Ritchie W. Taylor

Ritchie W. Taylor is a highly respected business and franchise attorney with over two decades of experience guiding clients through every stage of growth, from formation to successful exit. He represents a wide range of businesses with a strong concentration in franchising, retail, hospitality, home services, and education. Ritchie serves as strategic counsel to franchisors and franchisees, helping clients strengthen their investments and expand their market presence.

Ritchie earned his J.D., cum laude, from Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School in 1999 and his B.S. in Business Management with a finance emphasis from the BYU Marriott School of Management in 1996. He was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1999 and the United States Tax Court in 2000. He is also a Certified Franchise Executive, one of the first attorneys in the country to earn this designation.

Throughout his career, Ritchie has structured and negotiated mergers, acquisitions, equity and debt transactions, and joint ventures across nearly all 50 states and internationally, with transaction values exceeding $3.5 billion. He leads one of the top franchise practices in the Carolinas, advising more than 100 established and emerging franchise systems. His experience includes preparing franchise disclosure documents, compliance strategies, and agreements that allow brands to scale while protecting their interests.

Ritchie W. Taylor is deeply involved in professional organizations, including the International Franchise Association and the North Carolina Bar Association, where he served as Chair of the Business Law Section. He regularly lectures and writes on franchising and business law and has been consistently recognized by Best Lawyers in America, North Carolina Legal Elite, Franchise Times Legal Eagles, and Super Lawyers for his excellence in practice.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Manning, Fulton & Skinner, P.A.
• Former Chair, North Carolina Bar Association, Business Law Section
• Member, International Franchise Association
• Former Chairman, J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Raleigh-Durham Chapter
• Member, American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising
• Member of the Board of Governors, Institute of Certified Franchise Executives

Licensed State

• North Carolina

Education

• Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management
  BS in Business Management

Awards & Badges