ABA Forum on Franchising at 35: “Getting Better and Better”

The posting was written by John W. Arden.

During his “State of the Forum” speech at the ABA Forum on Franchising’s annual meeting last week in Los Angeles, Forum Chair Joseph J. Fittante reported that, in its 35th year, the Forum was “getting better and better.”

While other legal conferences are seeing a fall off in attendance, the Forum’s annual meeting boasted a near-record of 829 registered attendees. The Forum continues to have one of the highest participation rates of any ABA group.

The quality of the Forum’s presentations, written materials, and publications continue to be of the highest level, according to Fittante, a shareholder of Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren in Minneapolis. The success of the Forum is attributable to the participation of the membership and the efforts of the governing committee and senior leadership, he said.

That leadership took time out of the general business meeting to thank former ABA Forum coordinator Kelly Rodenberg for nearly 15 years of working with the group. Rodenberg recently left her position with the ABA, but was in attendance at the meeting. She was recognized for guiding the group through earthquakes, snowstorms, hurricanes, and labor strikes.

Past chair Susan Gruenberg related how the group was able to hold a planned annual meeting just weeks after the 9/11 attacks because of Rodenberg’s efforts to renegotiate contracts and process many cancellations from members who were not willing to travel.

Leadership Election

During the annual business meeting of the three-day forum, the group elected Deborah S. Coldwell of Hayes and Boone, LLP in Dallas to serve a two-year term as Forum Chair, commencing in August 2013. The Forum membership also elected four members to serve three-year terms on the Governing Committee, commencing in August 2013.

The new at-large members of the Governing Committee are Christopher P. Bussert of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP in Atlanta; Leslie Curran of Plave Koch PLC in Reston, Virginia;  Andrew Loewinger of Nixon Peabody LLP in Washington, DC; and David W. Oppenheim of Kaufmann Gildin Robbins & Oppenheim LLP in New York City. Diane Green-Kelly of Reed Smith in Chicago was elected to a two-year term on the Governing Committee, to fulfill the remainder of Deborah Coldwell's unexpired term.

Highlights of the annual meeting included a plenary session on time management skills for lawyers and the Annual Franchise and Distribution Law Developments program, presented by James Goniea and Peter Silverman. Program co-chairs for the 2012 Forum on Franchising were Leslie D. Curran and Michael D. Joblove.

The 2013 annual meeting is scheduled for October 16 - 18, 2013 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida.

ABA Forum on Franchising “Continues to Be Strong”

This posting was written by John W. Arden.

The American Bar Association Forum on Franchising “continues to be strong, gain membership, and surpass expectations for attendance at annual Forums,” said Forum Chair Joseph J. Fittante during an October 21 “State of the Forum” address at the group's annual meeting.

Attendance at the annual meeting was up nearly 4 percent over last year, drawing 773 to the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore. In 2010, 746 attended the annual meeting at the Hotel Del Coronado near San Diego. Last year’s turnout was a huge rebound from the 650 attending the 2009 annual meeting in Toronto.

A highlight of the last year was a survey of membership, which revealed one theme—members’ desire for more opportunities to be involved, said Fittante, a shareholder of Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren in Minneapolis.

The Forum website has more information on opportunities to write for the quarterly Franchise Law Journal and the quarterly Franchise Lawyer newsletter. There are also opportunities to join Forum sub-groups, including the International Franchise and Distribution Division, the Corporate Counsel Division, the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Division, the Solo and Small Firm Network, the Membership Committee, the Program Committee, the Publications Committee, the Technology Committee, and the Diversity Committee.

Governing Committee Election

During the annual business meeting of the three-day forum, the group elected four new members of the governing committee by adopting—by voice vote—the report and recommendation of the nominating committee.

The new members of the governing committee are Deborah Coldwell of Hayes & Boone in Dallas/Fort Worth; Natalma McKnew of Smith Moore Leatherwood in Greenville, South Carolina; Karen Satterlee of Hilton Worldwide in McLean, Virginia; and Will K. Woods of Baker Botts LLP in Dallas.

Forum Awards

This year, the group did not present its Lewis G. Rudnick Award for substantial contributions to the development of the Forum and to franchise law as a discipline. The “lifetime achievement award” was given to John R.F. Baer in 2009 and to Rupert Barkoff and Andrew Selden in 2010.

The Young Leader Award was presented to Nicole Zellweger for her speaking, writing, and involvement in the Newcomer’s Network and Women’s Caucus. The Chair’s Explorer Award was given to Christian Thompson. The latter award is designed for newcomers to the Forum who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career in franchise law.

