Nicole Liguori Micklich - Minneapolis, MN
Attorney at Dady & Gardner, P.A.
Litigation Lawyers in Minneapolis, MN
80 S 8th St Ste 5100 Minneapolis, MN 55402
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
23
Years
Experience
Minneapolis Litigation Lawyer
Updated: 04/01/2026
Areas of Practice
- Litigation
- Franchise & Distribution
Attorney Information
Overview
Nicole Liguori Micklich has earned a reputation for successfully representing franchisees and development agents at every step of the franchise relationship and in litigation with franchisors.
Ms. Micklich’s commitment to her clients and to the field of franchise law leads to enviable results. The outcome of each case depends on the facts and circumstances of each particular case.
Ms. Micklich routinely assists potential franchisees as they review disclosure documents and proposed agreements.
She has successfully represented development agents and franchisees in arbitration and in state and federal courts in cases regarding alleged non-compliance, termination and non-renewal, franchisor refusal to consent to transfer, bad faith, contract and tort claims, and violations of state and federal laws, including disclosure laws. She has also favorably settled numerous cases on behalf of franchisees and development agents involved in such disputes.
Ms. Micklich advises clients regarding the transfer of franchise agreements and has drafted and negotiated the Asset Purchase Agreements and related Agreements, Notes and Resolutions for those transactions. She also frequently drafts and negotiates termination agreements and releases.
Ms. Micklich enjoys extensive involvement in the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, where she is a member of the Governing Committee. She was a co-chair of the Forum’s 46th Annual Meeting, in Dallas, Texas, November 1-3, 2023. With Mark VanderBroek, Ms. Micklich recently co-authored and presented Annual Developments in Franchise and Distribution Law for the Forum on Franchising. The book provides an overview of franchise cases and developments over its reporting year and the authors provided a comprehensive and entertaining review of the year’s key judicial and legislative developments affecting franchise and distribution during the Forum’s Annual Meeting. She has served on multiple committees of the Forum and was humbled to be the recipient of the 2017 ABA Forum on Franchising Future Leader Award.
Ms. Micklich is honored to be a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Rhode Island Bar Foundation and proudly holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV® PreeminentTM Rating. Ms. Micklich strives to work easily and collegially with franchisor counsel. She was included in the 2024 and 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® for franchise law and was recognized as a Super Lawyer in the field of Franchise/Distribution in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and prior to that time was named to the New England Rising Starts list each year from 2010 through 2016. For more about the Super Lawyer selection process visit https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection-process/.
Ms. Micklich has taught Franchise Law as an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac University Law School, in Hamden, Connecticut, and is a frequent author and lecturer on franchise law.
During her practice, Ms. Micklich represents property owners, condominium associations, general contractors and subcontractors. She regularly advises clients regarding contracts and corporate plans and policies and drafts Management Agreements, Agreements between Owner and Contractor and General Conditions of Contracts, Design Build Agreements, Subcontracts, and Agreements between Owner and Architect. Ms. Micklich represents commercial landlords and tenants in preparing and negotiating lease agreements and related documents. Ms. Micklich has successfully represented property owners in various design defect claims. The results in any case depend on the facts and circumstances of that particular case.
Ms. Micklich is a trained mediator who completed 40-hours of mediation training in accordance with M.G.L. ch.233 § 23C with MWI, Boston, MA.
Ms. Micklich is admitted in the State and Federal Courts of Rhode Island and Connecticut and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Ms. Micklich is a 1999 cum laude graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2003.
