This week on Franchise Today begins our 4th Annual Franchise Legal Series. The series broadcasts LIVE on eight consecutive Thursdays at 11AM CT beginning with today's show and culminating on Thursday, May 30th with our IFA Legal Symposium Recap. Each week, the brightest legal minds in franchising share their insight and perspective on topics of importance to franchisors including franchise sales best practices, private equity in franchising, social media and legal considerations in a franchise environment and franchisor litigation issues.

Joining host, Paul Segreto on today's show is Michael Laidhold, Partner at Plave Koch PLC. The focus of the discussion is on franchise sales best practices and includes pointers on Franchise Disclosure Documents, Item 19 - Financial Performance Representations, disclosure do's and don'ts, and potential consequences per federal and state quidelines and laws.

About Our Guest

Michael Laidhold is a partner at Plave Koch PLC in Reston, Virginia.  He focuses his practice on domestic and international franchising, licensing, general dealership and distribution matters.  Michael works with clients to structure new franchise programs and restructure existing franchise programs; to draft and negotiate franchise, master franchise, licensing, development and distribution agreements, and asset purchase agreements and related commercial contracts.  He counsels clients on compliance with state, federal, and international regulatory issues; and provides advice with respect to franchise, license, and dealership and distribution relationships.  He has been a speaker at the ABA Forum on Franchising and the IFA Legal Symposium, and other industry events and seminars, and has authored many articles on branding, licensing, franchising, and distribution issues.