31st Annual Forum on Franchising

Foley partners Leslie Smith, Jon P. Christiansen, and Michael J. Lockerby will speak at the American Bar Association’s (ABA) 31^st Annual Forum on Franchising. The event will be held on October 15-17, 2008 in Austin, Texas.

The ABA Forum on Franchising will offer timely and insightful programming that will focus on franchise counseling issues, developments in internal franchise law, advanced franchise litigation issues, and ethics issues arising in a multi-jurisdictional franchise practice. The Forum is intended for in-house or outside counsel, counsel to franchisors or franchisees, litigation or transactional attorneys, and attorneys that are experienced or new to franchise law.

Smith is a Governing Committee Member for the Forum and will present at the Intensive Program, “Fundamentals of Franchising,” on Wednesday, October 15th. This program will be an overview of franchise law for those who want an introduction to the field, as well as those who would like an update on one or more areas of franchise law. Also on October 15^th, Christiansen will speak at the Intensive Program titled “Evidentiary and Trial Issues in Franchise Cases.” This program will explore the critical evidentiary and ethical issues that often arise in the trial or arbitration of franchise disputes.

Lockerby will present at a workshop titled “Litigating a Claim Under the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA)” on Thursday, October 16th. He will discuss the procedural and strategic aspects of litigating a wrongful franchise termination claim under the PMPA.

Please visit the ABA Forum on Franchising Web site for more information.