Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONFERENCES: IFA Legal Symposium set for May 4-6 in Chicago, (Mar 28, 2014)

The International Franchise Association will hold its 47^th Annual IFA Legal Symposium on May 4-6, 2014 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago. In addition to focusing on traditional franchise law topics, the symposium will feature business and legal discussions around healthcare insurance compliance, immigration, tax policy reform, cyber security, food safety, nutrition disclosure, and workforce employment issues.

The symposium will commerce on the afternoon of Sunday, May 4 with a welcome reception. A Moderator & Speakers’ Networking Event will follow.

On Monday, May 5, the program will begin with a keynote presentation on “Regulation Nation: Franchise Executives Discuss How Franchising Must Adapt,” moderated by Joyce Mazero (Perkins Coie LLP), with Mitch Cohen, Kathleen Gilmartin, and Don Fox.

The program will continue with the following concurrent sessions: (1) “When Competitive Franchise Systems Merge: Opportunities & Pitfalls”; (2) “The Affordable Care Act & Immigration: What Every Franchise Lawyer Needs to Know”; (3) “Cyber Security, Data Security and Privacy: Solving the Compliance Puzzle”; (4)“Continuing Your Business during Franchise Class Actions: What You Can, Cannot, Should and Should Not Do”; (5) “Making the Business Case For Franchise Standards Beyond ‘Because I Said So’”; (6) “Looking Under the Hood: Conducting Due Diligence in Franchise Transactions,” “How to be a Lender-Friendly Franchise”; and (7) “Building Your Franchise Law Practice: The Essential Guide to Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law in the United States.”

Following a Networking Luncheon with an IFA Government Relations Update, the afternoon will proceed with the following concurrent sessions: (1) “Antitrust Law Developments in Franchise System Pricing - Legal Principles and Best Practices”; (2) “I Can’t Find the Signed Franchise Agreement!: Creating and Implementing Document Retention and Management Policies that Work”; (3) “The Key Tax Issues in International Franchise Transactions”; (4) “This is Going to Cost Me What?: Lessons Learned from Recent Accessibility Class Actions Brought Under the Americans with Disabilities Act against Burger King, Taco Bell and Other Franchisors”; (5) “Attorney-Client Privilege Issues”; (6) “Current Hot Topics in Franchise Registration and Disclosure”; and (6) “Best Practices for Handling Defaults and Terminations.”

The afternoon will continue with the following concurrent sessions: (1) “Looking Under the Hood: Conducting Due Diligence in Franchise Transactions”; (2) “International Agency Laws: Ignorance is Not Bliss!”; (3) “Regulation Nation: Focus on the Foodservice Franchisor - How to Comply, Survive and Thrive”; (4) “Accounting Issues for Lawyers: Understanding the Franchisor’s Financial Statements”; (5) “The Affordable Care Act & Immigration: What Every Franchise Lawyer Needs to Know”; (6) “Conducting Your Business during Franchise Class Actions: What You Can, Cannot, Should and Should Not Do”; and (7) “Mergers & Acquisitions.”

Following these programs, a networking reception and a newcomers’ and first time attendees’ dinner will be held.

On Tuesday, May 6, the program will begin with a “Judicial Update” general session, presented by Natalma M. McKnew (Moore Leatherwood LLP) and Erik Wulff (DLA Piper).

This program will be followed by these concurrent sessions: (1) “How to be a Lender-Friendly Franchise”; (2) “Cyber Security, Data Security and Privacy: Solving the Compliance Puzzle”; (3) “International Agency Laws: Ignorance is Not Bliss!”; (4) “This is Going to Cost Me What?: Lessons Learned from Recent Accessibility Class Actions Brought Under the Americans with Disabilities Act against Burger King, Taco Bell and Other Franchisors”; (5) “Assisting Your Client in Leveraging Its Supply Chain for Competitive Advantage”; (6) “Current Hot Topics in Franchise Registration and Disclosure”; and (7)“Trademarks & Intellectual Property - The What and How They Are Impacting Franchising.”

After a boxed luncheon and roundtables, the afternoon will proceed with concurrent programs on (1) “Antitrust Law Developments in Franchise System Pricing - Legal Principles and Best Practices”; (2) “Accounting Issues for Lawyers: Understanding the Franchisor’s Financial Statements”; (3) “Regulation Nation: Focus on the Foodservice Franchisor - How to Comply, Survive and Thrive”; (4) “The Key Tax Issues in International Franchise Transactions”; and (5) “Franchise Litigation.”

The afternoon will continue with following concurrent sessions: (1) “When Competitive Franchise Systems Merge: Opportunities & Pitfalls”; (2) “Assisting Your Client in Leveraging Its Supply Chain for Competitive Advantage”; (3) “I Can’t Find the Signed Franchise Agreement!: Creating and Implementing Document Retention and Management Policies that Work”; (4) “Making the Business Case For Franchise Standards Beyond ‘Because I Said So’”; and (5)“Expanding Internationally.”

Further information is available here. Interested persons may register by submitting their registration forms and payments to: IFA’s 47^th Annual Legal Symposium, 1501 K Street, NW, Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20005. Online registration is available.

IBA/IFA Joint Conference. The IFA Legal Symposium will be followed by the 30^th Annual International Bar Association/International Franchise Association Joint Conference on May 6-7, 2014, at the Marriott Magnificent Mile. Interactive sessions will include a “News from Around the World” update, during which expert international franchise professionals provide a roundup of franchising developments from some of the world’s hottest jurisdictions. There is a separate fee for this program. Further information is available here on the IFA website.

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