Thomas J. Kent, Jr. is the chief executive officer of Saxton & Stump and co-chair of the firm’s Franchising, Licensing and Distribution group. As CEO, Tom provides strategic direction for the firm’s continued growth, guiding initiatives that enhance client service, drive innovation, and expand the firm’s regional and national presence. His business background and experience leading complex franchise organizations inform his approach to firm leadership and long-term strategy.
A seasoned business lawyer with nearly three decades of experience, Tom counsels middle-market franchise brands on regulatory matters, litigation matters, and brand development. He advises U.S.-based and international brands expanding into the U.S. market on state and federal compliance matters as well as the documentation, negotiation, and enforcement of franchise agreements. His work also includes developing and protecting national and international brands through trademark and copyright management, and advising clients on franchising growth, monetization, and exit strategies, as well as mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions.
Before joining Saxton & Stump, Tom was the President of the Kent Franchise Law Group and previously served as the co-chair of Fox Rothschild’s Franchising, Licensing and Distribution Practice. Earlier in his career, he served as in-house counsel with Cottman Transmission Systems LLC, where he advanced to Director of Center Development before entering private practice.
Tom brings an owner’s and executive’s perspective to leadership, developed through years of building, governing, and investing in franchise-based businesses. He is a franchise owner, serves on the Board of Directors of an international franchise brand and was previously an owner of a U.S.-based franchise system. This breadth of experience gives him a practical understanding of growth strategy, risk management, and operational execution, all of which contributed to his selection as Saxton & Stump’s second-generation CEO.
He is an active member of the International Franchise Association and the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising and is widely recognized within the franchise community for his practical, business-minded approach.
