Tariffs may seem like a headline reserved for economists and politicians, but at last week’s International Franchise Association (IFA) Legal Symposium in Washington D.C., they were front and center in nearly every room. From breakout panels to sidebar conversations, franchise lawyers zeroed in on how shifting tariff policies are impacting supply chains, vendor relationships,
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Get Ready! SBA Franchise Directory Returning on June 1st
A positive development for franchise systems seeking to streamline the SBA loan approval process for their franchisees is coming this summer. The new version of the SBA Loan Origination Policies and Procedures for Lender and Development Company Loan Programs will revive its “Franchise Directory” effective June 1st. The Franchise Directory was discontinued in 2023 after…
Big Deals and Bigger Takeaways: The Future of Platform Franchisors
Today is Day 1 of Franchise Times Dealmakers Week. The webinar series is serving up a week of can’t-miss conversations with top franchise leaders who are building platforms, scaling brands, and reshaping the future of franchising. As a transactional and regulatory franchise attorney, these webinars provide valuable industry deal insight.
The week kicked off…
IFA Takeaway: How AI in Franchising is Driving Growth, Sales, and Competitive Edge
IFA Takeaways: How Smart Franchisors Stay Out of Court
The International Franchise Association’s Annual Convention is always filled with useful take home information for franchise practitioners. Last week, I attended the session “Proactive Strategies for Franchisors to Prevent Litigation Risks” with panelists Don Fox (Former CEO of Firehouse Subs), Michael Seid (Managing Director of MSA Worldwide) and Bret Lowell (Partner at DLA Piper). It…
Corporate Transparency Act Back in Effect: March 21 Is the New Deadline to File Beneficial Ownership Reports
Non-Competes Under the Microscope: NASAA’s Latest Guidance for Franchisors
Recently, the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc.’s (“NASAA”) Franchise and Business Opportunities Project Group (“FPG”) issued guidance on post-term non-compete clauses in the context of the franchise business model (“Guidance”).
The FPG is a standing committee of NASAA comprised of state franchise examiners that study and makes recommendations to NASAA about model acts, statements…
FDD Update Season: Is it time to call your Franchise Litigator?
Contributed by Ari N. Stern, Esq.
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 wonderful (and busiest) time of the year.
Under the Federal Trade Commission – Franchise Rule (the…
Should the Litigation be in State or Federal Court?
Deciding whether to choose state or federal court can be outcome determinative. This is particularly important in deciding to remove a case from state to federal court. Some state franchise statutes clearly allow a court to enjoin threatened or actual violations of the franchisee protective statutes. Federal courts, however, answer to Congress, and under the…
After a Dizzying Series of Court Twists, the CTA is Halted. Again!
Key Takeaway: A Texas federal judge issued a nationwide injunction, but it was stayed by an appeals court. Now that stay has been lifted — so the injunction is in force again.
As the year-end filing deadline approached for the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), we’ve seen a dizzying series of court rulings that put a…