FRANCHISE LAW WITH ZING

Plave Koch In The Press

Leslie Pujo Article is #2 Most Read in Auto Rental News for 2018

Auto Rental News | December 17, 2018

Leslie Pujo’s article on Carsharing and Other Mobility Platforms: Legal Issues to Keep in Mind (co-authored with Wes Hurst of the Polsinelli law firm) was the second most-read article of 2018 in Auto Rental News.

Mobility platforms and services are evolving rapidly, often faster than the law. Occasionally a new business model may result in a drive to change the law. The adoption of laws around the country to accommodate Transportation Network Companies such as Uber and Lyft is such an instance. However, until the law evolves to address other new mobility models, existing laws must be considered even if the answers are not always clear.

Congratulations to Leslie!

Lee Plave of Plave Koch wins Franchise Lawyer of the Year at the Who’s Who Legal Awards

Who’s Who Legal | May 2018

Lee Plave of US firm Plave Koch was recognised as the WWL Franchise Lawyer of the Year 2018 at the WWL Awards in London on 8 May.

The winners were announced at a black-tie Awards Ceremony at Plaisterers Hall in London. Over 230 guests, including some of the leading lawyers and representatives of the leading law firms in the world, were present as the award winners for 35 practice areas and over 70 countries were recognised.

The winners are selected on a range of factors, including feedback received from clients and peers in the research process, past performance in the research and the overall aggregate number of weighted votes cast in their favour.

Rupert Wilson, editor of Who’s Who Legal, said: “Mr. Plave has demonstrated exceptional capability in the franchising market, obtaining more recommendations than any other practitioner in our most recent research. This award is merely confirmation of his already pre-eminent position in the field.”

Who’s Who Legal lists only the leading lawyers in each field, based exclusively on the findings of an independent six-month research process that encompasses feedback from private practitioners, clients and other experts in the sector. It is impossible to buy entry into the publication, only the lawyers who score most highly according to our independent international research criteria are listed.

The book is distributed free of charge to thousands of corporate counsel and private practice lawyers from around the world, and the information is also available on www.WhosWhoLegal.com and is updated daily.

FASB Clarifies Unnerving Revenue Recognition Language

Restaurant Finance Monitor | December 1, 2017

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), which sets U.S. GAAP standards, has clarified key language around its new revenue-recognition guidelines.

“Consequently, we were going to end up in a situation where those companies would have had to dip into their retained earnings to finance the current operations,” described Lee Plave, partner at franchise-focused law firm Plave Koch, ahead of the November 29 FASB meeting.

Leslie Pujo Article is #2 Most Read in Auto Rental News for 2016

Auto Rental News | December 28, 2016

Leslie Pujo’s article on the Graves Amendment (co-authored with Wes Hurst of the Polsinelli law firm) was the second most-read article of 2016 in Auto Rental News. The Graves Amendment is a 2005 federal law providing that a motor vehicle rental or leasing company cannot be held liable under state or local law for damages or injuries that occur during the rental or lease simply because the rental company (or its affiliate) is the owner of the vehicle. Congratulations to Leslie!

PK Alert on SBA Changes Republished in Modern Restaurant Management

Modern Restaurant Management | December 19, 2016

MRM is a resource for restaurant-industry professionals, focusing on restaurant management news. The online magazine incorporates profiles, trends and expert advice to offer valuable content to readers in this niche.

Auto Rental News Quotes Leslie Pujo on McDonald’s Settlement with Franchisee’s Employees

Auto Rental News | November 9, 2016

On October 31, 2016, McDonald’s USA, LLC and several affiliates settled a case in which they were sued by employees of a franchisee that operates five California restaurants. As pointed out by Leslie Pujo in this summary by ARN, “The McDonald’s cases illustrate an important point that applies to franchisor-franchisee relationships generally, including in the car rental industry.” For more on the McDonald’s case, please see our client release under New Alerts from PK (http://plavekoch.com/mcdonalds-settles-claim-by-franchisees-employees/).

Bettering the World, in an Entrepreneurial Way

MLaw Newsroom | August 16, 2016

The work of  Michigan Law’s International Transactions Clinic (ITC) came alive in the heat and sun of a settlement in Colombia earlier this summer when clinic director David Guenther and adjunct professor Dave Koch worked to mix mortar and shovel concrete to help build rooms onto the homes of two local families with few financial resources. The build project on the outskirts of Bogota followed the efforts of law students, led by adjunct professor Carl Valenstein, for ITC client Habitat for Humanity’s MicroBuild fund.

1851franchise.com Interviews Lee Plave on Joint Employer Developments

1851franchise.com | February 18, 2016

Lee answers questions from the online trade publication about what the NLRB’s recent rulings really mean for the franchise business model.

Sterling Women Honors Leslie Curran

Bisnow | April 21, 2015

Leslie Curran “drew a standing ovation after she shared how she overcame childhood poverty and other harrowing life challenges” in a luncheon talk for Sterling Women, a networking organization for women-owned businesses in Northern Virginia.

