The Current State of the Holder Rule: Friend or Foe? — Moving the Metal: The Auto Finance Podcast
Non-Compete Compliance in 2025: State Trends and Employer Strategies
FTC and Florida Focus on Non-Competes, SCOTUS to Rule on Pension Withdrawal Liability - #WorkforceWednesday® - Employment Law This Week®
Podcast - Tips for Maintaining FTC Compliance When Using AI
From Banks to FinTech: The Evolution of Small Business Lending — The Consumer Finance Podcast
From Banks to FinTech: The Evolution of Small Business Lending — Payments Pros – The Payments Law Podcast
Driving Digital Security: The FTC's Safeguards Rule Explained — Moving the Metal: The Auto Finance Podcast
First 100 Days of the New HSR Rules with Antitrust Partner Kara Kuritz
Podcast - FTC to Focus on Deceptive AI Claims: Compliance Management Strategies
Cruising Through Change: The Auto-Finance Industry’s New Era Under Trump Unveiled — The Consumer Finance Podcast
Cruising Through Change: The Auto-Finance Industry’s New Era Under Trump Unveiled — Moving the Metal: The Auto Finance Podcast
Compliance Needs are Alive and Well: FTC's Recent Enforcement Activity
Podcast - New Guidance on Complying with FTC Rule on Deceptive and Unfair Fees
Podcast - Navigating the New Landscape of Private Equity in Healthcare
The Briefing: Influencer Fail – ALO Yoga & Influencers Named in $150M Class Action Lawsuit for FTC Violations
From Cell Phones to Tractors: The Right to Repair Movement Drives On — Regulatory Oversight Podcast
Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast Episode: The Impact of the Election on the FTC
Podcast - Who Owns Your DNA? Lessons Learned from 23andMe
2 Gurus Talk Compliance: Episode 51 – The Compliance Week at 20 Edition
Daily Compliance News: May 1, 2025, The 100 Days of Corruption Edition
Last May, the Federal Trade Commission looked to ban non-compete agreements in most employment contracts aside from franchise agreements. Although scheduled to become effective in September, a federal court vacated the ruling...more
Four days before President Trump took office, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) (together, “the Agencies”) under the Biden administration released their “Antitrust Guidelines for Business...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on July 12, 2024 released a policy statement warning that the use of contract provisions that prohibit franchisees from communicating with the government about legal violations are unlawful....more
On July 12, the FTC released a new policy statement, staff guidance, and an issue spotlight about allegedly unfair and deceptive practices by franchisors. The policy statement addressed the FTC’s concerns that franchisees...more
On Friday, July 12, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) published an analysis of the information it received in response to its Request for Information related to franchisors’ business practices, launched in March...more
On July 12, 2024, the FTC released several statements and a News Release as its first response to comments collected in response to the March 2023 Franchise Request for Information (RFI). These actions are part of the FTC’s...more
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) latest policy statement aims to dictate the outcome of contract negotiations between franchisors and their franchisees and to limit the potential negative impact on franchisees of...more
When the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued its long-awaited final rule banning virtually all noncompete clauses between workers and employers, it also published 500-plus pages of commentary....more
As explained in Polsinelli’s prior alert of April 24, 2024, the FTC announced its final rule on non-compete covenants (the “Rule”) on April 23, 2024. Critically, the Rule does not prohibit non-compete agreements between...more
On April 23, 2034, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a final rule intended to ban the use and enforcement of most non-compete clauses signed by workers. The new rule is not in effect yet. It will become...more
In an important case of first impression that drew amicus participation from the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and the International Franchise Association, the Seventh Circuit reversed a judgment in...more
Drive down almost any busy street, and you'll see numerous examples of well-known franchises, from McDonald's to Ace Hardware. You may have considered opening a franchise and wondered about the potential rewards and...more
Historically, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has shied away from regulating the substance of franchisor-franchisee relationships. A recent FTC press release, however, suggests this may soon change. If so, it is by no...more
On March 10, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) notified the public it is seeking comments from franchisors, franchisees, and other related parties about franchise agreements, franchisor business practices, and how...more
On Friday, March 10, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission issued a Request for Information (“RFI”) soliciting public comments on various issues pertaining to the franchisor-franchisee relationship, including franchisor supply...more
The Federal Trade Commission on Friday announced a Request for Information regarding “franchise agreements and franchisor business practices, including how franchisors may exert control over franchisees and their workers.”...more
I had the pleasure this year along with fellow franchise attorneys, Gerry Wells of Rita’s Franchise Company and Allan Hillman of Garcia & Milas, to present at the ABA Forum on Franchising Annual Meeting in San Diego. The...more
On March 24, 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruled in Patel v. 7-Eleven that the test for independent contractor status set forth in the Massachusetts independent contractor statute applies to the...more
In the last year, we reviewed three attacks on franchising, questioned whether franchising was in the crosshairs of federal regulators and legislators, and concluded that the answer was yes....more
Earlier this year, we questioned whether franchising was in the crosshairs of federal regulators and legislators. It appears that the answer may be a resounding yes....more
The Feds may be targeting franchising. In September 2020, Rohit Chopra, one of the five commissioners on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), declared on Twitter that “[franchise] regulators must stop unfair, deceptive,...more
Welcome to The Franchise Memorandum by Lathrop GPM. Below are summaries of recent legal developments of interest to franchisors. Fifth Circuit Reverses Trial Court’s Excusal of Area Representative’s Tardy Renewal Notice -...more
For the first time in over a decade, the Federal Trade Commission is considering changes to its Franchise Rule. The Rule represents an effort by the Commission to prevent unfair and deceptive practices by franchisors against...more
On September 16, 2020, Rohit Chopra, one of the five commissioners on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), declared on Twitter that “[franchise] regulators must stop unfair, deceptive, and discriminatory practices that target...more
As many readers may know, the FTC Rule on Franchising’s definition of franchise contains three basic definitional elements: (1) license of a trademark, (2) payment of a fee, and (3) provision of assistance or exertion of...more