Franchising World, March 2014

BY JOYCE MAZERO 

THE INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION believes that franchise attorneys, whether in-house or outside counsel, can – and should – be key contributors to the franchisor’s or franchisee’s executive business team. This belief is foundational to the IFA Legal Symposium’s core value proposition that program content must provide you with the opportunity to engage, discuss and obtain the legal content and problem-solving tools necessary to increase your ability to make a difference in your clients’ business environments. A task force of your peers has developed an event that will deliver on that value proposition in May and provide you with an experience that will stimulate your practice and benefit your clients.      The Legal Symposium’s brand message has consistently focused on the practical application of the law to the real problems our clients encounter: the “how-to” approach for navigating today’s challenging legal and business environment. However, for 2014, we have stepped it up and are also highlighting specific challenges that a “Regulation Nation” poses to our clients’ business environments. This year’s Legal Symposium will feature general and breakout sessions on business and legal discussions focusing on health care insurance compliance, immigration policy evolution, cyber security, food safety and nutrition disclosure, and employment issues, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, wage and hour and independent contractor status.    By so doing, we ensure that you have the opportunity to attend sessions that take on the inescapable issues of practicing law in today’s business     environment challenged by the uncertainty of a fluid economy and the political changes that affect our clients’ businesses. What follows is a summary of the plenary session, judicial update, and breakout and basics track sessions. It is intended to help you make the right choices to use your valuable time, energy and dollars to enhance your learning and networking experience where today’s important legal issues are being debated by the best, for the best.    Franchise Executives Discuss How Franchising Must Adapt    The nation’s regulatory climate has reached epic heights. Notwithstanding almost universal demand for more jobs and less burdensome opportunities for economic growth, there is a similar outcry for economic equality fueling increased regulation of business. Franchisors and franchisees share the challenges of compliance with increased regulation while staying focused on operating profitable businesses.      Counseling such companies will necessarily require an understanding of the regulations and the changes they have wrought. There is no better way to become informed than to hear seasoned franchise executives candidly address the changes that regulation in health care insurance compliance, immigration and tax policy reform, cyber security, food safety, nutrition disclosure and work force employment issues have made necessary to their businesses and the choices they have made to do business and survive in a Regulation Nation.

 

2014 Legal Symposium Snapshot

 

Judicial Update    Rather than simply summarize recent cases, program experts will identify key franchise legal trends that are affecting the franchise community and examine what the most important cases mean for the future of franchising’s legal and business operations. Expert speakers will cover trends in the franchise relationship, compliance, dispute resolution, registration, disclosure, antitrust and professional responsibility.     

 Breakout Sessions   

1. When Competitive Franchise Systems Merge    2. Antitrust Law Developments in Franchise System Pricing: Legal Principles and Best Practices    3. “I Can’t Find the Signed Franchise Agreement!” Creating and Implementing Document Retention and Management Policies that Work    4. The Affordable Care Act and Immigration: What Every Franchise Lawyer Needs to Know    5. Accounting Issues for Franchisor Lawyers: Understanding the Franchisor’s Financial Statements    6. Regulation Nation: Focus on the Food Service Franchisor – How to Comply, Survive and Thrive    7. Cyber Security, Data Security and Privacy: Solving the Compliance Puzzle    8. The Key Tax Issues and International Franchise Transactions    9. International Agency Laws: Ignorance is Not Bliss!    10. “This is Going to Cost Me What?” Lessons learned from recent accessibility class actions brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act against Burger King, Taco Bell and other Franchisors    11. Continuing Your Business During Franchise Class Actions: What You Can, Cannot, Should and Should Not Do    12. Attorney-Client Privilege Issues (Ethics Course)    13. Current Hot Topics in Franchise Registration and Disclosure    14. Making the Business Case for Franchise Standards Beyond “Because I Said So”    15. Assisting Your Client in Leveraging Its Supply Chain for Competitive Advantage    16. Looking Under the Hood: Conducting Due Diligence in Franchise Transactions    17. How to Be a “Lender-Friendly” Franchise     

Basics Track programs on franchise disclosure and registration, handling defaults and terminations, mergers and acquisitions, trademarks and intellectual property, franchise litigation best practices and expanding internationally will also be featured. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity. We look forward to seeing you in Chicago May 4 to 6 at the Marriott Downtown Chicago Magnificent Mile Hotel for the 47th Annual IFA Legal Symposium.   

Visit  http://legalsymposium.franchise.org/home  to register.

 

Joyce Mazero is a partner of the law firm Perkins Coie LLP and serves as chairwoman of the IFA 2014 Legal Symposium. Find her at  fransocial.franchise.org  .