HAROLD L. KESTENBAUM is an attorney who has specialized in franchise law and other matters relating to franchising since 1977. From May 1982 until September 1986, Harold served as franchise and general counsel to Sbarro, Inc., the national franchisor of over 1,000 family-style Italian restaurants and, was a director from March 1985 to December 2006. From September 1983 to October 1989, he served as President and Chairman of the Board of FranchiseIt Corporation, the first publicly traded company specializing in providing franchise marketing and consulting services and equity financing to emerging franchise companies, which he co-founded. Harold has authored the first book dedicated to the entrepreneur who wants to franchise his/her business called "So You Want To Franchise Your Business". It is a step by step guide to what a businessperson needs to know and do to properly roll out a franchise program.

Harold has served as franchise counsel to many regional, national and international franchise companies in many diverse industries.

Sbarro - The Italian Eatery, Boulder Creek Steaks & Saloon, Nathan's Famous, 1-800 Flowers and its subsidiary, Fannie May Candies, Bagel Boss, Manhattan Bagel, New World Coffee, The Original Brooklyn Water Bagels, Dallas BBQ, Dixie Cream Dream Donuts, Hot & Crusty Bakery, Firkin's Pubs, Sylvia's Soul Food Restaurant, Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips, Five Guys Burgers, Buttercup Bake Shops, Marvelous Markets, Austin Grill, Sedutto Ice Cream, Yogen Fruz, Freshii, Wall Street Deli, Original Ray's Pizza, , New York Subs & Sandwich, Ranch*1, Desert Moon Café, Pudgie's Famous Chicken, Ritter's Custard, CoolBrands International (Tropicana Smoothie's, Swensen's, Bresler's, I Can't Believe It's Yogurt and Golden Swirl), Gator's Dockside Restaurants, Camille's Sidewalk Café, Kudu Restaurants, Sobiks, The Original SoupMan, Fastbucks, Wicks ‘N Sticks, Rex's Fried Chicken, Lemon Tree, Los Taxes, The HomeMag, King Bear Auto Service Centers, GarageTek, Travel Network, Herman's World of Sports, Dashing Diva, DCAP Insurance, Re-Bath, The Cravery, Crown Trophy, Sports Image, i9 Sports, EduFit Salons, Lucille Roberts, Foliage Design Systems, Sheds BBQ, Firkin Pubs International, Prime Pubs, Wholesome Tummies, Butler's Chocolates, Hand And Stone Spas, Sea Tow Services International, Medstock, Honest-1 Auto Care, Miami Subs, Mooyah Burgers, Planet Wings, Zamba Chicken, ,Yo Mon Yoguurt, 16 Handles Yogurt, Energy Kitchen, Smokey's Barbeque, Beach Pit Bareque, Rockin Baja Lobster, Glaze Teriyaki, Taco Taco, Caffe Vergnano, FreshBerry Yogurt, CherryBerry, The Salad Bowl, The Taco Maker, Skinny Pizza, Flippers Pizza, Eola Wine, Squisito's Pizza and Pasta, Wayne Works Marine, Math Monkey, The Gutter Guys, Tasti D-Lite, Sushi Go!, Raw Sushi, Bevinco, Boardwalk Burgers and Fries, Rachel's Kitchen, Elevation Burgers, The Counter, Mooyah Burger, Creative Playthings, Maki of Japan, National Jean Company, BannaStrows, Top That Pizza, City Wok, Clix, HMHTTC, IM=X Pilates, Papa Bello, Sticky Rice, Yolato, Kebab House, Santa Fe Cattle Co., The Wine Loft, Knockout Hair Cuts for Men, Sharkey's Hair Cuts for Kids, Flippin Pizza, Trick Shots Billiards, Peterbrooke Chocolatier, Prime Pubs, Zpizza, Sonoma Chicken, Personal Training Institute, Parisi Speed School, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Burger Hut, Brother Jimmy's Barbeque, Naked Pizza Tommy Pastrami Deli, Newks Restaurant, Mr. Greek, The CrepeMaker, Vapiano's Italian Restaurants, Games2U, Chyten Educational Services, Fotozine, The Tutoring Center, Tutor Doctor, eFlo America and College Hunks Hauling Junk.

Harold's expertise in franchise law is enhanced by his practical experience in serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a national franchisor and in serving as a Director of numerous nationally and internationally known franchisors, experiences that are rare and unique in the area of franchise law.

Harold is a Partner with the national law firm, Gordon & Rees, LLP and is engaged exclusively in the practice of franchise distribution and licensing law, representing exclusively franchisors, both start-up and established. He is a member of the Gordon & Rees Franchise, Distribution and Hospitality Practice Group.

Harold is a member of the American Bar Association's Antitrust Section, a member of the Antitrust Section's Forum Committee on Franchising since 1978, a member of the Subcommittee on Franchising of the American Bar Association's Corporation Banking and Business Law Section, is a founding member and past Chairman of the New York State Bar Association's Franchise, Distribution and Licensing Law Section, and he currently serves as Chairman for its Education and Seminar Subcommittee (he and has chaired a Statewide seminar programs for New York State attorneys in 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005 and chaired seminars on Franchise Law for the Nassau and Suffolk County Bar Associations) and was a member of the International Franchise Association's Supplier Forum Advisory Board. He has published many articles related to franchising and frequently lectures and appears before numerous organizations and law schools speaking on various topics in franchising. He has been chosen one of the top 100 franchise attorneys in North America by Franchise Times in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 2010 and 2011, and was named one of the three best franchise attorneys in the New York metro area by New York Magazine for 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, and was named New York Super Lawyer as one of the Top Attorneys in the New York Metro Area for 2007, 2008,2009 and 2010. In addition, he has written two articles for the ABA Forum Committee, one appearing in the Franchise Law Journal and the other appearing in the Franchise Lawyer. He has appeared on two International Franchise Association Legal Symposium panels, in 2001 and in 2004. He also participates in the IFA Speakers Bureau and has spoken on its behalf, and has been a facilitator at ten IFA Convention Roundtables, and is a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE). He has attended over 30 ABA Forum Committee annual programs since 1978 and over 30 IFA Legal Symposia. Harold's book is available at major book stores and on Amazon.com.

Harold received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1971 from Queens College, Queens, New York and earned his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Richmond School of Law, Richmond, Virginia, in 1975, where he was a member of Law Review. He is listed in "Who's Who in American Law", "The Best Lawyers in America" (Franchising), and is on the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.