Thomas O'Connell

Thomas O'Connell, CFE, is a Shareholder at Buchalter APC, where they serve as the Firmwide Franchise Practice Chair and e-Discovery Practice Chair. With extensive litigation experience, O'Connell has successfully navigated complex business-to-business and franchise-related litigation for clients ranging from public entities to multinational corporations. They are recognized as an authority on franchise compliance and actively draft critical franchise documents while providing compliance advice to franchisors and franchisees. O'Connell's prior roles include ownership of a retail golf business, teaching at low-performing schools, and holding leadership positions in various organizations, including the International Franchise Association and the Hesperia Chamber of Commerce. They hold a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a Master of Education from Loyola Marymount University.