On June 7, 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the withdrawal of two Obama-era guidance letters that provided guidance on joint employer and independent contractor classifications. The withdrawal of these two guidance documents marks a step toward more flexibility for employers.
One of the letters, 2016-1, focused on the Fair Labor Standards Act’s
California’s governor recently vetoed legislation that had intended to make it easier for franchisors and franchisees to do business in the state. While the vetoes came as no surprise, they are disappointing from a franchise perspective.
AB 1782 (Limited Trade Show Exception) and AB 2637 (Negotiated Sales) — which the State Bar of California’s Franchise
More and more franchise registration states are offering the option to submit franchise applications either electronically or in hard copy. As of June 30, 2016, Wisconsin franchise filers now find themselves required to e-file all future franchise applications.
In an effort to avoid excessive mailing costs, the division staff will return mailed checks and cover
Several of the exemptions available under the FTC Franchise Rule are tied to dollar thresholds. For example, when the current FTC Franchise Rule was adopted in 2007, a franchise sale was exempt from the disclosure requirements of the rule if the payments from the franchisee to the franchisor in the first six months of the
Think twice before requiring at-will, low-wage workers to sign noncompetes
On June 8, the Illinois attorney general filed a lawsuit in Cook County (Illinois) Circuit Court against two Jimmy John’s entities: franchisor Jimmy John’s Franchise LLC and an LLC owning eight Jimmy John’s sandwich shops, Jimmy John’s Enterprises LLC. The lawsuit alleges the sandwich chain
The International Franchise Association’s annual Legal Symposium took place May 15-17, 2016. Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale attorneys Dawn Johnson, Beata Krakus, Kim Myers, Abby Risner and Leonard Vines attended the program in Washington, D.C, where industry speakers presented programs on important topics in franchising.
Vines moderated one of the roundtables on “Effective Use
The American Bar Association is accepting applications for a Forum on Franchising scholarship established in memory of the late Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale partner John Baer.
In October 2015, the ABA Forum on Franchising established the John R. F. Baer Scholarship for International Civility and Professionalism. The scholarship will be awarded to an attorney who
Although it was enacted almost 20 years ago, California’s Proposition 65 is continuing to expand and affect the operations of new companies with its far-reaching legal requirements. It is increasingly important for any retailer, manufacturer or business owner whose products could possibly be sold in California or be used by a California user to comply
The American Bar Association’s annual Petroleum Marketing Attorneys’ Meeting took place on April 14 and 15, 2016. Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale attorneys Dan Garner, David Harris, Dawn Johnson, John Petite and Abby Risner attended the program in Washington, D.C, where industry speakers presented programs on important topics and emerging trends in the petroleum marketing industry.
The American Bar Association has recognized a program co-presented by Greensfelder Officer Leonard D. Vines as the best of last fall’s ABA Forum on Franchising.
Vines, a member of Greensfelder’s Franchising & Distribution group, presented a session on negotiating franchise agreements in October at the 38th annual ABA Forum on Franchising in New Orleans