3 Key Takeaways | Is Franchising Doomed? The 2024 Version
One Month to More Effective Compliance on Business Ventures - Day 19 - Franchisor Compliance
Is Franchising Doomed?
Strategies for Negotiating with a Franchisee and Franchisor
Day 20 of One Month to More Effective Compliance for Business Ventures-Franchisor Liability
A federal court in Missouri recently denied franchisor Three Dog Bakery, LLC’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against its former franchisee, J.L.E.T. Enterprises SWF, LLC, and its owners, Joseph and Lynette...more
A federal court in Missouri recently granted a franchisor’s motion for a preliminary injunction, finding that the franchisee’s operation of a competing business demonstrated irreparable harm. Three Dog Bakery, LLC v. Crit,...more
Constructing a hotel is a complex endeavor that requires meticulous planning and execution to meet the expectations of both the developer and the flag. One of the critical aspects of this process is ensuring that the...more
A federal court in Missouri granted franchisor’s motion for preliminary injunction against its former franchisee, enjoining the former franchisee from operating a competing business from the former franchised location....more
The Texas Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s decision against a franchisor based on a theory of negligence after a customer was assaulted by an employee of the franchisee. The court concluded that franchisor did not owe a...more
The SBA Franchise Directory is officially back online from June 1, 2025, and with it comes a series of critical updates for franchisors and franchisees discussed in the virtual briefing led by Stephen Olear, Senior Franchise...more
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has revived its Franchise Directory, providing significant benefits for franchise systems and their franchisees seeking financing. The directory returned June 1, 2025, as part of the...more
On May 2, 2025, the Texas Supreme Court held that a franchisor owes no duty of care for injuries caused by a franchisee’s employee unless the franchisor retained or exercised control over the hiring of that employee....more
Dispute resolution provisions in franchise agreements often address how, when, and where parties will mediate. However, the enforceability of these provisions can change depending on the law of the state governing the...more
The Supreme Court of Texas recently ruled that franchisor Massage Heights did not owe a duty of care to a massage customer who alleged a sexual assault, because, among other reasons, Massage Heights had neither the...more
A federal court in New Jersey recently entered default judgment against franchisee Nisha Investments, LLC and its guarantor Rajesh Patel arising from their early termination of a franchise agreement with La Quinta...more
A federal court in Arizona recently dismissed a franchisee’s counterclaims for breach of contract, defamation, and injunctive relief against its former franchisor. LeTip World Franchise LLC v. Long Island Soc. Media Grp. LLC,...more
A federal court in California recently granted a franchisor’s motion to compel arbitration and stay the lawsuit in a dispute alleging breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and...more
From streaming services and gym memberships to software vendor agreements and e-commerce franchises, automatic contract renewals are common occurrences. Currently, California law protects consumers regarding automatic renewal...more
A New York federal court denied a franchisor’s motion to dismiss a franchisee’s complaint for misrepresentations and improper financial performance representations which allegedly induced the franchisee to enter into multiple...more
The Eighth Circuit recently applied a novel, broad reading of the Missouri Franchise Act granting franchise protection to distributors which previously would not likely have been considered franchisees....more
An Ohio federal court granted a franchisor’s motion to dismiss a putative class of franchisees alleging antitrust violations and related claims, including interference to deflate franchisees’ reimbursement rates. Other class...more
A recent Texas Supreme Court decision fully overturned a jury’s finding that a franchisor was liable for the criminal actions of a franchisee’s employee. This decision underscores the importance of a franchisor having clearly...more
Welcome to the fifth edition of The Leisure Law Insider! Released quarterly, we cover the latest news and developments in leisure and hospitality law, regulation, and policy. Expect content on hotels, franchising, labor and...more
A hotel comfort letter is a document issued by a hotel franchisor to a lender when a hotel owner (the borrower) seeks financing. It provides the lender with assurances about the relationship between the franchisor, borrower,...more
If you think franchise compliance is just a box to check, think again. As part of my presentation on Annual Developments in Franchise Law at the most recent ABA Forum on Franchising Annual Meeting, I did a deep dive into...more
Tariffs may seem like a headline reserved for economists and politicians, but at last week’s International Franchise Association (IFA) Legal Symposium in Washington D.C., they were front and center in nearly every room. From...more
On May 2, 2025, the Texas Supreme Court reversed a Texas Court of Appeals’ decision that had affirmed a jury’s verdict finding a franchisor directly liable to the customer of a franchisee for actions undertaken by the...more
On April 8, 2025, the New York State Legislature took up Senate Bill S7289, which, if enacted, would amend the New York Labor Law (NYLL) by adding a new article 35-A, otherwise known as the “New York State Fast Food...more
On May 1, 2025, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Field Assistance Bulletin stepping back from a restrictive independent contractor rule issued under the Biden administration — a...more