No franchisee may prospectively assent to a release, assignment, novation, waiver or estoppel which would relieve any person from any liability or obligation under this part, or would require any controversy between a franchisor or franchisee to be referred to any person other than the duly constituted courts of this state or the United States, or a state regulatory agency charged by law with adjudicating such controversy, if the referral would be binding on the franchisee.