Joe co-founded Roda & Chalfant, LLC in 2020 and serves as a partner, attorney and trusted business advisor to his clients. Since 2010, Joe has co-founded several business development companies and franchise systems, including St. Gregory Development Group, CycleBar, and Fueled Collective. Joe served as Vice President and General Counsel at St. Gregory, while overseeing the sale and compliance management of over 7,000 franchises worldwide. Following St. Gregory and CycleBar’s acquisition, Joe served as a shareholder and board member to numerous franchise systems, including Xponential Fitness (Pure Barre, Club Pilates, CycleBar, Row House, Stretch Lab, Yoga Six). Between 2008 and 2010, Joe served as General Counsel at ITS Financial. Prior to his admittance to the Ohio bar, Joe served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Centrigroup., Branch President for Allied Home Mortgage Capital, Vice President of Sales at Ohio Financial Group and he started off his career at Clear Channel Communications.
Joe focuses his practice on business and commercial law, while maintaining a heavy concentration in franchising, licensing, and distribution matters. Joe has represented and counseled clients on the various stages of business development, including formation, commercial lease review and negotiation, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, and debt restructuring. While Joe places a heavy premium on compliance standards and preemptive dispute resolution, he has represented and counseled clients in litigation and arbitration cases involving violations of federal and state franchise regulations and statutes, violations of non-compete covenants, theft of trade secrets, misrepresentation and fraud, unfair competition claims under the Lanham Act, and RICO claims, among others.
Joe’s franchising experience includes developing and structuring franchise and distribution systems; developing and assisting in the implementation of regulatory compliance and sales training programs that adhere to federal and state franchising laws; drafting and negotiating franchise and licensing agreements, area development and master franchising agreements, asset purchase agreements, security agreements, promissory notes, and related commercial contracts; counseling clients on cooperatives and drafting documents and contracts related thereto; and assisting and representing clients in complex litigation and alternative dispute resolution matters.
Joe has been a member of the Cincinnati Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, ABA’s Forum on Franchising, and the International Franchise Association. Joe also achieved the necessary credits for the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation from the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives in 2012. When not serving the needs of his clients, Joe cherishes time spent with his children, Godchildren, and extended family. Joe is an avid boater and enjoys traveling, coaching, attending and participating in sports, engaging in entrepreneurial interests and investments, and volunteering his time to various philanthropic organizations. Over the years, Joe has been actively involved in several organizations, including Lighthouse Youth Services, Toys for Tots, Junior Ivy League of Cincinnati, American Heart Association, and American Red Cross.