Where will arbitration proceedings be conducted for disputes related to the Bambu franchise?
Bambu Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If Bambu is a party to any controversy, dispute or claim, such arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., will be submitted to either the Judicial Arbiter Group or the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), as selected by the party submitting the arbitration demand, and will be heard by one arbitrator in accordance with the then current rules of AAA applicable to commercial arbitration.
The arbitrator shall be a resident of the State of Colorado, U.S.A. knowledgeable of Colorado law and fluent in English.
The arbitration proceeding and all other hearings shall be conducted in English only, although Associate shall have the right, at Associate's option and sole expense, to have a translator present at the proceeding or other hearings.
If Bambu is not a party to such controversy, dispute or claim, such arbitration proceedings shall be conducted within the area in which Franchisee's Bambū shoppe is based and will be heard by one arbitrator in accordance with the then current commercial arbitration rules of any arbitration group mutually acceptable to Franchisee and Associate, and if Franchisee and Associate cannot agree on an arbitration group within 30 days after demand for arbitration, then the AAA shall conduct such arbitration in accordance with its then current commercial arbitration rules.
The decision as to whether a claim is subject to mandatory arbitration shall be made by an arbitrator, not a court.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 52–209)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bambu's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the location of arbitration proceedings depends on whether Bambu is a party to the dispute. If Bambu is involved in the controversy, dispute, or claim, the arbitration proceedings will be conducted in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. The proceedings will be submitted to either the Judicial Arbiter Group or the American Arbitration Association (AAA), as selected by the party submitting the arbitration demand. One arbitrator will hear the case, following the then-current rules of the AAA applicable to commercial arbitration. The arbitrator must be a resident of Colorado, knowledgeable in Colorado law, and fluent in English. All arbitration proceedings and hearings will be conducted in English.
However, if Bambu is not a party to the dispute, the arbitration proceedings will be conducted within the area where the franchisee's Bambu shop is located. In this case, one arbitrator will hear the dispute, following the commercial arbitration rules of any arbitration group mutually acceptable to the franchisee and the associate. If the franchisee and associate cannot agree on an arbitration group within 30 days after a demand for arbitration, the AAA will conduct the arbitration according to its then-current commercial arbitration rules.
These stipulations are important for prospective franchisees to understand, as they dictate where and how disputes will be resolved. Franchisees should be aware that if they have a dispute with Bambu, they will likely need to travel to Denver, Colorado for arbitration. If the dispute is with an associate and not Bambu, the arbitration will occur in the vicinity of their franchise location. Franchisees should also note that the arbitrator's decision on whether a claim is subject to mandatory arbitration is final and binding.