Knowledge is Power

Don’t miss your chance to learn from experts at the IFA Legal Symposium, May 6-8 in Washington, D.C.

By Jan Gilbert

This year’s IFA Legal Symposium promises numerous opportunities for your professional growth and development, occasions for establishing and rekindling personal connections, and – hopefully – a bit of time to enjoy the exuberant culture of Washington, D.C., the city that I call home.

Legal Symposium Task Force members, together with IFA staff, have assembled a robust agenda for this year’s conference. Presenters from diverse professional backgrounds will address a wide array of legal topics, and we invite you to join the engaging discussions.

Slated areas of interest include business issues, intellectual property, international development, ethics, litigation, registration and disclosure, franchise relationships, transactions, as well as the tried-and-true “basics track” topics, all reinvigorated with fresh and current material. This year’s symposium will be an excellent forum for addressing and tackling some of the most challenging issues in the franchising world today in a collaborative, collegial environment. Find out more at www.franchise.org/legal-symposium. We look forward to seeing you there!

Double the Learning

Extend your stay in Washington D.C. for the International Bar Association/IFA Joint Conference, which has a theme “A New Era in International Franchising.” The event is perfect for franchise businesses considering international expansion in 2018 and 2019, as well as companies already doing business in multiple countries. The IBA’s Franchise Committee has worked with IFA to put together a comprehensive program covering the full spectrum of international franchise law. Attending the conference qualifies you for additional CLE and ICFE credits, so be sure to register separately for this event at www.franchise.org/ibaifa-joint-conference3 in addition to the Legal Symposium.

Jan Gilbert is the Legal Symposium Task Force Chair for 2018 and a Principal with Gray Plant Mooty.

Snapshot: Sessions at IFA 2018 Legal Symposium

1. Data Security and Addressing the Risks in the Franchise System
2. The New Revenue Recognition Rules: What is the Impact for Franchisors?
3. The Digital Economy: Friend or Foe to Franchising?
4. Stop Invading My Space: Encroachment Issues in Franchising
5. Ethics and the Cloud, a Lawyer’s Dilemma
6. Trademark and Internet Brand and Reputation Protection
7. A World of Trouble: How to Ensure That Your International Franchise Expansion Doesn’t Expose you to Liability
8. Our Officers and Employees Have Liability?
9. Navigating the New Normal with Financial Performance Representations
10.  A Litigators Prospective on Arbitration – A Practical Session
11.  Thorny FDD Disclosure Issues
12. Supply “Chain Links” and its Implications on the Franchise Systems
13. Have Multi-Unit and Multi-Brand Franchisees Set a New Standard for Franchisors?
14. The Devil is in the Details: Mitigating Franchise Risk Through Effective Insurance Programs
15. A Practical Guide to Managing Issues Faced by Start-Up and Small Franchisors
16. Intensive International Session

There are basic track programs on the following topics:

• Franchisor’s Intellectual Property and How to Protect It

• Franchise Litigation

• Handling Defaults and Terminations

• Mergers and Acquisitions

• Registration and Disclosure

Who Should Attend IFA’s 2018 Legal Symposium

• All attorneys interested in franchise law

• In-house counsel

• Franchise CEOs

• Franchise development and sales executives

• Franchise legal and compliance officers

• Paralegals

• Franchise administrators

• Franchisees interested in learning more about the legal and business aspects of franchising

• All others concerned with franchising’s legal, regulatory and business issues