Franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein, founder of Goldstein Law Firm, PLLC, will speak at the Franchise Times Legal Eagles Virtual Summit on April 10, 2024. The Virtual Summit takes place from 11:00am EST to 4:00pm EST.
Registration for the Legal Eagles Virtual Summit is complimentary, and anyone who wants to attend can register online. Registrants have the ability to submit a question during the registration process in order to “be part of the conversation” on April 10.
The Franchise Times’ 2024 Legal Eagles Virtual Summit
The Franchise Times is billing the 2024 Legal Eagles Virtual Summit as an opportunity to, “get a little pro bono legal insight from our panel of top franchise attorneys as we examine the legal landscape in 2024 and beyond.” As the publication goes on to explain, “From state and federal regulatory actions to trademark protection, franchise sales compliance and the influence of AI, we’ll cover key intel franchisees and franchisors need to know to position their businesses for success.”
In addition to Mr. Goldstein speaking during the Legal Eagles Virtual Summit, Goldstein Law Firm, PLLC is also sponsoring the event.
Mr. Goldstein is scheduled to be a member of a panel that will discuss the topic, “Franchisees Versus Franchisors: Holy War, Cold War, or Hot War? Will it Ever End?” While franchisors and franchisees rely on one another for success, it is no secret that franchisor-franchisee relationships often end in disputes—in many cases with the parties going to mandatory arbitration. During the Legal Eagles Virtual Summit, Mr. Goldstein and his co-panelists will discuss why this is the case, as well as what both franchisors and franchisees can do to reduce the risk of their relationship devolving to the point that dispute resolution becomes necessary.
Common Issues in Franchisor-Franchisee Disputes
To preview some of the likely topics of discussion during the Legal Eagles Virtual Summit, we can take a quick look at some of the most common issues that lead to disputes between franchisors and franchisees. While disputes can—and do—arise for all sorts of reasons, certain issues tend to be more common than others. For example, some of the most common triggers for franchisor-franchisee disputes include:
- Disclosure violations during the pre-purchase phase (i.e., misrepresenting the franchisor’s financial condition or the reasons for franchisees leaving the system, or omitting material information from the franchisor’s Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)).
- Territorial encroachment (i.e., franchisors opening company-owned locations in franchisees’ protected territories, issuing overlapping protected territories to competing franchisees, or allowing franchisees or company-owned locations to market in other unit owners’ protected territories).
- Antitrust violations (i.e., illegal pricing restraints, mandatory purchasing obligations and other anti-competitive restrictions that harm both franchisees and their customers).
- Franchise agreement violations (i.e., improperly calculating franchisees’ royalty obligations or modifying franchisees’ royalty structures, imposing purchasing restrictions without contractual authority, and wrongfully refusing to approve a renewal or transfer).
- Wrongful termination (i.e., terminating a franchisee’s agreement without sufficient cause or without providing the requisite opportunity to cure).
Again, these are just examples. For franchisees, any time an issue arises, engaging an experienced franchise attorney promptly can be critical for avoiding unnecessary business losses and dispute resolution expenses. In many (but not all) cases, an approach focused on finding an amicable resolution that avoids the need for arbitration or litigation will be best. Join the panel discussion to learn more about when and how franchisees can take this approach to protect their investment.
About the Franchise Times’ Legal Eagles Program
The Franchise Times’ Legal Eagles program recognizes attorneys who have demonstrated strong competence in representing clients in the franchise industry. As the publication explains:
“[T]he Franchise Times Legal Eagles . . . live and breathe franchising and understand the nuances of the unique business model. Against a backdrop of industry changes, economic uncertainty and heightened interest in franchising, these exceptional professionals are more necessary than ever.
“With a keen mind for both the legalese and business, they understand the gravitas of every legal battle, every transaction and the importance of every document. That engenders a spirit of collaboration and efficiency among this tight-knit group of legal professionals.”
Franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein has been recognized as a Franchise Times Legal Eagle for several years running—most recently in the 2023 Edition published in April of last year. Notably, Mr. Goldstein is one of a relatively small number of Franchise Times Legal Eagles who devote their practice exclusively to representing franchisees.
About Franchise Attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein
Jeffrey M. Goldstein has been representing prospective and active franchisees for well over 30 years. He is the founder of Goldstein Law Firm, PLLC, which is one of only four national franchise law firms in the United States that exclusively represents franchisees and dealers. He has been recognized as a top franchise litigator for his effective representation of franchisees in both state and federal court, and he has significant experience representing franchisees in mediation and arbitration proceedings as well.
In addition to his dispute resolution practice, Mr. Goldstein also represents prospective franchisees during the franchise buying process. He has decades of experience reviewing Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), assisting franchise buyers with their due diligence and negotiating key provisions of his clients’ franchise agreements. As a franchise litigator, Mr. Goldstein has a thorough understanding of the types of issues that tend to lead to disputes, and he relies on this understanding to help his clients negotiate terms that mitigate the risk of facing mediation, arbitration or litigation in the future.
Request a Free Initial Consultation at Goldstein Law Firm, PLLC
If you are facing a dispute with your franchisor or have questions about buying a franchise, we invite you to get in touch. We will schedule a time for you to speak with Mr. Goldstein in confidence as soon as possible. To request a free initial consultation at Goldstein Law Firm, PLLC, please call 202-293-3947 or tell us how we can help online today.
