Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, FRANCHISING & DISTRIBUTION NEWS: Membership engagement remains “strong,” says ABA Forum Chair, (Oct 16, 2015)
Law Firms Mentioned:Einbinder & Dunn | Greenberg Traurig LLP | Greensfelder Hemker & Gale, P.C. | Nixon Peabody LLP | Paul Hastings LLP | Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP
Organizations Mentioned:Einbinder & Dunn, LLP | Greenberg Traurig, LLP | Greensfelder Hemker & Gale, PC | Hilton Worldwide | National Labor Relations Board | Nixon Peabody, LLP | Paul Hastings, LLP | Smith Moore Leatherwood, LLP | U.S. Department of Labor
By John W. Arden, J.D., LL.M.
Addressing a record number of attendees at the 38th annual American Bar Association Forum on Franchising in New Orleans today, Forum Chair Karen Satterlee reported that the “State of the Forum” was “good” and that membership engagement remains “strong.”
The 867 registered attendees set a new record for the annual meeting, constituting 43 percent of membership of the Forum. This percentage is by far the highest of any ABA entity, said Satterlee, Vice President and Senior Counsel for Hilton Worldwide, Inc. Membership retention rate is 98 percent, among the very highest of the ABA groups.
According to Satterlee, the Forum has made progress in its five year (2012-2017) plan, which includes (1) making a greater commitment to technology, (2) providing members with industry-leading publications, (3) increasing programming, (4) enhancing member engagement, and (5) focusing on diversity.
The commitment to technology could be seen in the Forum app, made available to attendees this year. In addition to providing the meeting schedule, papers, and attendee list, the “evergreen” app will allow members to read the Franchise Law Journal and the Franchise Lawyer newsletters. Additional material will be provided through the app as the year continues. The publications this year included new editions of the Fundamentals of Franchising and International Franchise Sales Laws. The increased programming is evident from the 5-6 webcasts presented per year, in addition to the annual meeting. The focus on diversity can be seen through the activities of the Diversity Caucus, including its live webcasts and diversity lunch at the annual meeting, Satterlee said.
During the annual business meeting, the group elected new Governing Committee members by adopting—by unanimous voice vote—the report and recommendation of the nominating committee. The new members of the Governing Committee are Beata Krakus of Greensfelder Hemker & Gale, P.C.; Julie Lusthaus of Einbinder & Dunn; David Oppenheim of Greenberg Traurig LLP; and William K. Whitner of Paul Hastings LLP.
Highlights of the three-day meeting included (1) a plenary session, entitled “Franchising Reconsidered: Will the NLRB Fundamentally Change the Franchising Industry,” featuring Richard F. Griffin, Jr., General Counsel of the U.S. National Labor Relations Board and Dr. David Weil, U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Administrator and (2) the Annual Franchise and Distribution Developments session, presented by Frederic A. Cohen and Peter C, Lagarias. Program co-chairs were Andrew Loewinger of Nixon Peabody LLP and Tami McKnew of Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP.
The 2016 annual meeting is scheduled for November 2-4 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach in Miami, Florida.
Attorneys: Beata Krakus (Greensfelder Hemker & Gale, P.C.). Julie Lusthaus (Einbinder & Dunn). David Oppenheim (Greenberg Traurig LLP). William K. Whitner (Paul Hastings LLP). Andrew Loewinger (Nixon Peabody LLP). Tami McKnew (Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP).
News: FranchisingDistribution IndustryNewsTrends