Burr & Forman LLP recently represented Los Angeles-based private equity firm Brentwood Associates in securing a majority interest in the rapidly expanding Chicken Salad Chick franchise. Brentwood Associates acquired the rights from Atlanta-based Eagle Merchant Partners.

Founded in 2008 in Auburn, AL, Chicken Salad Chick has 137 locations in 16 states, most of them in the Southeast. While under the ownership of Eagle Merchant Partners, the franchise saw a seven-fold increase in system sales, with more than 100 new restaurants added.

“We are very excited to partner with Brentwood on the next chapter for Chicken Salad Chick,” Chicken Salad Chick CEO Scott Deviney said in a statement. “Brentwood’s long track record of working with leading restaurant companies coupled with their understanding of our business objectives and strategy make them the perfect partner for us to continue executing on our robust growth and expansion plan.”

The Burr & Forman team that represented Brentwood Associates included Birmingham partners Ed Christian, April Mason and India Vincent, along with Birmingham associates Sam Grimes, Sims Rhyne, and J.P. Sauer.

Burr & Forman’s Corporate Group handles numerous acquisitions involving multi-unit franchise operators. The team advises clients in all aspects of the transaction including negotiation of the acquisition documents, due diligence issues related to operating a franchised business, real estate matters, intellectual property, and brand negotiations.

About Burr & Forman LLP
For more than a century, Burr & Forman LLP’s experienced legal team has served clients at the intersection of business and government with local, national, and international interests in numerous industry and practice areas, ranging from commercial litigation and class actions to corporate transactions, including bankruptcy and restructurings. A Southeast regional firm with 360 attorneys and 19 offices in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, Burr & Forman attorneys draw from a diverse range of resources to help clients achieve their goals and address their complex legal needs. The firm operates as Burr Forman McNair in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit the firm’s website at www.burr.com.