January officially starts the “Franchise Disclosure Document (“FDD”) Update Season”. And for franchise lawyers that focus on representing franchisors in the development of FDDs and related tasks, it is arguably the most...more
A franchisor may pursue claims for declaratory and injunctive relief for potential trademark infringement against a former prospective franchisee even though the prospect never actually used the marks in question. Grainier...more
The FTC administers the federal franchise sales law, which requires all franchisors engaged in franchise sales in the United States to deliver a franchise disclosure document (FDD) to their prospective franchise buyers unless...more
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) latest policy statement aims to dictate the outcome of contract negotiations between franchisors and their franchisees and to limit the potential negative impact on franchisees of...more
A bill passed by the California Senate on May 22, 2024, Senate Bill No. 919 (“Bill 919”), will address a gap in the regulation of franchise sales – namely, a lack of transparency regarding the role and background of...more
On April 23, 2034, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a final rule intended to ban the use and enforcement of most non-compete clauses signed by workers. The new rule is not in effect yet. It will become...more
The Securities Division of the Indiana Secretary of State issued a press release this week announcing that it filed an administrative complaint against Florida based Mac and Cheese Franchise Operations LLC and its parent...more
A Tennessee federal district court granted a franchisee’s request for a preliminary injunction to prevent the franchisor from enforcing noncompete restrictions under the franchise agreement while the franchisee litigated its...more
A federal court in Illinois recently granted partial summary judgment to LMLC Franchising, LLC (LMLC-F), LMLC Management, LLC (LMLC-M), and Todd Barnhardt on claims brought by John Doe and Aylin & Ramtin, LLC (A&R) for breach...more
Are you a small business owner who has considered franchising your business? Franchising can be a great way to expand your company's physical presence, grow your revenue, and increase your brand recognition....more
Attorneys representing Latin American brands in the United States should understand that entry into the US market requires careful strategy, planning and due consideration for the variety of legal issues that arise from...more
Drive down almost any busy street, and you'll see numerous examples of well-known franchises, from McDonald's to Ace Hardware. You may have considered opening a franchise and wondered about the potential rewards and...more
Historically, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has shied away from regulating the substance of franchisor-franchisee relationships. A recent FTC press release, however, suggests this may soon change. If so, it is by no...more
Federal law requires franchisors to update their franchise disclosure documents (“FDD”) within 120 days after their fiscal year end (“FYE”). State registrations must also be renewed annually. Here are ten best practices for...more
The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) recently adopted a statement of policy that will limit the use of Questionnaires and Acknowledgements in Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) and franchise...more
A poke restaurant franchisee in Ohio sued the franchisor for violation of the California Franchise Investment Law (CFIL) and other claims. The franchisor defendants moved to dismiss the claims. A California federal court...more
This fall we posted about the North American Securities Administrators’ (NASAA) adoption of a Statement of Policy Regarding the Use of Franchise Questionnaires and Acknowledgments (the “SOP”). Technically, NASAA’s SOP...more
On November 3-4, 2022, at the American Bar Association’s 45th Annual Forum on Franchising, Marc A. Lieberstein, Partner at Kilpatrick Townsend, and Lee Plave, Partner at Plave Koch PLC, presented Coming To America: So You...more
When a business is deciding to franchise its concept, the task “to-do” list is never-ending. Identifying the most critical issues and deciphering what are “necessities” vs. “nice-ities” for an emerging brand was the topic of...more
The North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (“NASAA”) has just adopted a new policy regarding the use of franchise questionnaires and acknowledgments in the franchise sales process. In its Statement of...more
As expected, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) announced last week that it voted to adopt a “Statement of Policy Regarding the Use of Franchise Questionnaires and Acknowledgements” (NASAA...more
On March 16, 2022, the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee held a hearing on the Small Business Administration’s future on guaranteeing lenders’ loans to franchisees under S.1120, the Small Business Administration Franchise...more
In the last year, we reviewed three attacks on franchising, questioned whether franchising was in the crosshairs of federal regulators and legislators, and concluded that the answer was yes....more
A Minnesota federal court ruled in favor of a franchise broker on summary judgment. The court dismissed misrepresentation claims brought by a military veteran who alleged unlawful inducement to invest in a failed kickboxing...more
Earlier this year, we questioned whether franchising was in the crosshairs of federal regulators and legislators. It appears that the answer may be a resounding yes....more