News & Analysis as of

Franchise law-news Intellectual Property

Read need-to-know updates, commentary, and analysis on Franchise issues written by leading professionals.
Williams Mullen

2025 Alcohol Law Changes Brewing in North Carolina

Williams Mullen on

The North Carolina General Assembly is considering various alcohol bills during the long 2025 session. Proposed changes include legalizing happy hour, authorizing Sunday sales by ABC stores, clarifying special one-time...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Texas Supreme Court Reverses Liability Finding Against Franchisor

Fox Rothschild LLP on

A recent Texas Supreme Court decision fully overturned a jury’s finding that a franchisor was liable for the criminal actions of a franchisee’s employee. This decision underscores the importance of a franchisor having clearly...more

Akerman LLP

Leisure Law Insider (Vol. 6) - Spring 2025

Akerman LLP on

Welcome to the fifth edition of The Leisure Law Insider! Released quarterly, we cover the latest news and developments in leisure and hospitality law, regulation, and policy. Expect content on hotels, franchising, labor and...more

Mandelbaum Barrett PC

Spotlight on Hotel Comfort Letters

Mandelbaum Barrett PC on

A hotel comfort letter is a document issued by a hotel franchisor to a lender when a hotel owner (the borrower) seeks financing. It provides the lender with assurances about the relationship between the franchisor, borrower,...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Franchise Enforcement Trends: Are States Cracking Down on Non-Compliance?

Fox Rothschild LLP on

If you think franchise compliance is just a box to check, think again. As part of my presentation on Annual Developments in Franchise Law at the most recent ABA Forum on Franchising Annual Meeting, I did a deep dive into...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Hot Topics & Higher Prices: Tariffs Take the Stage at IFA Legal Symposium

Fox Rothschild LLP on

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...more

Polsinelli

Landmark Texas Supreme Court Case Finds No “Direct Liability” for Franchisor Arising Out of Franchisee Employee’s Actions

Polsinelli on

On May 2, 2025, the Texas Supreme Court reversed a Texas Court of Appeals’ decision that had affirmed a jury’s verdict finding a franchisor directly liable to the customer of a franchisee for actions undertaken by the...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

DOL Alters Enforcement Position on Independent Contractors: What Does It Mean For Manufacturers and Franchisors?

Foley & Lardner LLP on

On May 1, 2025, the Wage and Hour Division (“WHD”) of the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued a Field Assistance Bulletin stepping back from a restrictive independent contractor rule issued under the Biden...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

New York State Senate Bill Would Make Fast-Food Franchisors Jointly and Severally Liable for Certain Labor Law Violations

On April 8, 2025, the New York State Legislature took up Senate Bill S7289, which, if enacted, would amend the New York Labor Law (NYLL) by adding a new article 35-A, otherwise known as the “New York State Fast Food...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

DOL Alters Enforcement Position on Independent Contractors

Foley & Lardner LLP on

On May 1, 2025, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Field Assistance Bulletin stepping back from a restrictive independent contractor rule issued under the Biden administration — a...more

Akerman LLP

SBA Franchise Directory Returns June 2025 with New Certification Rules

Akerman LLP on

The U.S. Small Business Administration confirmed this week that it will reinstate the SBA Franchise Directory on June 1, 2025, reversing the 2023 decision to sunset the program. The Directory has long been the primary...more

Whiteford

Client Alert: SBA Issues SOP 50 10 8: Key Changes Impacting SBA 7(a) Lending

Whiteford on

On April 22, 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) released Information Notice 5000-866746, announcing the issuance of SOP 50 10 8 (“SOP”) (found here), which introduces significant changes to the SBA 7(a) loan...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

SBA Franchise Directory Reinstated, Easing Loan Access for Franchisees

Foley & Lardner LLP on

Effective June 1, 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will reinstate its Franchise Directory, a critical development for franchise systems and franchisees seeking SBA financing. Originally launched in 2018 and...more

Lathrop GPM

Ohio Federal Court Dismisses Franchisees’ Class Action Against Luxottica

Lathrop GPM on

A federal court in Ohio dismissed a putative class action brought by franchisee-eyewear sellers against their franchisor, Luxottica of America. Brave Optical, Inc. v. Luxottica of Am. Inc., 2025 WL 962827 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 31,...more

Lathrop GPM

California Federal Court Dismisses Putative Class Action Against Dunkin’ Defendants for Lack of Jurisdiction

Lathrop GPM on

A federal court in California recently dismissed a putative class action by two Dunkin’ customers alleging customers were illegally charged a “dine-in fee, or other hidden fee.” Taferner v. Inspire Brands, Inc., 2025 WL...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

Actions Speak Louder Than Words: A Franchise Relationship Can Exist in Spite of a Contract’s Express Terms to the Contrary

Foley & Lardner LLP on

In OTG New York, Inc. v. Ottogi America, Inc., OTG was the exclusive regional distributor for food company Ottogi from 2008–23, during which Ottogi shipped inventory to OTG’s New Jersey warehouse. In 2024, Ottogi terminated...more

Lathrop GPM

Virginia Federal Court Dismisses Franchise Employee’s Discrimination Claims Against McDonald’s

Lathrop GPM on

A federal court in Virginia recently granted McDonald’s USA, LLC’s motion to dismiss a former franchise employee’s Title VII and Virginia Human Rights Act claims. Edmonds v. McDonald’s USA, LLC, 2025 WL 1066193 (W.D. Va. Apr....more

Lathrop GPM

California Federal Court Dismisses ADA and California Unruh Act Claims Against Franchisor

Lathrop GPM on

A federal court in California granted Dunkin’ Donuts’ motion to dismiss claims by customers alleging that a surcharge for non-dairy substitutes in beverages discriminated against customers with lactose intolerance and milk...more

Lathrop GPM

New York Federal Court Denies Summary Judgment on Franchise Sale Fraudulent Misrepresentation Claim

Lathrop GPM on

A federal court in New York recently denied a franchisor’s motion for summary judgment on a franchisee’s claims for fraudulent misrepresentation. Cmty. Care Companions, Inc. v. Interim Healthcare, Inc., 2025 WL 929407...more

Lathrop GPM

Citing California Franchise Relations Act, California Federal Court Rejects Franchisor’s Attempt to Dismiss Case

Lathrop GPM on

A federal court in California recently denied a franchisor’s motion to dismiss litigation, holding that a franchise agreement provision requiring the parties to mediate in Texas prior to instituting litigation or arbitration...more

Lathrop GPM

Massachusetts Federal Court Grants Preliminary Injunction for Noncompete Violations, Denies Injunction for Trademark Infringement

Lathrop GPM on

A federal court in Massachusetts recently granted, in part, a Motion for Preliminary Injunction as to enforcement of franchise agreement noncompete covenants but denied the motion as to claims of trademark infringement,...more

Lewitt Hackman

Franchisee 101: When the Competition Leaks

Lewitt Hackman on

A Massachusetts federal court granted a franchisor’s request to enforce the franchise agreement’s post-termination non-compete provision against a terminated franchisee....more

Lewitt Hackman

Franchisor 101: Mowing and Blowing Past Mediation

Lewitt Hackman on

A California federal court denied a franchisor’s motion to dismiss a franchisee’s complaint claiming the franchisee failed to first mediate the dispute before filing an action as required under the franchise agreement....more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Get Ready! SBA Franchise Directory Returning on June 1st

Fox Rothschild LLP on

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...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Big Deals and Bigger Takeaways: The Future of Platform Franchisors

Fox Rothschild LLP on

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...more

2,162 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 87

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide