Grand Hyatt Washington
1000 H St NW
Washington , DC 20001
United States
Martine de Koning is an expert in franchise, distribution and agency transactions and litigation. She combines in-depth knowledge of EU and competition law with a deep understanding of commerce and trade. She is praised for her “sharp strategic insight, knowledge and creativity in providing solutions”.
Tony is a commercial and franchise lawyer and an accredited business law specialist with 40 years’ experience practicing both in-house and private law firms. He brings a wealth of knowledge and a practical approach in advising clients.
Olivia GAST is a Mediator and international franchise Attorney. Managing partner for her boutique international franchising law firm in Paris, France, since about 10 years, she advises Franchisors and Master Franchisees in France, Switzerland, Europe and around the world. She drafts agreements with a strategic and business-oriented approach, uses her strong negoctiation skills to make the deals go through, as well as litigates when relevant.
She is also a Certified Arbitrator and Mediator.
A US and EU trained lawyer, Catherine is Counsel at Van Bael & Bellis, Brussels, where her practice focuses on EU competition law.
Damian Humphrey leads Ashtons Legal’s nationally recognized franchise team, which provides a first-class service to many of the country’s leading franchise brands. His work involves helping franchisors set up and grow their franchise networks with a particular emphasis on helping franchisors expanding their brands internationally.
Dominic Hui is one of the founding partners of Ribeiro Hui.
Samata Masagee practices in the area of corporate law, with particular focus on public and private mergers and acquisitions, joint venture transactions, corporate reorganisations, antitrust and general corporate and regulatory matters. Her clients include companies in a range of sectors including energy, technology and telecommunications, consumer goods and retail.
Thomas is advising international franchisors on their operations in Russia for approx. 30 years. Among his clients are high profile US and European brands in many different industries, including food and beverages, real estate, leisure and fashion. Besides Thomas has advised major US and European businesses on significant investments in Russia.
Melissa Murray is Head of the Middle East Intellectual Property Department and co-head of the international Franchising Practice for Bird & Bird LLP. She is ranked as a Thought Leader by International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers on franchising, a Global Market Leader in Chambers & Partners for international franchising, in Legal 500 for Commercial and Intellectual Property law and in World Trademark Review 1000 for Intellectual Property.
Jim Paretti is a Shareholder at Littler Mendelson, PC in Washington DC, and a senior member of the Firm’s Workplace Policy Institute. Jim has over two decades of experience working with federal legislators and policymakers, including former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Chairmen of the U.S.
Lee Plave is a co-founding partner of Plave Koch PLC, an entrepreneurial law firm in Reston, Virginia. He counsels franchisors and distributors, drafts, and negotiates agreements for international and domestic transactions, and advises clients on all aspects of franchise and distribution law.
Peter Snell is a partner in the Franchise Group at Cassels, assisting clients to expand their franchise businesses in Canada and around the world. With a unique blend of business law and intellectual property law experience, Peter is well positioned to address key intellectual property issues and incorporate them into successful strategic planning.
Tao Xu devotes his practice to franchising and distribution matters, especially international franchising, licensing and distribution transactions. He counsels a broad range of clients in their international expansions, including master franchising, multi-unit licensing, area development, single-unit licensing and direct investment (both joint venture and wholly owned). Mr. Xu is particularly active in food and beverage, hospitality and leisure, and retail industries, having acted for a number of high-profile US brands in their international expansion efforts.
Who's Who Legal calls Carl Zwisler a “Global Elite Thought Leader ... known for his impressive international practice. He is skilled in drafting and executing franchise agreements spanning multiple jurisdictions and is a go-to lawyer for complex mandates.” Chambers Global writes: “He has encyclopedic knowledge and is one of the best in the world. He is seen as a leader in his field.” He resides in the Washington, DC suburb of Bethesda, Maryland.
Workshop 1: Supply Chain Challenges and Their Impact on International Franchising
Workshop 2: How to Deal with Geopolitical Risks in International Franchising
Workshop 3: Litigation or Dispute Resolution - Unwinding a Joint Venture
The EU Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) will expire on 31 May 2022, to be replaced by a new set of rules (‘new draft VBER’). In this session a panel of speakers from the EU as well as USA will summarize the new rules, pointing out changes to the current framework and discussing the impact for franchisors and franchisees active in the EU.
Join us for a conversation with two international franchising veterans on how international franchising has faced the recent challenges, whether it remains an attractive arrangement for both franchisors and franchisees, and what steps can be taken by the relevant stakeholders to better allocate the risks going forward.
Workshop 1: Supply Chain Challenges and Their Impact on International Franchising
Workshop 2: How to Deal with Geopolitical Risks in International Franchising
Workshop 3: Litigation or Dispute Resolution - Unwinding a Joint Venture
A panel of expert franchise law practitioners from select countries around the world will discuss recent and topical legal developments affecting franchising in their countries.
Workshop 1: Supply Chain Challenges and Their Impact on International Franchising
Workshop 2: How to Deal with Geopolitical Risks in International Franchising
Workshop 3: Litigation or Dispute Resolution - Unwinding a Joint Venture
The EU Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) will expire on 31 May 2022, to be replaced by a new set of rules (‘new draft VBER’). In this session a panel of speakers from the EU as well as USA will summarize the new rules, pointing out changes to the current framework and discussing the impact for franchisors and franchisees active in the EU.
Join us for a conversation with two international franchising veterans on how international franchising has faced the recent challenges, whether it remains an attractive arrangement for both franchisors and franchisees, and what steps can be taken by the relevant stakeholders to better allocate the risks going forward.
Workshop 1: Supply Chain Challenges and Their Impact on International Franchising
Workshop 2: How to Deal with Geopolitical Risks in International Franchising
Workshop 3: Litigation or Dispute Resolution - Unwinding a Joint Venture
A panel of expert franchise law practitioners from select countries around the world will discuss recent and topical legal developments affecting franchising in their countries.
To contact the IFA Conferences Department, please email
events@franchise.org or call 202-662-0763.
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