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. Griffith is certified as a specialist in Franchise and Distribution law by the State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization.

Griffith 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.

Griffith 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. Griffith has also authored numerous articles and spoken on a variety of topics related to commercial litigation and issues involving franchising.

Education

  • University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), J.D.
  • University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A. With Honors

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

  • California State Bar
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California

Honors & Awards

  • 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
  • Co-Author, “Franchising (& Distribution) Currents”; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Winter 2020
  • Co-Author, “Franchising (& Distribution) Currents”; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Winter 2019
  • Speaker and Co-Author, “Effective and Failed Strategies to Compel/Avoid Arbitration”; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2018
  • Co-Author, “Franchising (& Distribution) Currents”; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Fall 2018
  • Speaker and Co-Author, “Judicial Update – Arbitration & Forum Selection Issues”; IFA Annual Legal Symposium, May 2018
  • Co-Author, “Franchising (& Distribution) Currents”; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Fall 2017
  • Speaker and Co-Author, “The Slippery Sands of Post-Termination Enforcement – Opportunities for Franchisees & Pitfalls for Franchisors; IFA Annual Legal Symposium, May 2017
  • Co-Author, “Franchising (& Distribution) Currents”; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Fall 2016
  • Author, “Injunction Relief in Lanham Act Cases Post-Herb Reed”; 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”; IFA Annual Legal Symposium, May 2015
  • Co-Author, “Franchising (& Distribution) Currents”; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Spring 2015
  • Co-Author, “Franchising (& Distribution) Currents”; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Winter 2014
  • Speaker and Co-Author, “Proving Irreparable Harm – Have the Standards Changed?”; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2012
  • Co-Editor, Franchise Litigation Handbook (1st Edition); American Bar Association, October 2010
  • Speaker and Co-Author, “Fundamentals 201: Stop That Right Now – Preparing For And Winning Injunctions”; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2010
  • Co-Author, “Franchising (& Distribution) Currents”; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Summer 2010
  • Speaker and Co-Author, “Incurable Defaults and ‘Good Cause’ Requirements – Can Sound Drafting Reconcile the Two?”; IFA Annual Legal Symposium, May 2010
  • Co-Author, California Franchise Law and Practice, Chapter 12 – Case Law Highlights; CEB, February 2009
  • Speaker and Co-Author, “Unconscionability and Franchise Litigation”; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2006
  • Speaker and Co-Author, “Frequently Arising Issues in Litigation – Handling Defaults and Terminations Effectively and Lawfully”; IFA Annual Legal Symposium, May 2006
  • Speaker and Co-Author, “Litigator’s Guide to Franchise Terminations – Settlement: Things Every Potential Litigant Should Know About Litigation”; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2002
  • Speaker and Co-Author, “Keeping the Enforcers at Bay – Handling an FTC or State Franchise Investigation”; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 2001
  • Speaker and Co-Author, “Some Approaches to Litigation Management”; ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 1999
  • Author, “Representing a Franchisor in Litigation with the FTC”; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Summer 1997
  • Author, “Representing a Franchisor in an FTC Investigation”; ABA Franchise Law Journal, Summer 1996

Practice Areas