Serena I. Chiquoine - Minneapolis, MN

Serena I. Chiquoine, an influential leader in franchise law, is a partner at Dady & Gardner, P.A., where she channels her passion for advocacy into representing franchisees, dealers, and distributors in their complex business relationships with franchisors, manufacturers, and suppliers. With a keen eye for detail and an unyielding dedication to her clients, Serena is widely regarded as a top attorney in the field.Repeatedly recognized as a Minnesota Rising Stars by Super Lawyers Magazine and celebrated among Minnesota's Top Women Attorneys, Serena is not only a legal powerhouse but also a mentor and role model in the legal community. Serena is a dynamic advocate who combines sharp legal insight with a personable and witty demeanor, making her a great client advocate and formidable opponent.

Before joining Dady & Gardner, Serena began her career navigating a broad spectrum of legal issues, from intricate family law disputes to shareholder conflicts, employment law, and restrictive covenant defenses at a prominent general practice law firm in the Twin Cities. This diverse experience has equipped her with a unique perspective and the versatility to tackle the multifaceted challenges her clients face.

Serena's distinctive edge in franchise law is further sharpened by her in-house experience as the Director of Legal and Franchise Administration at Great Clips, Inc., where she provided legal counsel on regulatory matters, franchise relationships, enterprise risk management, and complex corporate initiatives. Through this experience, she gained a unique appreciation of the franchisor’s perspective on many of the issues franchisees face. Serena uses the insight gained during her in-house experience to benefit franchisees and empower her clients to level the playing field in disputes with their franchisors.

One of Serena's standout victories for her franchisee clients involved taking on the franchisor of a men's hair salon system that had defrauded her client through critical misrepresentations during the sales process. This high-stakes dispute culminated in a three-day arbitration in California, where Serena secured a decisive victory: the dismissal of the franchisor's counterclaims, rescission of the franchise agreement, and a seven-figure damages award for the franchisee. This landmark case underscores Serena's relentless pursuit of justice and her ability to deliver exceptional results under pressure.

Serena is a proud alumna of the University of Minnesota Law School, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2014. Serena has co-authored influential articles such as "Does a 'Product Withdrawal' or a 'Market Withdrawal' Constitute Statutory 'Good Cause' for Termination?" in The Franchise Lawyer, and presented on registration and disclosure basics at the International Franchise Association’s 2023 Legal Symposium.

Serena graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 2007with a degree in Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Deviance.