Experience
Leslie Pujo brought her practice of mobility services and vehicle use law and franchising to Plave Koch PLC in April 2016. She is adept at counseling clients on franchise registration and disclosure matters, franchise relationship issues, and pre-litigation dispute resolution, as well as structuring franchise and other distribution systems in a variety of industries and bringing international systems to the United States. Additionally, Leslie is experienced in counseling clients on general commercial contract, and corporate organization matters.
Leslie’s particular experience is in mobility services and vehicle use law. She counsels on vehicle/mobility regulatory compliance for the full range of mobility models and platforms, including traditional car rental, recreational vehicle rentals, dealer loaners, car-sharing, subscription, and multi-platform. In her previous firm, LaPlaca Pujo, P.C., Leslie was the partner of and successor to the late Michael LaPlaca, the unquestioned dean of vehicle rental law for nearly four decades. Leslie carries on that proud tradition at Plave Koch, where she also continues to oversee editing of the Federal and StateGuide© to Vehicle Rental Law.
Previously, Leslie served as an adjunct professor at The George Washington University Law School and at University of Maryland University College for several years. She is a frequent speaker on mobility services and franchising legal issues at the IFA Legal Symposium, the International Car Rental Show, the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association Convention, and the MBA Insurance Rental School.
Leslie has served as director of MCCPTA Educational Programs, Inc., a nonprofit organization overseeing educational enrichment programs in science, foreign language and cultural arts.
Et le meilleur de tout, she is fluent in French!
Education
- George Washington University (J.D. with highest honors); Senior Notes Editor, The George Washington Law Review; Order of the Coif
- University of Toulouse I (D.E.S.S. with honors)
- Trinity University (B.A.)
Memberships
- American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising and Section on Law Practice Management
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- Maryland State Bar Association
Admitted to Practice
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
Honors
- Who’s Who Legal – Franchise 2019
Presentations
Presenter, Moderator, or Co-Presenter:
A Practical Guide to Managing Issues Faced by Start-up and Small Franchisors
International Franchise Association – 51st Annual Legal Symposium
May 2018| Washington, DC
Hey Is That Legal? Top 10 Legal Issues Surrounding on Demand Rentals (Carsharing)
International Car Rental Show
April 2018 | Las Vegas, NV
Vehicle Rental Law Updates
MBA Insurance Rental School
February 2018 | Las Vegas, NV
New Mobility Models: Know the Opportunities, Risks and Legalities
International Car Rental Show
March 2017| Las Vegas, Nevada
Vehicle Rental Law 101
MBA Insurance Rental School
February 2017| Las Vegas, Nevada
Mini Rental School
RV Dealers International Convention/Expo
November 2016| Las Vegas, Nevada
Effective Counter Sales that Won’t Get You in Trouble
Auto Rental Summit
October 2016| Buena Vista, FL
Overview of Franchise Agreements and Legal Issues
International Car Rental Show
April 2016| Las Vegas, Nevada
Vehicle Rental Law 101
MBA Insurance Rental School
March 2016| Las Vegas, Nevada
Impounds, Electronic Agreements, and GPS Tracking: Staying Legal on Today’s Hot Button Issues
Auto Rental Summit
November 2015| Las Vegas, Nevada
Devil in the Details: Drafting Rental Agreements
RV Dealers International Convention/Expo
March 2015| Las Vegas, Nevada
Legal and Legislative Update: Law and Disorder
Car Rental Show
April 2014| Las Vegas, Nevada
Basics of Vehicle Rental Agreements
MBA Insurance Rental School
February 2014| Las Vegas, Nevada
Rental Agreement Workshop and Legal Update
RV Dealers International Convention/Expo
October 2013| Las Vegas, Nevada
Technology and the Law: Are you Compliant?
Car Rental Show
April 2013| Las Vegas, Nevada
Rental Agreement Workshop and Legal Update
RV Dealers International Convention/Expo
October 2012| Las Vegas, Nevada
Legal and Legislative Update
Car Rental Show
March 2012| Las Vegas, Nevada
Vehicle Rental Law 101
MBA Insurance Rental School
February 2012| Las Vegas, Nevada
Legal and Legislative Update
Car Rental Show
March 2011| Las Vegas, Nevada
Vehicle Rental Law 101
MBA Insurance Rental School
February 2011| Las Vegas, Nevada
Disclosure Requirements Under Federal and State Laws
43rd International Franchise Association Legal Symposium
May 2010| Washington, D.C.
Complying with Brand Standards
40th International Franchise Association Legal Symposium
May 2007| Washington, D.C.
Registration and Franchise Law
38th International Franchise Association Legal Symposium
May 2005| Washington, D.C.
Publications
Author or Co-Author:
Vehicle Rental Laws: Road Blocks to Evolving Mobility Models?
August 2019| University of Michigan Law School
Aged-Based Rental Laws: Do You Know Your Obligations?
Auto Rental News
July 2019
Carsharing and Other Mobility Platforms: Legal Issues to Keep in Mind
Auto Rental News
May 2018
Avoiding Electronic Collection Pitfalls
Auto Rental News
Fall 2017| Bobit Business Media
Franchisor, Franchisee and Vicarious Liability
Auto Rental News
Sept/Oct 2016| Bobit Business Media
The Graves Amendment: Challenges, Interpretations and Answers
Auto Rental News
March/April 2016| Bobit Business Media
Class Lessons: Learning from Class Actions
Auto Rental News-Handbook
2014| Bobit Business Media
