Milwaukee Office
Tel: (414) 277-5111
Fax: (414) 978-8770

Andrew P. Beilfuss

Partner

Andy Beilfuss is the national chair of Quarles & Brady's Franchise & Distribution industry team. Andy is a leading attorney on issues that affect businesses' getting products to market, with extensive experience assisting franchise entities, manufacturers, specialty retailers, sales representatives, and distributors in reaching their business and legal goals. He is also the founder and chair of the International Franchise Association’s Wisconsin Franchised Business Network.

Andy focuses his practice primarily on litigation in the franchise and product marketing and distribution context, but he also frequently advises clients on contract drafting and regulatory matters, including guidance on product distribution, state and federal franchise laws, the Uniform Commercial Code, terms and conditions of sale and state distribution, and relationship laws. He also has experience beyond franchising and distribution, handling complex commercial disputes in various state courts, federal courts, arbitrations, mediations, and administrative hearings. He has been involved in all aspects of litigation, including pre-lawsuit negotiations, motion practice, trial preparation, actual trial, and post-trial motions, in multiple business sectors. Additionally, Andy has appellate experience in both state and federal appellate courts.

Andy’s approach to helping clients is driven by a combination of legal and advanced business education and experience, as he earned a master’s degree in Business and worked for two Fortune 50 companies before becoming an attorney. This gives him the rare ability to understand the intersection of business and legal issues facing clients, which in turn enables him to craft solutions that are cost effective and practical for his nationwide client base.

Legal Services

  • Business Law
  • Antitrust and Trade Regulation
  • Commercial Contracting
  • Class Action Defense
  • Franchise & Distribution
  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution
  • Financial Institutions Litigation

Education and Honors

  • Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, Certificate, Quarles & Brady Leadership Program (2016)
  • University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (B.S., 1999)

Bar Admissions

  • Wisconsin

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2008
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, 2007
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2005
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, 2005

Professional and Civic Activities

  • State Bar of Wisconsin(District Representative; Board of Governors)
  • American Bar Association (Member: Litigation Section and Forum on Franchising; Member: Labor & Dispute Committee for the Forum on Franchising)
  • Wisconsin Bar Association (Member)
  • Milwaukee Bar Association (Co-chair: Section on Civil Litigation; Past Head of Civil Litigation; Past Board Member of the Young Lawyers Association)
  • International Franchise Association (Member: Supplier Board; Coordinator: Business Solutions Roundtable)
  • Intern to the Honorable David T. Prosser of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
  • Intern to the Honorable Richard J. Sankovitz of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court
  • Legal Research and Writing (Graduate Assistant)

Professional Recognition

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® (2015–present: Commercial Litigation, Franchise Law)
  • Recognized by Franchise Times magazine as one of the top 100 franchise lawyers in the United States, in its annual Legal Eagles listing — one of the youngest attorneys ever to be so designated (2014–present)
  • Selected for inclusion in Wisconsin Super Lawyers®–Rising Stars Edition 2013-2015 (Business Litigation)
  • Milwaukee Young Lawyer's Association (Board of Directors)
  • Quarles & Brady, Franchise and Distribution Team (Co-chair)
  • Co-organizer of CLE training sessions held at Quarles & Brady's Milwaukee offices, that provide free training for fellow attorneys to do pro bono guardian ad litem work in the Milwaukee community
  • International Franchise Association (Founder and Chair of the IFA's Wisconsin Franchised Business Network)
  • Junior Achievement (Volunteer Teacher)
  • Selected for inclusion in "Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers" by the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers

Publications and Presentations

02/21/18
Webinar Replay for Franchisors: NLRB Developments
Franchise Law Insider

11/09/17
Bill To Narrow Joint Employment Passes In The House
Labor & Employment Alert

08/02/17
"Franchise Legal Player Awards | Q&A with Andy Beilfuss"
1851 Franchise Magazine

02/12/15
"A Supersized Mess? How the NLRB's Recent Attempts to Deem McDonald's a Joint Employer Could Affect Franchising and Your Business"
Quarles & Brady Business Law Training

