312.243.1701

AMY CHENG

Partner

312.243.1716

Did You Know?

Amy started practicing Pilates over 20 years ago.

Amy was born in Taipei, Taiwan.

Amy loves to travel and has traveled to over 20 countries.

Amy lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma for 10 years.

Amy has completed 3 marathons and a half ironman.

Amy trains in English-style horseback riding and loves to jump.

Amy has lived in 3 different countries.

Amy concentrates her practice in domestic and international commercial transactions, general corporate, and franchise, licensing and distribution law. She represents franchisors on the structuring and operation of their franchise programs through all phases of domestic and international development.  Amy has extensive experience in structuring complex franchise, licensing and distribution relationships and in regulatory compliance. Her experience includes advising clients in connection with complex issues arising from the ownership of multiple brands, non-traditional opportunities, system restructuring and brand acquisition.

Amy represents clients of all sizes, from emerging to mature companies with multi-national operations. Representative clients include leaders in the restaurant, hotel, retail, fitness and home services industries.  With her broad range of experience, Amy often acts as general counsel to her clients, collaboratively maturing their businesses from infancy to prominence within their various industries.

Amy’s commercial transactional practice includes counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions, complex commercial relationships, strategic business alliances and joint ventures.  Amy’s unique combination of corporate and franchise experience provides clients with comprehensive legal services to expand their franchise portfolio. Her experience includes representing private equity in acquiring and selling franchise companies of all sizes and in a myriad of industries.

 

  • Education

    • Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, American University
    • Bachelor of Arts, University of Michigan

  • Associations

    • International Franchise Association
    • American Bar Association Forum on Franchising
    • Franchise Advisory Board for Illinois Attorney General
    • Chair, IFA Supplier Forum Advisory Board (2021)
    • Vice Chair, Supplier Forum Advisory Board
    • Past Chair, IFA Legal Symposium (2013 and 2014)

  • Bar Admissions

    • State of Illinois

  • Awards & Recogonitions

    • Bonnie LeVine Award, International Franchise Association (2020)
    • Crain’s Chicago Notable Women Lawyers (2018)
    • Crystal Compass Award, International Franchise Association’s Women’s Franchise Committee (2016)
    • Chicago Business Journal’s Women of Influence (2016)
    • Best Lawyers Chicago – Franchise Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2014)
    • Franchise Times “Legal Eagle” Hall of Fame
    • Best Lawyers in America® – Franchise Law
    • Ranked by Chambers USA – Franchising
    • International Who’s Who Legal – Franchise Law
    • International Who’s Who Legal – Business Law

  • Speaking & Publications

    • Co-Speaker and Author, “Advanced Issues in Mergers and Acquisitions of Franchise Companies,”  ABA Forum on Franchising (November 2023)
    • Co-Speaker and Author, “Positioning for a Strategic Transaction: Getting Your House in Order”, IFA Legal Symposium (May 2023)
    • Co-Speaker, “Navigating What’s Ahead for 2022 with Our Panel of Experts”, FranWise What’s Your F’ing Business Podcast (Feb. 2022)
    • Co-Speaker, “Changing Legacy Processes and Systems”, IFA Convention (Feb. 2022)
    • Co-Speaker, “Silver Linings in the Covid Cloud”, Legal Eagle Panel Discussion (June 2021)
    • Co-Speaker, “Reviewing the Franchise Rule: an FTC Virtual Workshop” (Nov. 2020)
    • Co-Speaker, “Re-examining FPR During and After the Pandemic”, MOD Conference (Oct. 2020)
    • Speaker, “Vision & Opportunity – Working with Private Equity as a Franchisee; Multi-Unit Expansion”, H.E.A.T. Franchise Summit (Aug. 2020)
    • Co-Speaker, “Food for Thought: Managing the World of Third Party Delivery Services” IFA Franchise Law Virtual Summit (Aug. 2020)
    • Co-Speaker, “Labor Issues Summit: Challenges & Opportunities for Franchising”, IFA Convention (Feb. 2020)
    • Co-Speaker, “Who has All the Money? Understanding Investment Strategies from Private Equity, Venture Capital and Private Placement and More”, International Franchise Expo (May 2019)
    • Speaker and Author, “Thorny FDD Disclosure Issues”, IFA Legal Symposium (May 2018)
    • Speaker, “M&A Aspects of Acquiring Franchise Businesses”, Midwest Chapter Meeting of the AM&AA (Oct. 2015)
    • Editor and Author, “Franchise & Distribution Currents”, Franchise Law Journal (Winter 2011, Winter 2012, Winter 2014, Winter 2015)
    • Author, “The Dangers of Noncompliance”, Franchising World (Feb. 2014)
    • Author, “Lease Negotiations 101”, Multi-Unit Franchisee (Feb. 2014)