Representative Franchise Clients
- Prospective franchisees looking for legal advice regarding Franchise Disclosure Documents, Franchise Agreements, investigation and diligence, negotiations with franchisors, anticipated investments and exposure, and growth
- Franchisees who wish to expand
- Franchisees who wish to exit a system, including by transfer, or termination
- Development Agents, Master Franchisees, Business Developers in all stages of their relationship with the franchisor
- Franchisees, development agents, master franchisees, and others in disputes with franchisors
Awards and Honors
Honors
- The Best Lawyers in America® for franchise law, 2026
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Rating*
- “Legal Eagle” by the Franchise Times
- Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers, New England Rising Stars
- Future Leader Award, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising
- New Leaders of the Law Impact Award, The Connecticut Law Tribune
Other Sources of Feedback About Nicole Liguori Micklich
Included on the 2026Rhode Island Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Rhode Island Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Rhode Island Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Rhode Island Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Rhode Island Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Rhode Island Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Rhode Island Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Connecticut Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Connecticut Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Connecticut Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Connecticut Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Connecticut Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Connecticut Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Connecticut Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Connecticut Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Connecticut Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
University of Connecticut School of Law,
Hartford,
Connecticut, May, 2003
J.D.
-
University of Connecticut School of Law,
Hartford,
Connecticut, May, 2003
-
Non Legal Education
-
University of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, December, 1999
B.A., Bachelor of Arts
Honors: cum laude
Major: Classics
Major: Philosophy
-
University of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, December, 1999
Classes and Seminars
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Women In Project Controls, American Association of Cost Engineering, Connecticut Section Webinar, 2024
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Field Stories from Mediations in Franchise Systems, Successes and Challenges, International Bar Association/International Franchise Association Joint Conference, 2024
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Encroachment, Breach of Exclusivity and Reservation of Rights in Franchise Agreements, International Distribution Institute Conference, 2023
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Fundamentals of Franchising, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2022
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Annual Developments in Franchise and Distribution Law, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2021
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Re-Examining FPRs During and After the Pandemic, International Franchise Association, 2020
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A Sharper Focus on the Shifting Realities for Franchisees in the 2020s, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2020
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Practical Tips in Franchise Arbitration: With Speed, Fairness and Cost in Mind, American Arbitration Association Webinar, 2020
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Franchising in the Time of #COVID19: Managing Coronavirus-driven Disruption in Contracts, Supply Chains and More, ABA Forum on Franchising, 2020
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AEC Industry Women: A 20/20 Vision for the Future, Connecticut Chapter, 2020
- Structuring the New Franchisee Evaluation and Approval Process, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, 2019
Ancillary Businesses
Completed 40-hours of mediation training in accordance with M.G.L. ch.233 § 23C with MWI, Boston, MA
Published Works
Articles
-
Chapter Co-Author, Representing Franchisees, American Bar Association, 2023
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Annual Developments in Franchise and Distribution Law, American Bar Association, 2021
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Professional Franchises: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same, Franchise Law Journal, Spring, 2019
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Strange Weather: California’s Amended Franchise Relations Act, AB 525, Franchise Law Journal, Spring, 2016
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Who Owns the Goodwill in Franchise Relationships?, The Franchise Lawyer, Spring 2015
- The Continuing Evolution of Franchise Valuation: Expanding Traditional Methods, Franchise Law Journal, Spring 2013, Co-authored with Michael Lynch and Ingrid Festin
- Can’t Give It Away: Statutory Prohibitions That Protect Franchisees from Releasing Too Much, Franchise Law Journal, Winter 2010, co-authored with Michael Pepe
Bar Admissions
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- U.S. District Court District of Rhode Island
- U.S. District Court District of Connecticut
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
Other Affiliations
- American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising, Governing Committee Member, Program Committee Chairperson, former Women’s Caucus Division Leader, Professors’ Committee Member, former Publications Committee Member
- Rhode Island Bar Association Member
- Connecticut Bar Association, Past Chair, Franchise, Distribution & Dealer Law Section
- IR Global Member
- Camp Watchaug Board Member
- Past Chair, Principal’s Advisory Board, Saint John School, Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Contact
80 S 8th St
Ste 5100
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: 401-596-7751
Fax: 612-359-3507
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.dadygardner.com
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