01/15/15
"Twenty Years After Stella Liebeck, Plaintiffs Are Still Suing McDonald’s Over Hot Coffee"
Franchise Law Insider

12/10/14
"Seventh Circuit Rules That an Undisclosed Franchise Owner Is Subject to the Franchise Agreement’s Arbitration Clause"
Franchise Law Insider

11/21/14
"'Undercover Boss' Episode Isn’t Enough to Prove Vicarious Liability, Says a Maryland Federal Court"
Franchise Law Insider

04/30/14
"Franchise Litigation: A Practical Crash Course for Both Franchisors and Franchisees"
National Business Institute, National Seminar

04/09/14
"Franchising and Specialty Retail: Understanding the Rewards and Eliminating the Risks"
Specialty Retailer Entrepreneur Expo & Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada

03/28/14
"The Importance of Branding"
Quarles & Brady LLP National Partner’s Meeting

03/24/14
"Arbitration: Dealing with the Recent Changes to the AAA Rules and Other Strategic Considerations"
Quarles & Brady LLP, National Commercial Litigation Conference

03/21/14
"Franchise and Distribution Law: Essentials for Transactional Lawyers"
Quarles & Brady LLP, National Corporate Services Group Training

07/10/13
"Legal Aspects of Franchising: What I Need to Know Before Signing on the Dotted Line"
International Franchise Association Opportunities in Franchising Educational Seminar

05/23/13
"Top 10 Evidence Mistakes to Avoid"
National Business Institute Webcast

02/01/13
"Keeping the Civil In Civil Litigation – Best Practices In Civil Discovery and Dealing with Difficult Opposing Counsel"
Milwaukee Bar Association

02/01/13
"Effective Enforcement of Non-Competes and Other Post-Term Obligations"
IFA Business Solutions Roundtable, Las Vegas, Nevada

10/01/12
"Changes in System Standards: What is the Extent of the Franchisor's Latitude?"
American Bar Association Forum on Franchising

08/16/12
"Franchise Law 101"
National Business Institute, National Seminar

01/01/12
"Dirty Litigation Tactics: Identifying the 'Rambo' Litigator"
National Business Institute Nationwide CLE Webcast

10/10/11
"An Overview of Franchise Litigation"
Quarles & Brady presentation

09/28/11
"Advanced Issues in Injunction Practice"
Milwaukee Bar Association

08/26/11
"Mechanics of Wisconsin Civil Procedure"
National Business Institute

07/01/11
"Fundamentals of Injunction Practice"
Quarles & Brady Presentation

05/15/11
Judicial Update
IFA 44th Annual Legal Symposium, Washington, DC

05/01/11
IFA Legal Symposium Judicial Update

01/01/11
"Franchise Law: the Essentials"
Keynote speaker for the National Business Institute's National Webcast

12/01/10
"Franchise Litigation"
Milwaukee Bar Association

12/01/10
"Distribution Law"
Corporate Practice Institute

01/01/10
"Civil Procedure"
National Business Institute

01/01/10
"Franchise Law: the Essentials"
Keynote speaker for the National Business Institute's National Webcast

01/01/10
"Antitrust Law Issues In Government Contracting"
Quarles & Brady LLP client presentation

01/01/10
"What Every Business That Buys or Sells Goods Must Know About Franchise and Distribution Law"
Quarles & Brady LLP presentation

01/01/09
"How the Franchise and Distribution Team Can Grow Your Practice"
Quarles & Brady LLP presentation

01/01/09
"Civil Procedure and Pre-Trial Practice"
Milwaukee Bar Association

01/01/09
"Calculation of Damages in Business Litigation Seminar"
National Business Institute

01/01/09
"Franchise Law Compliance"
Quarles & Brady LLP presentation

01/01/08
"How the Revised FTC Franchise Rule Drastically Increased the Quality of Airport Food"
Quarles & Brady LLP presentation

01/01/07
"Franchise and Distribution Law – Recent Developments"
Quarles & Brady LLP CLE

01/01/07
"Franchise and Distribution Law – What Every Business Lawyer Should Know"
Quarles & Brady LLP CLE