Matthew D. Crumpton, Esq.

The Lawyer Who's Done the Job

Most franchise attorneys learned franchise law from textbooks, CLEs, and other people's deals. Matt Crumpton learned it by living it, as a CEO who built a national franchise system, grew it strategically, and then sold it. That is a perspective you simply cannot buy with a J.D. and a bar card.

The Franchise CEO Years

Matt started his legal career at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, one of Ohio's premier law firms, before taking a sharp turn into entrepreneurship. In 2011, he led the acquisition of the franchisor of D.P. Dough, a late-night calzone franchise with 17 locations, from the founder of the brand. Over the next seven years, Matt and his team modernized the brand and improved operations, including becoming the first ever restaurant brand to allow users to earn free food online by playing games on the brand's website.

Under his leadership as CEO, D.P. Dough posted 24 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth (six straight years), an achievement that reflects both operational discipline and brand strength. In 2019, Matt sold the company, giving him the opportunity to complete the full entrepreneurial cycle: buyer, builder, seller.

That experience is now directly applied to every franchise client engagement at Crumpton Legal.

Current Business Ownership

Matt does not just advise business owners; he is one. He currently owns and operates campgrounds in Ohio with his business partner, Jerry DePizzo.

Beyond the Law

Matt is the host and creator of Solving JFK, a podcast and investigative series that has accumulated over 4 million downloads and reached the Top 15 History Podcast charts on Apple and Spotify. In 2023, he appeared in JFK: What the Doctors Saw (Paramount). He is also a co-author of The JFK Assassination Chokeholds.

He is also the founder of Music Loves Ohio, a nonprofit that has distributed over $150,000 in grants to Ohio musicians and music organizations. And he plays piano, bass, and guitar in The Winnie Cooper Project, a 90s rap jam band that plays festivals and private events throughout the Midwest.

The Legal Practice

Crumpton Legal LLC focuses on four core areas: franchise law, business acquisitions and sales, small business law, and commercial lease negotiation. The firm represents both sides of the table in franchise transactions: franchisors building systems and franchisees evaluating investments.

For discrete projects like Franchise Disclosure Document reviews and commercial lease negotiations, we offer flat fees. For franchisor FDD creation, business sales, and start-up counsel, we offer capped fees. Either way, you know the cost before we begin.

The firm serves Ohio and Midwest clients and franchise clients nationwide.