What Clients Say About Working with pelangilawina
Franchise registration, agreement drafting, and IP licensing — each engagement reflects the same commitment to clarity and careful legal work.
Back to HomeExperiences from Our Clients
Reviews reflect work across franchise registration, agreement drafting, and licensing matters handled by the firm.
"We had been operating what we thought was a licensing model, not realising it qualified as a franchise under the Act. Ahmad and the team identified this early and managed the MDTCA registration efficiently. What could have been a compliance issue was resolved without disruption to our commercial schedule."
"Priya reviewed our franchise agreement before we signed on as a franchisee. She flagged three clauses we would not have noticed — one around automatic renewal and two around territorial exclusivity. That review changed our negotiating position entirely. Worth every ringgit."
"We brought in pelangilawina to structure our trademark licensing arrangement with a manufacturing partner. Clarence explained the competition law dimensions — which we had not considered at all — and the final agreement was tighter than anything we could have produced internally. The process took slightly longer than expected, but the outcome was sound."
"Our group was expanding an education franchise from Malaysia into two neighbouring countries. The team mapped the compliance differences between jurisdictions clearly and drafted a master franchise structure that worked for both markets. Clear, structured, and no surprises."
"As a foreign franchisor entering Malaysia, the MDTCA registration process was unfamiliar territory. Ahmad's team guided us from start to finish — including the disclosure document and the adjustments needed for the local operations manual. Registration was completed within the timeframe they indicated."
"I approached pelangilawina after a dispute arose with a sub-licensee over what the agreement actually permitted. The team reviewed the original document and provided a clear assessment of where the drafting was ambiguous. Their advice helped us reach a resolution without escalating the matter further."
Selected Client Journeys
Three examples of how pelangilawina has worked with businesses at different stages of franchise or licensing development.
Challenge
A Kuala Lumpur-based F&B operator had built a recognisable brand across five outlets over four years and was approached by two parties interested in opening under the same name. The operator had no formal franchise structure in place and no awareness of the mandatory MDTCA registration requirement before any franchise could be offered.
Solution
pelangilawina conducted an initial audit of existing operational documents, identified the gaps relative to MDTCA requirements, and prepared a full franchise disclosure document and compliant franchise agreement. The operations manual was reviewed and legally annotated. The registration application was submitted and tracked through to approval.
Outcome
Registration completed within 14 weeks. The client signed two franchise agreements within 6 weeks of registration and has since expanded to eight franchised outlets. A revised template agreement was produced for subsequent franchise offers, incorporating lessons from the first two negotiations.
Challenge
A technology firm had developed a proprietary software platform and received interest from partners in three markets who wished to distribute it under a white-label arrangement. The internal team had drafted heads of agreement but had not addressed quality control, audit rights, or the competition law implications of proposed territorial restrictions.
Solution
pelangilawina reviewed the heads of agreement, identified competition law exposure under the Competition Act 2010 related to the territorial restriction structure, and restructured the licensing arrangement. Full licensing agreements were drafted for each market with market-appropriate quality control mechanisms and audit provisions.
Outcome
All three licensing agreements were executed without material negotiation disputes. The competition law restructuring removed the territorial exclusivity that had created exposure, replacing it with a non-exclusive arrangement with performance milestones. The client has since renewed two of the three agreements.
Challenge
An established education franchisor with 12 centres across Malaysia wished to enter two regional markets through master franchise arrangements. The existing franchise agreement was designed for direct franchising and did not address the different obligations of a master franchisee or the sub-franchising rights to be granted.
Solution
pelangilawina drafted separate master franchise agreements for each target market, adapted to local regulatory differences. Sub-franchise agreement templates were produced for use by each master franchisee. The existing franchise disclosure document was reviewed for applicability and supplemented with market-specific annexures.
Outcome
Master franchise agreements were signed in both markets within the client's commercial timeline. Sub-franchising commenced in the first market within 4 months of master agreement execution. The client now uses the sub-franchise template produced by the firm as its standard offering document in both markets.
Reach the Firm
No. 42, Jalan Bangsar
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Mon–Fri: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sun & Public Holidays: Closed
Professional Credentials
- All advocates — Members of the Malaysian Bar, current practising certificates
- Practice established 2009 — 15+ years in franchise and licensing law
- Professional Member — Franchise Asia Network
- PDPA compliant handling of all client information
- Two-stage document review on every matter before delivery
Ready to Discuss Your Franchise or Licensing Needs?
Each engagement at pelangilawina begins with a clear-eyed conversation about what you need — and what it will take to achieve it.
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