Franchising: Franchising Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution
In all industries and throughout all geographic markets, disputes can jeopardize an organization’s profitability, reputation, and even its very existence. Franchise clients facing commercial disputes nationally and internationally regularly turn to us to take on their most challenging and high-stakes engagements.
Our Litigation and Dispute Resolution team is comprised of hundreds of lawyers in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, South America, and the United States, many of whom are ranked nationally and internationally and include fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Law Institute, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Our Litigation practice spans domestic and international arbitrations, civil and criminal trials, class actions, multidistrict and multinational litigation, and appellate work.
Experienced at handling franchise matters for the world’s leading franchise companies, our team has successfully represented leading franchise businesses on a broad spectrum of commercial litigation matters, including disputes over enforcement of system standards and specifications; trademark infringement and Lanham Act claims related to the wrongful use or theft of intellectual property; franchise and dealership termination; breach of contract; statutory violations; vicarious liability assertions; poaching claims; enforcement of non-compete agreements; advertising claims; and other types of commercial disputes.
Litigation is not the answer to every dispute. We work with franchise clients to resolve disputes through arbitration, mediation, or alternative dispute resolution techniques when they are the appropriate means of promoting our clients’ business objectives.
On 30 January 2024, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule (Final Rule) increasing the premium processing fee from US$2,500 to US$2,805, increasing filing fees for I-129 and I-140 employment-based petitions, and imposing a new Asylum Program Fee for each Form I-129 and I-140 filed by employers.
On 3 April 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission announced the first settlement with a stand-alone registered investment adviser for, among other things, failures to maintain and preserve certain electronic communications.
On 22 December 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments (the final rule) to Rule 206(4)-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act) to modernize the regulation of investment adviser advertising and solicitation practices.
On 7 March 2024, the Illinois Pollution Control Board proposed amendments to its Ground Water Quality regulations, which would set standards for selected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances compounds at or near their levels of detection and would result in some of the most stringent standards in the country.