Victoria Hobbs is a partner in Bird & Bird's International Dispute Resolution Group in London where she specialises primarily in resolving disputes arising out of franchise, licence, distribution and agency agreements. With deep expertise of acting for clients in the retail, hotel & leisure and food & beverage sectors, Victoria advises companies who have expanded - in the UK and abroad - via multi-channel strategies, including franchising, licensing, distribution and agency relationships, on all stages of the dispute avoidance and resolution process. She regularly works with clients on pre-contractual disclosure documents and audits of recruitment materials (to minimise the exposure to misrepresentation and breach of contract claims) and advise on termination rights; managing franchisee/licensee performance issues; and strategies to avoid the escalation of network-wide franchisee/licensee unrest as well as supply chain issues and management and general dispute avoidance strategy advice. Victoria advises clients on the protection of their trade secrets, know-how and goodwill from exploitation by former franchisees or licensees, including enforcing post-termination obligations and restrictions through injunctive relief. She has extensive experience of mediation, litigation and arbitration and, in addition to my significant UK disputes expertise, I advise clients on cross border disputes arising from their global multi-channel expansion programmes. Victoria is a regular contributor to industry publications and often speaks at trade events and seminars.