United States: Franchising

A federal court in New York's Eastern District has ruled on a franchisor's trade secret claims against a former franchisee who allegedly retained confidential operations materials after termination.

Operating a business across state lines requires careful attention to foreign entity registration requirements. While maintaining an office or employing workers in another state almost certainly triggers registration obligations...

Buying a franchise requires careful evaluation of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), a standardized legal document that reveals the true costs, restrictions, and risks behind the opportunity. This comprehensive guide examines the critical sections that determine whether a franchise investment will succeed or fail, from hidden fees and supplier markups to territory protections and renewal rights that can transfer your business value back to the franchisor.

Litigation over who is—and who is not—a member of a limited liability company has become a defining feature of LLCs. The ease with which parties form LLCs, coupled with the informality...

The L-1 visa remains a widely used pathway for multinational companies to transfer executives, managers, and specialized employees to the United States. Within this category, the “new office” option allows companies without an existing U.S. presence to establish operations by transferring key personnel. A new office is defined as a U.S. branch, subsidiary, or affiliate that has been doing business for less than one year.

Virginia's amended Retail Franchising Act introduces mandatory Virginia law governance for all franchise agreements and prohibits post-termination noncompete restrictions, fundamentally altering how franchisors structure their agreements with Virginia franchisees. The legislation raises critical questions about franchise system consistency and franchisee mobility after contract expiration.

Private equity is defining the future of the US$500-billion-plus global sports market...

Once the passion projects of billionaires and family dynasties, professional sports franchises—from the NFL to Europe's top football leagues—are now attracting serious attention from private equity (PE) firms.

More than ever, investing in sports teams has become an attainable reality for a broader range of investors. Too often, however, the excitement surrounding a deal can overshadow a disciplined, process-driven approach to assessing its merits.