Attorney Kevin McCarthy

08/24/2025

Your Dunkin’ Lease is one of your Most Valuable Assets – Protect It

Dear Dunkin’ Franchisee,

Your lease isn’t just paperwork — it’s one of the most valuable business assets you own. The terms you sign today will shape your profitability, security, and flexibility for years to come.

That’s where I come in.

I’m Kevin McCarthy, Attorney at Law, with more than 30 years inside the Dunkin’ system — including service as Vice President of Real Estate Development & Operations at Dunkin’ and as past Chair of the Dunkin’ Donuts Independent Franchise Owners (DDIFO). I’ve spent decades representing Dunkin’ franchisees nationwide in lease work, business sales, and acquisitions.

Here’s how I can help you:

• Lease Drafting, Negotiation & Renewal – I have extensive experience drafting Dunkin’-related leases from scratch. Whether you are the landlord or the tenant, I know how to structure terms that protect your interests and maximize your long-term value.

• Franchise Purchases & Sales – Buying or selling a Dunkin’ business? I’ve represented franchisees in transactions from single shops to dozens of units.

• Franchise Agreement Review – I’ll help you fully understand your opportunities obligations and avoid costly surprises.
Simply put: I know Dunkin’ leases and the Dunkin’ business inside and out. I deliver high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective legal services designed specifically for Dunkin’ franchise owners like you.

If you want to protect your investment, strengthen your financial position, and avoid expensive mistakes, let’s talk.

Reach me directly at 781-534-0509 or [email protected].

I look forward to helping you secure the strongest possible foundation for your Dunkin’ business.

Best regards,
Kevin R. McCarthy
Attorney at Law
Cohasset, MA

08/15/2024

😊👍🙏

I have reached 100 followers! Thank you for your continued support. I could not have done it without each of you. 🙏🤗🎉

06/12/2024

I have reached 100 followers! Thank you for your continued support. I could not have done it without each of you. 🙏🤗🎉

02/22/2024

I first met Dick many years ago when I was a new N.E. Director of Operations. There was a rustle outside my office as Dick and his fellow Dunkin’ franchisee and sidekick Dave breezed past the office administrators to introduce themselves. Bizarrely they had just landed at a nearby private airport with Dave piloting his own small plane 🛩️. Coming from working with more grounded franchisees, in Florida and the Mid-Atlantic, I wasn’t used to such dramatic franchisee entrances.

Thus began a multi-decade business and personal relationship with Dick and his ever smiling radiant wife and loyal very hard working children. They built their Dunkin’ shop into several other Dunkin’s over the years as I built my own business career. After I left Dunkin’, and became an attorney, Dick was one of my first clients. I often helped him and his family with leases and other Dunkin’ transactions and matters over the years.

There is not enough space in this post to talk about all the strengths and virtues of Dick. But every great franchise system is built and sustained on leaders like him. While he could be blunt and critical at times, Dick was ultimately always a team player. He loved being a leader in his district and he loved the Dunkin business and most of all working with his fellow franchisees.

Before successful franchises like Dunkin’ become marketing behemoths they must first grow and succeed by their shop operational prowess. Day by day. 50 pound hand made donut 🍩 batch by batch. Fresh brewed coffee ☕️ ever 20 minutes - all the time - often 24 hours a day. Dick and his daughters and sons ran some of the best operations in the system.

When it came time for the chain to advertise more, and on TV especially, this was a big change for the system. Dick was a key leader who worked hard and aggressively to convince his fellow franchises to contribute an extra 2% of their sales - dedicated mostly to national TV 📺 and other such programs. It was a lot of money for franchisees at the time and the prospects were not certain at all. Dick was one of the key “bridge leaders”that convinced other operators to take the chance. Increased advertising spend was an almost instant success and led Dunkin’ into becoming the marketing maven it is today - behold the recent Superbowl DunKings ad and resulting national buzz and favorable attention to the brand.

As time moved on Dick and his family decided it was time to sell their stores and they called me to help out with the process and represent them. Sadly, during the transaction Dick passed away but he left a very admirable legacy for his family and a footprint in the ongoing Dunkin’ saga.

We enjoyed great dinners, conversations and times together. Dick would occasionally send me articles about the franchise business which we would chat about over the phone or at one of our lunches or dinners. He once sent me a pure pewter key 🔑 chain attachment molded in the shape of a Dunkin’ Donut cup.

I’ll miss him and working with his family on their Dunkin’ business and I was indeed fortunate to work with and know Dick and be his friend and witness a great franchise leader help build a great franchise.

