Is the All County arbitration proceeding confidential?

According to All County's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the arbitration proceedings are generally confidential. Specifically, the FDD states that the entire arbitration proceedings, including rulings, decisions, and orders made by the arbitrator, will remain confidential. This means that the details of the arbitration cannot be disclosed to anyone other than the parties involved in the Agreement, unless disclosure is required by law.

This confidentiality clause is designed to protect both All County and the franchisee by keeping sensitive business and legal information private. This can be beneficial for franchisees as it prevents details of disputes from becoming public knowledge, which could potentially harm their business or reputation. Similarly, it protects All County's proprietary information and business practices.

However, it's important to note the exception that confidentiality is not required if disclosure is mandated by law. This means that if a court or legal authority requires the disclosure of information related to the arbitration, the confidentiality clause would not prevent such disclosure. Prospective franchisees should consider the implications of this confidentiality clause and the potential exceptions when evaluating the franchise agreement.