Mr. Hedden is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office.  He practices in the area of commercial law with an emphasis on franchising and distribution law.  He represents franchisors, subfranchisors and master franchisees in the preparation of franchise agreements, disclosure documents and franchise offering circulars and in obtaining state franchise registrations nationwide.  Mr. Hedden also represents manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, dealers and sales representatives in a variety of commercial relationships and transactions.

Career highlights include:

• Representing a leading Central Ohio condominium developer in the development of the first ever program to franchise a condominium development business
• Representing a leading franchisor in the home services industry in the establishment of a national advertising program
• Representing a leading producer and marketer of products for lawn care, gardening, professional turf care and professional horticulture in its restructuring of an acquired lawn service franchise concept and conversion of the franchise system to the new concept
• Representing a leading manufacturer of marine engines in structuring and documenting its distribution relationships with its brand-specific national networks of distributors and in management of warranty-related litigation filed in jurisdictions throughout the United States
• Representing a start-up franchise company in the structuring, documentation and representation of its area development program and its franchise concept involving the creation of a worldwide network of video conferencing businesses
• Representing a leading manufacturer of comfort footwear in structuring and documenting its international licensing relationships

Mr. Hedden is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association.

Mr. Hedden has spoken at the International Franchise Association’s Annual Legal Symposia on disclosure compliance programs and payment and non-payment in franchise relationships.

Mr. Hedden received his J.D. with honors from The George Washington University Law School, his M.P.P. from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government and his B.S. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he named the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Eta Sigma honorary societies.

Publications

• Chapter 2 of Ohio Law in Covenants Against Competition in Franchise Agreements, 2003 (American Bar Association, 2d. ed)

Honors and Awards

• The Best Lawyers in America, Franchise Law, 1997-2008
• Ohio Super Lawyers, Franchise/Dealership, 2004-2005
• Fellow of the Columbus Bar Foundation since 1999

News

• Vorys named the "2008 Leading Ohio Law Firm" by Best Lawyers