Today we Closed on the sale of Dick’s Dunkin’ shops. Tomorrow I think I’ll take the day off. Monday I’m on to a new Dunkin’ deal.

01/29/2024

Found this picture amongst some old papers 😊. Fred the Baker (Michael Vale) starred in some of the most memorable TV ads in retailing history. The Time to Make the Donuts ads are iconic and still entertaining to watch.

Michael would meet regularly with Dunkin’ employees and franchisees at our conventions and other occasions. Always had interesting stories about being in show business. Warm, considerate and always fun.

I remember being on a Boston radio talk show with him once. We were sitting in our designated places before the show began - just relaxing and chatting with the announcer. I was rather intimidated by all the equipment and lights and reverberating sounds of a studio. I was struck by how casual Michael was. Friendly but casual and very much like a regular person sitting at a coffee shop actually. He was not very animated - to the point that I wondered if he was not feeling well.

Then the countdown began and as soon as we were on air Michael instantly and completely transformed into Fred the Baker. Totally focused and animated and entertaining as always. I knew I was watching a real pro and that prior to the opening he was probably just conserving energy and focus, to be used for performing in character as Fred the Baker. If you have ever seen professional actors or actresses close up prior to and in performance you probably know what I mean. Kind of jarring actually to see someone completely change character right before your eyes.

I was always more appreciative of the skill and discipline of professional entertainers after watching Michael Vale transform into Fred the Baker - right before my eyes 😊👍❤️.

12/15/2023

I first met Jose when he was a donut flour covered manager for his later partner -a Boston area multi-unit Dunkin’ franchisee. Some years ago he moved his family down south and opened his own Dunkin’ shop that became a shall chain in itself.

Jose called me a year ago to help him sell a few of his Dunkin’ shops. For those of you who know these kind of deals it’s been a journey. A couple of false starts, a deal that busted in the middle of the transaction, some trickery, panic, confusion, lost hope, found hope, legal minutiae that almost killed the final deal and a dramatic encounter with a banker in Chicago who balked at the end - until greater forces and wiser minds prevailed. You know the routine. I’m not a big fan of Donald Trump but he is right - a good deal is more art than science.

This deal began on the back of the proverbial napkin, which Jose rather wisely negotiated. The basic deal involved several complicated leases and featured a rather new Dunkin’ location he developed himself. Originally from Portugal Jose sold these shops to a family or group from India. The new owners have the same excitement and joy and energy that Jose used to have, and still has, when he began his entrepreneurial journey in America. They will be very successful just as he was - and still is.

Now I sit in a Dunkin’ shop contemplating this deal and sipping on an exotic colorful cold drink that looks like something from a Star Wars movie. Not sure how healthy it is or even what’s in it but it sure is delicious. 😋.

As many of you know when you are working on a complicated business transaction the last 2 weeks is a confusing sleepless blur - the kind where you seem to wake up at the end realizing you haven’t shaved or bathed 🧼 or changed your cloths in a week or so. Those around you worry you have finally lost it but finally you joyfully bath in the warmth of a completed ✔️ deal. If you know you know.

I have couple more deals in the works but it’s the end of the year and I have family coming home for the holidays. I promised them a real backyard New England lobster bake 🦞. I’ve bought all the equipment which I’m now going to learn how to use . The next deal can wait until January.

The year has ended well for me and I wish you all a great and hopefully 🙏 peaceful holiday season. See you on the other side. 😊👍❤️☕️🍩.

10/17/2023

I remember helping conduct a consumer study, while an executive at Dunkin’, which showed that the number one ☝️ desire of customers, by far, with regard to donuts, was for Freshness.

We even presented it to the executive board at the time - to the consternation of those advocating remote kitchens - which is the direction the company went - and which led to rapid shop growth.

At 135 shops so far, this chain seems to validate and feed into those freshness findings. Will be watching to see how it pans out 😊😎❤️🍩☕️.

The franchise boasts more than 135 locations in 25 states and Puerto Rico.

The franchise boasts more than 135 locations in 25 states and Puerto Rico. But until last weekend, it wasn't found anywhere in New England

05/24/2023

I just represented a long time wonderful couple in the sale of their last Dunkin’ shop. Now they set off for a well deserved retirement 👍. They were originally Mr. Donut franchisees who converted to Dunkin’ in the early 90’s. I remember them coming into the Dunkin’ system - a decision they made with trepidation but they now conclude it was the best business decision they ever made. I agree.

They showed me pictures of them and their children standing in front of the original Mr. . Donut and then Dunkin’ shop. They told me it was a bitter sweet moment today as they will miss being part of the Dunkin’ family, their customers and employees.

