Why Private Equity May Be the Preferred Vehicle for Franchise Expansion
March 01, 2006
Why is private equity funding the hottest thing in franchising today? In the past 12 months, private equity buyouts have included well-known brands such as Cinnabon, Church's Chicken, Taco Bueno (a regional taco maker), and regional frozen dessert operator Rita's Italian Ice.
Mexico Amends Its Franchise Law
March 01, 2006
On Jan. 26, 2006, an amendment to the Mexican Industrial Property Law (<i>Ley de la Propiedad Industrial</i>) ("IPL") became effective. The new amendment mandates new requirements for presale franchise disclosure and for franchise agreements. To comply with the law, most franchisors will need to change their existing forms of franchise agreements used in Mexico.
News Briefs
March 01, 2006
Highlights of the latest franchising news from around the country.
Involuntary Bankruptcy: A Useful Tool for Lessors and Creditors
February 28, 2006
Bankruptcy." To many creditors this term is understood to mean a lost cause, a write-off and the end of the collection process. To other creditors, including those that appropriately use the filing of an involuntary bankruptcy petition, bankruptcy can mean the beginning of a successful strategy. Many of the benefits leasing creditors and others derived from the filing of an involuntary bankruptcy petition against a delinquent customer under the former Bankruptcy Code are preserved in the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 ("BAPCPA"), with some favorable additions. Used intelligently, and in the right situation, the filing of an involuntary bankruptcy petition can still be a useful tool.
In The Marketplace
February 28, 2006
Highlights of the latest Equipment Leasing news from around the country.
Perfect 10 Racks Up Preliminary Injunction Against Google
February 28, 2006
Google's popular image search service might be in legal jeopardy. A Los Angeles federal judge ruled last month that the Internet search engine's image search feature, which displays thumbnail versions of images found on other Web sites, probably infringed a Web pornographer's copyrights. In a 48-page preliminary ruling, U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz reluctantly sided with Perfect 10, a Beverly Hills, CA, adult entertainment publisher, in its copyright claim against the Internet search giant.
12 Angry Surfers: Mock Trials Go Online
February 28, 2006
A growing group of lawyers are seeking quicker, cheaper ways to get feedback about their cases. With technology already providing much in the way of trial support, it seems only natural that virtual communication has begun filling the mock jury gap.
Oh, Canada!
February 28, 2006
In some quarters, there is the misperception that Canadian law firms lag behind their American counterparts when it comes to marketing practices, but in fact Canadian firms are no less sophisticated at marketing. They simply operate in an environment that is vastly different. Based on conversations with various Managing Partners, Chief Operating Officers, Chief Marketing Officers and other legal industry insiders it is clear that the marketing of Canadian law firms suffers more from the structure of the Canadian sector than from any specific approach to marketing.
THE MLF Canadian 20
February 28, 2006
For the first time, <i>Marketing The Law Firm</i> will present the MLF Canadian 20 ' The Top 20 Canadian Law firms in the areas of Marketing and Communications. This listing will bring to bear all the achievements that our friends and colleagues to the North have been so diligently working on in terms of their marketing and communications programs.
<b>Op-Ed:</b> The Year of the Dinosaur: Being Oblivious to the Obvious
February 28, 2006
What's in a name? Apparently nothing! Over the past several months, we have seen many top rainmakers leave firms that are considered to be the "creme de la creme" of the profession for "greener" pastures and assurances that they can continue to practice law, keep their clients and remain viable. There is no surprise to this trend that can be summed us as follows: Money talks and, in some cases, mandatory retirement walks. <br>What makes this trend all the more interesting is the fact that coupled with these departures is a sense that the firms from which the partners are leaving seem to be oblivious to the obvious: You, and you know who you are, have become irrelevant and for lack of better terminology ' You are a dinosaur!
