News Alerts from PK
2021
Legal Eagle Roundtables
Our partner Ben Reed spoke on a panel about "Zee-Zor Legal Logic Post COVID" sponsored by Franchise Times. How should franchise attorneys be thinking about franchising as we move beyond the... More
Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (HR 842)
Our partner Lee Plave, together with Ron Gardner, jointly wrote to the Chair and Ranking Members of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor and the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education,... More
Franchisor Revenue Recognition Simplified
Lee Plave Plave Koch PLC and Aaron Chaitovsky, CPA Citrin Cooperman On January 28, 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued its long-awaited “practical... More
2020
Trademark Modernization Act News Alert
by Valerie Brennan and Benjamin Reed The Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 was included in the bipartisan 2020 coronavirus stimulus bill that passed on December 22, 2020, and was signed into... More
IP Considerations in Creating a Character
by Valerie Brennan Yet another dispute over copyright rights in sports branding has hit the news. Similar to the fight over the Baltimore Ravens logo many years ago, the Phillies are embroiled... More
Ben Reed co-presents at 2020 ABA Annual Developments Session
We are pleased to announce that our partner Ben Reed will be co-presenting the Annual Developments session at the 43rd Annual Forum on Franchising Annual Meeting! As those who have attended the... More
USPTO Issues Notice of Right to Extend Trademark Filing Deadlines by 30-Days
by Valerie Brennan On March 31, 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a notice that most trademark filing deadlines may be extended by 30 days. Specifically,... More
Excusable Non-Use – A Timely Option
by Valerie Brennan COVID-19 has caused many businesses to forcibly shutter in the U.S., temporarily, due either to state orders or necessary restrictions to protect employees and patrons. ... More
Protecting the Trade Dress in Your Store Layout
by Valerie Brennan Store design / layout protection is a hot topic in trademark and copyright circles at the moment. Trade dress protection can be added to your arsenal of tools for... More
The How and Why of Trademark Symbols
by Valerie Brennan Trademark symbols or notices – TM, SM and ® - serve important purposes but it’s not always clear why and how companies should use them. Here’s a concise... More
Client Alert: Resolve to Audit Your Trademarks in 2020
By: Valerie Brennan The start of the year is an excellent time to take stock of your trademark portfolio through an (internal or external) audit - a quick check that your brands as protected... More
Proud to Announce Our Newest Partner
We are thrilled to announce that Valerie Brennan has joined the Plave Koch team as our newest (and our eleventh!) partner. Valerie is a top-notch intellectual property attorney with 25+ years of... More
2019
Lee Plave awarded 2019 Lewis G. Rudnick Award
Co-Owner Lee Plave was awarded by the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising's with the Lewis G. Rudnick Award. The Lewis G. Rudnick Award is known as the highest and most prestigious award a... More
We’re 13 for 13!
As we approach our 13th anniversary, our firm has grown to match our years. We proudly announce new partner Dave Worthen and new lawyer Maggie Naylor. David Worthen has over... More
All Ten Plave Koch partners recognized by Who’s Who Legal
Ten Partners recognized by Who's Who Legal All nine of the firm’s partners — Regina Amolsch, Leslie Curran, Marisa Faunce, David Koch, Michael Laidhold, Lee Plave, Leslie Pujo, Ben Reed ,Jim... More
David Koch, Lee Plave, and Leslie Curran Recognized in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders Global Elite 2020
David Koch, Lee Plave, and Leslie Curran Recognized in Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders Global Elite 2020 Lee Plave, David Koch, and Leslie Curran were recognized in Who's Who Legal: Thought... More
Lee Plave Named 2019 Global Franchise Lawyer of the Year
Lee Plave was named global Franchise Lawyer of the Year for the second consecutive year by WWL. “In winning this award for the second time, Mr. Plave has once again showed his outstanding... More
2018
Eight Plave Koch Partners recognized by Who’s Who Legal
Eight Partners recognized by Who's Who Legal Our firm is honored to have eight Partners recognized by Who's Who Legal, an independent London-based publishing group, which provides research,... More
Plave Koch Founding Partners recognized in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders 2019 Global Elite
Lee Plave and Dave Koch recognized in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders 2019 Global Elite Lee Plave and David Koch were recognized in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders 2019 Global Elite which... More
2017
