Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONFERENCES: IFA Legal Symposium set for May 15-17, (Apr 15, 2016)

The International Franchise Association (IFA) will hold its 49th Annual Legal Symposium on May 15-17, 2016, at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. In addition to focusing on traditional franchise law topics, the symposium will feature discussions about joint employment issues being pressed by the National Labor Relations Board and other federal and state agencies, cybersecurity, social media programs, and mergers and acquisitions.

The symposium will commence on the afternoon of Sunday, May 15, with registration, a welcome reception, and a Speakers’ Networking Event.

On Monday, May 16, the program will begin with a keynote presentation, entitled “Cybersecurity: Conquering the New Frontier of Legal Risks,” moderated by Miriam Wugmeister, with Scott McLester, Daniel Castro, and Douglas Meal. The program will continue with the following concurrent sessions: (1) “Cybersecurity: Navigating a Terrain Fraught with Peril”; (2) “Litigation—How to Benefit from Forensic Accounting in Franchising”; (3) “It’s All Greek to Me—Navigating Through the Particularities of International Arbitration”; (4) “Why Can’t I Buy This Instead? The Issue of Unauthorized Products and Suppliers in Franchise Systems”; (5) “Franchisee Associations: Friend or Foe?”; (6) “Winds of Change—Tried Techniques for Effectively Managing Risk When Implementing System-Wide Change”; and (7) “Basics Track: Registration & Disclosure.”

Following a Networking Luncheon with an IFA Government Relations Update, the afternoon will proceed with the following concurrent sessions: (1) “The Ins and Outs of Franchise Advertising Programs”; (2) “Taking International Franchising to the Next Level”; (3) “A Walk on the Wild Side: When Franchisor and Franchisee are on the Same Side of the ‘V’”; (4) “Death by Dangled Carrot—Litigating Financial Performance Representations”; (5) “Advising New and Emerging Franchise Companies as They Begin Their Franchise Journey”; (6) “Financial Performance Representations—What Changes are in Store?”; and (7) “Basics Track: Franchise Default and Termination—Best Practices to Enforce the Contract and Protect the System.”

After a refreshment break, the afternoon will continue with these concurrent sessions: (1) “Untangling the Tangled Webs We Weave: Joint Representation Issues in Franchise Cases”; (2) “Tweet, Like, Share, Repeat—Effective Management of a Franchise Brand’s Social Media Program”; (3) “Early Dispute Resolution—Effectively Resolve Disputes Without Having to Resort to Time Consuming and Costly Litigation”; (4) “Winds of Change—Tried Techniques for Effectively Managing Risk When Implementing System-Wide Change”; (5) “Why Can’t I Buy This Instead? The Issue of Unauthorized Products and Suppliers in Franchise Systems”; (6) “Practical and Real World Steps a Franchisor Can Take to Provide Effective Support Without Crossing into Joint-Employer Territory”; and (7) “Basics Track: Mergers & Acquisitions.”

The day will end with a Networking Reception and a Newcomers/First-Timers Dinner.

On Tuesday, May 17, the program will begin with a “Judicial Update” general session, presented by Elizabeth S. Dillon (Gray Plant Mooty) and Corby C. Anderson (Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs, LLC).

The program will continue with the following concurrent sessions: (1) “The Ins and Outs of Franchise Advertising Programs”; (2) “Litigation—How to Benefit from Forensic Accounting in Franchising”; (3) “A Walk on the Wild Side: When Franchisor and Franchisee are on the Same Side of the ‘V’”; (4) “Death by Dangled Carrot—Litigating Financial Performance Representations”; (5) “Untangling the Tangled Webs We Weave: Joint Representation Issues in Franchise Cases”; and (6) “Basic Track: Franchisor’s Intellectual Property: Protecting Your Intangibles in 2016.”

There will be a Boxed Luncheon & Roundtables, followed by these concurrent sessions: (1) “Advising New and Emerging Franchise Companies as They Begin Their Franchise Journey and Seek to Take Their System to the Next Level”; (2) “Tweet, Like, Share, Repeat—Effective Management of a Franchise Brand’s Social Media Program”; (3) “Early Dispute Resolution—Effectively Resolve Disputes Without Having to Resort to Time Consuming and Costly Litigation”; (4) “Practical and Real World Steps a Franchisor Can Take to Provide Effective Support Without Crossing into Joint-Employer Territory”; (5) “Financial Performance Representations—What Changes are in Store”; and (6) “Basics Track: Franchise Litigation.”

Following another refreshment break, the afternoon will wind down with these concurrent sessions: (1) “Cybersecurity: Navigating a Terrain Fraught with Peril”; (2) “Taking International Franchising to the Next Level”; (3) “It’s All Greek to Me—Navigating Through the Particularities of International Arbitration”; (4) “Franchise Associations: Friend or Foe?”; and (5) “Basics Track: International Expansion.”

Further information is available here. Interested persons may register by submitting their registration forms and payments to: IFA’s 48th Annual Legal Symposium, 1900 K Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20006. Online registration is available.

IBA/IFA Joint Conference. The IFA Legal Symposium will be followed by the 32nd Annual International Bar Association/International Franchise Association Joint Conference on May 17-18, 2015, at the J.W. Marriott in Washington, D.C. Expert franchise professionals will discuss the latest legal and regulatory issues facing franchisors across the world, as well as how these issues affect franchisors’ ability to expand and operate worldwide. There is a separate fee for this program. Further information is available here on the IFA website.

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