards & recognition
Legal 500
Fieldfisher had created our entire franchise agreement and all the related documents such as the adoption agreement, nondisclosure, etc. Gordon and his team are very professional and supportive, as we are new in the field and have little experience in legal procedure and contracts, they answered our questions in-depth patiently. It is something certainly very appreciated. The team is also very responsive and organized. You can always find the key person for your questions.
Legal 500
Gordon Drakes has not only a profound knowledge of franchise law, but he is also willing to share and teach our team. It’s not easy to work with someone who has no legal background like me. Gordon supported us through the whole contract negotiation process and provided to-the-point answers, arguments, and negotiations to the counterpart. He never hesitates to support us and give us quick feedback and suggestion.
Legal 500
Highly recommended for his incredibly specialised repertoire in franchising law and is held in high esteem for his incisive handling of complex franchising and hospitality matters.
Chambers UK
Gordon is very good at franchising; he understands it inside-out.
Authored pieces
Franchising & Licensing
Insight
A spotlight on franchising in the UK — the recent UK Parliament debate on franchising regulation
05.09.2025
High profile franchising cases in recent years, such as Vodafone, Bodyshop, Dwyer Group, and most recently JBL, along with the issues faced by McDonalds in respect of sexual harassment in the workplace, have led the UK Government to consider whether the UK franchising sector is in need of regulation.
Franchising & Licensing
Insight
Commercial Agents Regulations: Going, Going… Staying Put
14.07.2025
On 13 February 2025, the Department for Business and Trade published its response to its consultation on the deregulation of the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 (SI 1993/3053) (CARs). We previously reported that this consultation was initiated by the previous Conservative government. At the time, we were intrigued to find out whether the new Labour government would continue with the consultation.
Lawyers I've worked with
-
Harriet Seymour Partner, Intellectual PropertyDesign RightsFood and BeverageIntellectual PropertyRetail and Consumer
-
Andrew Dodd General Counsel and Partner, IP and Technology, Protection and EnforcementDigital and Social MediaFranchise TransactionsIntellectual PropertySourcing and Projects
-
-
-
Franck Veisse Partner, Commercial IPCommercialCommercial and DistributionCompetitionDistribution and Agency
-
Jean-François Germain Managing Partner - Brussels, LitigationArbitrationBanking LitigationDispute ResolutionTechnology
-
-
Cristina Ruiz de Alda Senior AssociateBanking and FinanceBanking LitigationFranchise Transactions
-
Sonal Patel Oliva Director, Franchising, Advertising and CommercialFood and BeverageHotels and LeisureIP LicensingLife Sciences & Healthcare
-
Amy Reynolds Partner, Intellectual PropertyFashion and BeautyIntellectual PropertyRetail and ConsumerTrade Marks and Brands
What others say…
Gordon Drakes has not only a profound knowledge of franchise law, but he is also willing to share and teach our team. It’s not easy to work with someone who has no legal background like me. Gordon supported us through the whole contract negotiation process and provided to-the-point answers, arguments, and negotiations to the counterpart. He never hesitates to support us and give us quick feedback and suggestion.
Highly recommended for his incredibly specialised repertoire in franchising law and is held in high esteem for his incisive handling of complex franchising and hospitality matters.
Gordon is very good at franchising; he understands it inside-out.