Client Alert: SBA Issues New Procedures Aimed at Simplifying Franchise Financing
On October 13, 2017, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced significant changes to its procedures for processing franchisor financing. In particular, the SBA issued “Standard... More
Plave Koch ranks among top in “Best Lawyers” and “Who’s Who Legal”
Our firm is honored to continue its string of "Tier 1" national and regional rankings for Franchise Law in the 2018 U.S.News - Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" results. The rankings are determined... More
2016
SBA Announces Changes to Franchise Financing
The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced a significant change in their process for reviewing applications by franchisees for SBA-backed financing. The changes are the result of a... More
McDonald’s Settles Claim by Franchisee’s Employees
You may have read the news reports that McDonald’s Corp. settled a case involving a claim that it was a joint employer along with one of its franchisees. That settlement was announced on October 31... More
2015
Two Appeals Court Victories for PK Clients – Plus Another Important Decision
Three appeals court rulings in April will help franchisors enforce their franchise agreements and system standards. We are pleased that Plave Koch litigators brought home two of those... More
2014
What the NLRB Action Means for Franchisors – with practical tips
About.com August 8,... More
Domino’s Falls the Right Way, but FedEx Fails to Deliver
California Supreme Court Rejects Vicarious Liability Claim by Franchisee’s Employee against Franchisor While Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Holds Delivery Drivers Are Employees not Independent... More
Worry But Don’t Hyperventilate (Yet): What the “NLRB Action” Means for Franchisors + Action Items
Client Alert on the NLRB General Counsel’s Statement Concerning McDonald's USA LLC with Practical Tips for Actions Items to Consider Download PDF There have been many reports that the... More
2013
Supreme Court Decision on Forum Selection Clauses
The Supreme Court’s decision in Atlantic Marine Construction Co., Inc. v. US District Court for the Western District of Texas, No. 12-929, had several holdings of import for franchise companies.... More
2012
Reminder: File Your New York “Information Returns for Franchisors” by June 20th
If you have any franchisees in New York, then don’t forget to submit your New York “Information Returns for Franchisors” by June 20th. Not sure what you have to do? We’ve provided a brief... More
Plave Koch urges state franchise regulators to expand number and scope of exemptions from registration requirements
On May 15, 2012, we submitted comments on the Model Franchise Exemptions proposed by the Franchise and Business Opportunity Group of the North American Securities Administrators Association... More
Plave Koch asks FTC to ease restrictions on providing financial performance information about company-owned units
On March 12, 2012 we submitted a letter to Lois Greisman, Associate Director for Marketing Practices at the Federal Trade Commission, requesting that the FTC revise its guidance on disclosure of... More
Franchisors and Facebook
If you attended the Technology Summit at this year’s IFA Convention, you heard Facebook announce that IFA members would be given access to FB’s new parent/child tool to control how franchisees... More
2011
Red Lion Hotels decision
On December 7th, the US Court of Appeals for 9th Circuit handed down an opinion in Red Lion Hotels Franchising, Inc. v. MAK, LLC, 2011 WL 6061516 (9th Cir., Dec. 7, 2011). Of particular note is the... More
Chinese Franchise Regulation
The current Chinese Franchise Regulations, which took effect on May 1, 2007, require franchisors to complete a regulatory filing and to provide disclosure before they may offer franchises in the PRC.... More
2010
Domino’s Pizza not liable for delivery car accident, rules Maine Supreme Court
Domino’s Pizza is not vicariously liable for an automobile accident caused by a pizza deliveryman, the Maine Supreme Court has ruled. A pizza deliveryman was in a car accident with a man on a... More
La Quinta decision on enforcing system changes
We wanted to pass along the attached decision from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday involving La Quinta Inns and a former franchisee that we thought might be of interest to you. The Sixth... More
Supreme Court decision on federal court jurisdiction
Last week, in a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court found that for the purpose of federal court jurisdiction, a corporation’s “principal place of business” is limited to where its... More
2009
Nutrition Labeling Standards
Tucked into the health insurance reform bill that recently passed in the House of Representatives was a provision labeled “NUTRITION LABELING OF STANDARD MENU ITEMS AT CHAIN RESTAURANTS AND OF... More