International Transactions Clinic Helps Jibu Test Waters of Franchise in Africa

MLaw Newsroom – The University of Michigan Law School | February 11, 2015

Dave Koch is quoted in this online article about Jibu, a micro-franchising client of the International Transactions Clinic at Michigan Law School. As adjunct faculty, Dave supervises the student team providing pro bono legal services to Jibu.

The Importance of Hiring a Franchise Attorney

Small Business Trends | October 10, 2014

Quoting a Leslie Curran post on the ABA (American Bar Association) website about working with a franchise attorney.

Don’t Panic Over ‘Joint Employer’ News

Franchise Times | October 2014

Quoting Lee:  “I wouldn’t diminish this, nor diminish the potential for havoc that it has, but let’s just take a breath and recognize where we are and where we’re not.”

Data Breach at Jimmy John’s Could Damage Franchisees

Bloomberg BusinessWeek | September 26, 2014

Lee comments on the risk of inconsistent security standards among franchisees of a brand.

Home Depot breach hits 56 million cards. Why do hacks keep happening?

The Christian Science Monitor | September 19, 2014

Quoting Lee on the challenge of getting business owners to invest in security.

Don’t Panic Yet over NLRB News, Attorney Advises

Franchise Times | August 2014

Franchise Times says: “Of all the advisories put out by lawyers since the NLRB’s bombshell “joint employer” ruling last week—a very long list with very dire predictions—our favorite was from PlaveKoch.”

Data Dump: With wake-up call finally heard, firms get serious about security

Franchise Times | June/July 2014

“This is the issue that is going to define commerce for the rest of time,” says Lee Plave, Plave Koch, about cyber security and privacy.

Startup Diaries: Top 10 Lessons Learned Through My Franchising Adventure

The Next Women Business Magazine | January 16, 2014

Lee gets a shout-out from Felena Hanson, founder of Hera Hub, in an article about launching a franchise program.

Emergence of State Initiatives Could Change Franchising

LJN’s Franchising Business & Law Alert | December 2013

Dave Koch is one of the legal experts quoted in an article on the potential impact of recent state legislative activity in franchising.

Some Crises are Bigger than Others, but All Need a Plan

Franchise Times | October 2013

“A crisis is going to happen to your system,” said Leslie Curran, a partner with Plave Koch who moderated the panel, “and the question is, how will you respond?”

Impact of Private Equity on Franchising

LJN’s Franchising Business & Law Alert | January 2013

Dave Koch is the lead quote in an article examining the impact of private equity investing in franchising.

How Law Schools and Entrepreneurs Collaborate to Serve Both Students and Innovators

Forbes | December 7, 2012

Ashoka and the University of Michigan’s International Transactions Clinic have teamed up to provide research and legal support to Ashoka and some of its Fellows, under the supervision of clinical law school faculty and University of Michigan Law School alumni from the law firms of Paul Hastings, Plave Koch, and Conlin, McKenney & Philbrick.

Lee Plave interviewed via SKYPE with Troy Hazard and Katrina Mitchell

Getting Down 2 Business | September 6, 2012

Finding Bright Spots in Franchising

LJN’s Franchising Business & Law Alert | January 2012

Quoting Dave Koch on private equity investors’ enthusiasm for franchise brands.

Exposé: The unseemly side of franchising during its Wild West days. Before UFOCs became FDDs and the FTC Rule became law, franchising carried a stigma perpetuated by crooks and con artists.

Franchise Times | November 2009

Quoting John Tifford, the FTC’s first Franchise Rule coordinator.

FTC Proposes New Rules for Endorsements, Testimonials

LJN’s Franchising Business & Law Alert | February 2009

Quoting Dave Koch on the FTC’s proposed changes to its advertising guides.

Boutique firms hope to control purse strings

Franchise Times | February 2009

Lee Plave and Dave Koch were seated in Section 109 of the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., watching the Washington Capitals play hockey. After a beer, Koch elbowed his former Federal Trade Commission colleague Plave, and said, “Why don’t we do this on our own?”

20 To Watch

Franchise Times | January 2009

Are boutique law firms the newest legalese? Plave Koch, others, no longer bill themselves as ‘big firms’ …

A New Firm, A New Way to Practice Law

New York Law School Alumni News | July 2008

BIZ WOMEN!

Women Bisnow | June 2008

FAI’s Franchise Trade Mission to the United States

India PR Wire | April 2008

Legal Briefs: Plave Koch Adds Lawyers

Franchise Times | February 2008

Lawyers Rule: What we need to know about the new regulations

Franchise Times | February 2008

Dog Fight: Trademark dispute unleashes dual claims

Franchise Times | February 2008

Courting justice: When do you know it’s time to settle?

Franchise Times | February 2008

Plave, Koch start new firm

Franchise Times | March 2007

What Do President George Bush and attorney Lee Plave have in common?