Highlights of the annual meeting included a plenary session on “Speed Reading People: Techniques to Improve Communications and Enhance Outcomes” and the Annual Franchise and Distribution Development session, presented by Lee J. Plave and Stuart Hershman.

Program co-chairs were Michael K. Lindsay and Karen Satterlee.

The 2012 annual meeting is scheduled for October 3-5 at the JW Marriott in Los Angeles. Further information regarding the Forum on Franchising appears here on the ABA website.

ABA Forum on Franchising Is “Healthy and Stable,” Says Chair

This posting was written by John W. Arden.

The American Bar Association Forum on Franchising remains “healthy and stable,” in spite of the nation’s economic woes and the ABA’s overall loss of membership, said Forum Chair Ronald K. Gardner during an October 15 “State of the Forum” address.

The group’s membership is down about two percent this year, a smaller decrease than experienced by the ABA overall. Attendance at last week’s annual meeting was up significantly from the 2009 meeting.

Last year, 650 attended the annual meeting in Toronto, nearly 200 fewer than the near-record number of 836 who attended the 2008 meeting in Austin. This year’s meeting, held at the Hotel Del Coronado near San Diego, rebounded to draw 746.

Financially, the Forum is “extraordinarily strong,” due to the efforts of Finance Officer Harris J. Chernow and his predecessors, said Gardner, managing partner of Dady and Gardner P.A. in Minneapolis.

“In the next couple of years, we hope to return to steady membership growth,” he said.

During the annual business meeting, the group elected new officers and governing committee members by adopting—by unanimous voice vote—the report and recommendation of the nominating committee.

Joseph J. Fittante, Jr. of Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren Ltd. will serve as chair of the group from 2011 to 2013. Other members of the Governing Committee will be Kerry Bundy of Faegre & Benson (2011 to 2014); Eric Karp of Witmer Karp Warner & Ryan LLP (2011 to 2014); Kathy Kotel of Carlson Restaurant Worldwide (2011 to 2013); James Goneia of Aamco (2011 to 2013); Diane Green-Kelly of Reed Smith (2011 to 2013); and Michael Lindsey of Paul Hastings (2011 to 2013).

Highlights of the annual meeting included a plenary session entitled “Strategic and Tactical Decision-Making: What Do Your Peers Think of Your Decisions,” led by Kerry L. Bundy, Dr. Melissa M. Gomez, Harris Chernow, and Joseph Schumacher, and the Annual Franchise and Distribution Developments session, presented by Bethany L. Appleby and William K. Whitner.

Program co-chairs were Deb Coldwell of Hayes & Boone LLP and Kathy Kotel of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, Inc.

The 2011 annual meeting is scheduled for October 18-21 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore. The program chairs will be Michael Lindsey and Karen Satterlee.

Despite Lower Turnout, ABA Forum on Franchising Is in Good Shape: Chair

This posting was written by John W. Arden.

In spite of sharply lower attendance at the ABA Forum on Franchising’s 32nd annual meeting, the “State of the Forum” is still “very, very good,” according to an October 16 address by Ronald Gardner, new chair of the group.

Attendance at last week’s annual meeting in Toronto was down by nearly 200 from last year’s near-record number—from 836 to 650. Nevertheless, the turnout was better than expected in view of overall economic conditions, said Gardner, managing partner of Dady and Garner in Minneapolis.

Other indicators are all positive, Gardner noted. Membership retention is at or above other ABA units. The Forum continues to be on solid financial footing. And the group has been able to lock in annual meeting facilities at favorable rates through 2013.

In Forum business, the group voted unanimously to amend its bylaws to expand the size of the governing committee from nine to 12 at-large members.

Three nominees were elected unanimously to serve terms on the governing committee. Serving new terms from 2010 through 2013 will be Leslie Curran of Plave Koch PLC in Reston, Virginia; Joseph Fittante of Larkin Hoffman in Minneapolis; and Michael Joblove of Genovese Joblove & Battista in Miami.

The Forum was revisiting the location of its 1989 meeting—the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto.

Highlights of the meeting included a plenary session on “Engineering Healthy Franchise Relationships,” led by franchise relationship expert Greg Nathan, and the Annual Franchise and Distribution Developments session, presented by Joel R. Buckberg of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz in Nashville and Jon P. Christiansen of Foley & Lardner LLP in Milwaukee. The annual reception and dinner was held at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Program co-chairs were Kerry Bundy of Faegre & Benson LLP in Minneapolis and Larry Weinberg of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP in Toronto.

The 2010 annual meeting is scheduled for October 13-15 at The Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, California. The program chairs will be Deborah Coldwell of Haynes and Boone LLP in Dallas and Kathy Kotel of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide of Carrollton, Texas.