Franchise Disputes
John Gelson is a prominent franchise attorney and mediator best known for his long tenure as the Vice-President and General Counsel for Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc.
When disputes arise over Franchise Agreements, generalist mediators often struggle to bridge the gap. It requires a specialist—a neutral who understands the unique regulatory landscape, the inherent power dynamics, and the commercial realities of the franchise model.
John is a uniquely experienced Franchise Mediator who speaks the language of both the C-suite and the local operator. He doesn’t just evaluate the legal merits of the contract; he looks for business-driven solutions.
As Jersey Mike’s General Counsel for 15 years, John led a legal team as Jersey Mike’s accelerated its footprint from 300 restaurants to over 3,500 nationwide locations—the fastest-growing sandwich chain in the United States. During John’s tenure, Jersey Mike’s had no litigation or arbitrations with any of its franchisees under the FTC Franchise Rule. In his role, John leveraged mediation tactics to resolve disputes with franchisees without escalating to litigation.
John remained with Jersey Mike’s until 2025 and managed its acquisition by Blackstone for $8 billion dollars. He remains a franchisee of Jersey Mike’s.
Given his high-profile background in corporate franchise law, he is a frequent panelist within the ABA Forum on Franchising and the International Franchise Association. John has lectured extensively on franchise mediation and has taught mediation at Ave Maria Law School.