C. Griffith Towle

Contact Information

Main: 415.956.1900

Direct: 415.291.4584

Fax: 415.956.1152

Email: gtowle@bzbm.com

LinkedIn: C. Griffith Towle

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Practice Areas

Business Litigation

Class Action Litigation

Franchise and Distribution

Intellectual Property Litigation

Labor and Employment Litigation

Partnership and Shareholder Disputes

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Education

University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D., 1989

University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A. With Honors (English and History), 1986

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising

Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Northern California (ABTL)

State Bar of California, Franchise Law Committee (former Co-Chair)

International Franchise Association, Legal Symposium Task Force

State Bar of California, Certified Specialist in Franchise and Distribution Law

University of California, Hastings College of Law, Alumni Board of Governors (2007-2010 and 2013‑2019)

Bar Admissions

State Bar of California

Honors

Named as a “Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters - 2013-Present

Named in international Who’s Who Legal - Franchise Edition, 2007-Present

Publications / Speaking Engagements

Co-Author, Franchise Litigation Handbook, Chapter 1 – Initial Pleadings (2nd Edition); American Bar Association, October 2021

Franchising (& Distribution) Currents

Co-Author; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Winter 2020

Franchising (& Distribution) Currents

Co-Author; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Winter 2019

Effective and Failed Strategies to Compel/Avoid Arbitration

Speaker and Co-Author; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2018

Co-Author, "Franchising (& Distribution) Currents"; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Fall 2018

Judicial Update - Arbitration & Forum Selection Issues

Speaker and Co-Author; IFA Annual Legal Symposium, May 2018

Franchising (& Distribution) Currents

Co-Author; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Fall 2017

The Slippery Sands of Post-Termination Enforcement - Opportunities for Franchisees & Pitfalls for Franchisors

Speaker and Co-Author; IFA Annual Legal Symposium, May 2017

Franchising (& Distribution) Currents

Co-Author; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Fall 2016

Injunction Relief in Lanham Act Cases Post-Herb Reed

Author; Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL) Report, Northern California, Volume 24, No. 2, Spring 2016

Speaker, “Irreparable Harm and Trademark Law Demystified!”; Webinar, October 2015

Panel Moderator, “Franchise Litigation ‒ Frequently Arising Issues in Litigation”; International Franchise Association (IFA) Annual Legal Symposium, May 2015

Franchising (& Distribution) Currents

Co-Author; American Bar Association (ABA) Franchise Law Journal, Spring 2015

Franchising (& Distribution) Currents

Co-Author; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Winter 2014

Proving Irreparable Harm ‒ Have the Standards Changed?

Speaker and Co-Author; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2012

Co-Editor, Franchise Litigation Handbook (1st Edition); American Bar Association, October 2010

Franchising (& Distribution) Currents

Co-Author, "Franchising (& Distribution) Currents"; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Spring 2012

Fundamentals 201: Stop That Right Now ‒ Preparing For And Winning Injunctions

Speaker and Co-Author; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2010

Franchising (& Distribution) Currents

Co-Author; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Summer 2010

Incurable Defaults and ‘Good Cause’ Requirements ‒ Can Sound Drafting Reconcile the Two?

Speaker and Co-Author; IFA Annual Legal Symposium, May 2010

Co-Author, California Franchise Law and Practice, Chapter 12 – Case Law Highlights; CEB, February 2009

Unconscionability and Franchise Litigation

Speaker and Co-Author; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2006

Frequently Arising Issues in Litigation ‒ Handling Defaults and Terminations Effectively and Lawfully

Speaker and Co-Author; IFA Annual Legal Symposium, May 2006

Litigators Guide to Franchise Terminations ‒ Settlement: Things Every Potential Litigant Should Know About Litigation

Speaker and Co-Author; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2002

Keeping the Enforcers at Bay ‒ Handling an FTC or State Franchise Investigation

Speaker and Co-Author; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2001

Some Approaches to Litigation Management

Speaker and Co-Author; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 1999

Representing a Franchisor in Litigation with the FTC

Author; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Summer 1997

Representing a Franchisor in an FTC Investigation

Author; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Summer 1996

Experience

C. Griffith Towle is a Principal of the firm. He represents clients in a variety of commercial litigation matters, including class actions, franchise and related regulatory litigation, business and partnership disputes, real estate litigation, employment law matters and intellectual property litigation. Mr. Towle is certified as a specialist in Franchise and Distribution law by the State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization.

Mr. Towle has successfully tried and arbitrated many cases involving franchise, intellectual property, partnership, contract and tort claims. In addition, he has substantial experience in mediation and other types of alternative dispute resolution.

Mr. Towle is the former Co-Chair of the Franchise Law Committee of the State Bar of California and served on the Steering Committee of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Division of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising. He is the Co-Editor of the Franchise Litigation Handbook (1st Edition) published by the American Bar Association and the former Associate Editor of the Forum on Franchising’s Franchise Law Journal. Mr. Towle has also authored numerous articles and spoken on a variety of topics related to commercial litigation and issues involving franchising.