While clearing out old papers and boxes the husband came across letters and other correspondence signed by myself. I was an area Director or Vice-President at the time. Brought back many memories for all of us. We smiled. I greeted them when they came into Dunkin’ now I’m saying goodbye on their way out. Some 30 years later. Strange feeling.

We are meeting for breakfast 🥞 tomorrow to finish a couple of items. We decided to meet at 7am. They wanted to meet earllier but the place we’re meeting at opens at 7am. Early risers and hard workers is what built and sustained Dunkin’ - especially in the early days. If you know you know 😊🍩☕️

09/02/2022

Just finished the last paragraph of 2 insightful books on the Fifties and am sipping some great coffee while reflecting on the exterior design of the below Dunkin’ shop.

The openness and window space were first used by Dunkin’ in the Fifties. Not at all the more closed New England formality of the outdoor awnings it replaced. I believe the new open style came from California where new trends often emerged in those days. Interesting that a strongly New England based fast food chain would become nationally famous using a not-so-New England design from California. At any rate sales increased rapidly after Dunkin’ went with the more open design of their donut 🍩 shops.

Deep cultural and social trends we’re changing rapidly after WWII. The post war generation was more demanding of openness and transparency in their social and political institutions. People wanted to participate and feel connected. Change was truly in the wind and these powerful new social trends led to dramatic changes in our politics and social values. Think the Sixties. And beyond to this day where the mission of universal connection drives Facebook and other social media giants that dominate our culture. And reality TV that places a premium on bringing us so too close to the lives of others. To say nothing of the expanding drive of civil and politics rights since the Fifties. These post WWII trends were powerful and still predominant today.

Of course, this did not begin in a coffee ☕️ and donut 🍩 shop in Quincy MA. But I’d suggest that one of the main driving forces behind the national success of Dunkin’ was that this then emerging chain, with its open windows, where you could easily see people inside - including interior windows where you could watch the bakers - spoke to the new and powerful trends of Openness, Connection and Transparency that society was asking for and then soon demanding of its institutions.

Dunkin’ shops in the Fifties were not all that different in their actual products than other donut shops but by their very design they spoke to and resonated with powerful emerging social trends and that made all the difference. Makes me wonder if there are new trends emerging today worth reflecting on? And how we could best transform our businesses and institutions to serve them?

08/24/2022

I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Constable at Town of Cohasset! Glad to continue serving my local community in this part time function while continuing my law practice and service on civic boards such as the Safe Harbor Cohasset Coalition and my local American Legion Post! 😊👍

08/08/2022

Reading David Halberstam's chapter on Rosa Parks, in his book The Fifties, this morning brought back an almost forgotten memory. I was the general manager of the Atlanta division of a chain of about 25 sandwich shops called Stand 'N Snack in 1975. I was in my twenties and eager to make good as a general manager. Jesse, a black man of considerable skill and respect, who ran the central commissary operations, came to me one afternoon and told me that Reverend Martin Luther King's birthday was coming up and many of the store managers and employees (most of whom where black) wanted to close down the sandwich shops fifteen minutes early on his birthday - about 3:45 pm instead of 4:00 pm - out of respect for MLK.

To be honest I didn't know what to do. Jesse and I were friends and I was struck by how respectfully he was making such a modest request. I think he also indicated that this request was being made to other businesses in Atlanta. As an ambitiuous young general manger I also thought about what headquarters in Jacksonville Fl would think about this, and me, if I agreed to close all the shops in Atlanta 15 minutes early as a tribute to MLK. I believe I called the President of the company (who also happened to be my brother Denis) and from memory he seemed unsure what to do either - but I think he left it up to me.

I ended up agreeing to allowing the shops to close 15 minutes early and, to be honest, I think part of the decision was that hardly anyone would notice. There was no sandwich business that time of day and some shops probably closed a little early sometimes anyways.

I remember flyers, created by Jesse and other employees, were sent to the shops via their commissary deliveries telling the managers they could close their shops 15 minutes early on MLK's birthday. I also remember being rather embarrassed that such a modest request and respectful tribute to MLK had to made. But closing the shops early obviously meant a great deal to Jesse, the managers and employees.

This is one of those life events you rarely think of and quickly let pass-on-by. But, in reflection, I wish I had better understood, at the time, how important this simply act of remembrance and respect meant to Jesse and the shop employees. As MLK's birthday became a federal holiday in 1983 I was, in hindsight, lucky enough to get a visceral feeling of what drove the movement to make it a federal holiday. And right there in Atlanta GA - a number of blocks from the Ebenezer Baptist Church where MLK delivered his first sermon in 1947 and where he was a co-pastor with his father "Daddy King" until 1968.