Max J. Schott, II, is a shareholder in the Minneapolis office of Larkin Hoffman and Chair of the firm’s Franchise Group. He represents franchisors, manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers in the areas of franchise and distribution law. His clients range from startups to nationally recognized companies with multiple brands. With a practice that has spanned over 30 years, Max has a unique understanding of the business challenges facing his clients. He assists and counsels them on issues of disclosure and registration, domestic and international program structuring, relationship matters, supply chain maintenance, advertising, licensing, and acquisitions.

Max was elected to the ABA Forum on Franchising’s Governing Committee in November 2023, and began serving in this position and as the organization’s Marketing Officer in August 2024. Prior to this,  he held several positions  with the ABA Forum on Franchising, including Editor-in-Chief of The Franchise Lawyer and a member of the Marketing Committee. Max frequently writes and speaks on franchise-related topics. He is a co-author of chapters on “Franchise Disclosure and Sales Compliance” in the ABA Forum on Franchising’s Franchise Law Compliance Manual, Third Edition, and “Structuring the Franchise Relationship” in the ABA Forum on Franchising’s Fundamentals of Franchising, Fourth Edition.

Throughout his career, Max has been recognized by Chambers USA as one of the country’s leading franchise lawyers for business (2011-present), The International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers (2011-present), Franchise Times as a Legal Eagle (2007-2019, 2021-present), “North Star Lawyers,” Minnesota State Bar Association (2012, 2014–2018), and The Best Lawyers in America© (2016–present). Max received a B.A. in political science from Grinnell College in 1990, and a J.D., with distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1993.