About Us

• About Us James A. Meaney, is a franchise attorney who has practiced in the area for nearly 30 years. Mr. Meaney is a partner with Zaino & Humphrey, LPA in Dublin, Ohio. During his career, Mr. Meaney has held the following positions: General Counsel and Vice President of Franchise Development for Damon’s Grill®, General Counsel of the Ohio Petroleum Retailers and Repair Association, Section Chief of the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section (responsible for enforcement of Ohio’s Business Opportunity Law), Chairman of the Columbus Bar Association’s Franchise and Distribution Law Committee, and a member of the Board of Governors, Columbus Bar Association. He has also contributed numerous articles and presentations to various franchising publications, and is the author of How to Buy a Franchise. Mr. Meaney has been a member of The American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising since 1989 and has had the honor presenting at a number of Annual Forums. He has represented franchise systems, master franchisors, franchise area developers and multi-unit franchisees. His practice includes franchise and commercial litigation, franchise regulatory compliance and transactional matters. Mr. Meaney most recent publications and presentations include: “Starting A Franchise System: Practical Considerations, Planning and Development,” American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2010 Annual Forum (Co-author - October 2010) and “Representing the Franchisor—A Primer on Designing the System, Drafting and Registering Documents and Providing On-going Counseling,” (Intensive Program), American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2012 Annual Forum (Co-presenter - October 2012)