Melissa Castoro | Director of Brand Strategy

Director of Brand Strategy

Melissa Castoro is the Director of Brand Strategy at The Internicola Law Firm, where she has spent over a decade helping entrepreneurs transform their businesses into thriving franchise systems. As a core member of the firm’s management team, Melissa oversees strategy, development, and client experience, ensuring that every franchisor we represent is prepared for growth and supported by services that align legal protection with real-world franchise strategy.

Franchise Growth Lifecycle Expertise
Melissa has worked with hundreds of franchise brands, seeing firsthand how successful systems evolve — from the launch of a single location, to multi-state franchising, to national growth and acquisition. Her role is centered on guiding founders and leadership teams through this lifecycle, building the strategic alignment and infrastructure needed to accelerate growth while avoiding common pitfalls.

Client Strategy & Service Delivery
At Internicola, Melissa plays a pivotal role in connecting client goals with firm strategy. She oversees the development and delivery of support services across Franchise Launch and Growth Counsel programs, ensuring that every franchisor receives not only legal compliance but also the tools, timelines, and resources they need to move forward with confidence.

FranIQ® Architecture
Melissa is one of the architects behind FranIQ®, our proprietary compliance and client support platform. From its inception, she has shaped FranIQ into a system that delivers transparency, efficiency, and real-time visibility for franchisors navigating state registrations, FDD updates, and deal flow.

Education & Background
Melissa graduated from Kean University with a degree in Media & Film and has built her career at the intersection of strategy, client development, and brand growth. Today, she is recognized as a trusted advisor to franchisors nationwide and a driving force behind the firm’s reputation as a leading national franchise law firm.