Carmen D. Caruso, a nationally known franchisee trial lawyer and a DDIFO Sponsor, re-locates his practice in “The Chambers” — a dynamic suite of trial lawyers in downtown Chicago who operate on a “lean and mean” platform backed up with the best litigation technology and who prepare their cases for trial in a state-of-the-art mock trial courtroom.
For his franchisee/dealer clients, Carmen believes that The Chambers will serve to “level the playing field” against America’s largest law firms who usually represent the franchisor. In every case, Carmen will be able to assemble the perfect team, such that franchisees and dealers will never again have to fear being out-matched by the franchisor’s resources.
A litigator with over 25 years of experience defending franchises, Carmen is recognized as one of America’s most dedicated advocates for franchisees, dealers and their associations nationwide and has represented clients in more than 100 systems –including Dunkin’ Brands. He has successfully defended Dunkin’ Brand franchisees in federal court cases involving fraud, terminations and post-termination disputes – and has had significant experience in “system-wide” franchising disputes on behalf of franchisee associations and independent groups of owners.
Among Carmen’s honors and achievements, he is:
• Named to the Illinois Attorney General’s Franchise Advisory Board, where he advocates the franchisee/dealer perspective.
• Named an Illinois Leading Lawyer and a member of the Advisory Board of the Leading Lawyers Network, 2006 – 2010.
• Named an Illinois Super Lawyer by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine and Law & Politics, 2005- 2010.
• Consistently named a “Legal Eagle” by Franchise Times, a Crain’s publication focused on the franchise industry beginning in 2001 and 2005-2010.
• Frequently invited to write and speak on franchise law topics, from the franchisee perspective, by the American Bar Association (Forum on Franchising), the American Association of Franchisees & Dealers, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, and the Dairy Queen Operators Association.
• Carmen was also named to the Bar Register or Preeminent Lawyers in 2002, and is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell; and he has been named to the “Who’s Who Legal Illinois” list by the International Bar Association.
Carmen D. Caruso
Trial & Appellate Lawyer / Business Litigation
Franchise, Dealership & Distribution Law
77 West Wacker Drive, Suite 4800
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: 312-606-8640
Fax: 312-276-8646
www.cdcaruso.com
