Franchise Today

In the third of eight segments in the 4th Annual Franchise Legal Series the focus is on Private Equity in Franchising. Amy Cheng, co-founder of Cheng Cohen LLC joins host, Paul Segreto to provide her insight and perspective about private equity and its role in franchising today.

About Our Guest

Amy Cheng is the co-founder of Cheng Cohen LLC in Chicago, Illinois. Amy concentrates her practice in domestic and international commercial transactions, general corporate, and franchise, licensing and distribution law. She represents franchisors on the structuring and operation of their franchise programs through all phases of development.  She also represents non-U.S. based franchisors expanding into the U.S. market.  Amy has extensive experience in structuring and drafting agreements for complex franchise, licensing and distribution relationships and in regulatory compliance. Her experience includes advising clients in connection with complex issues arising from the ownership of multiple brands, non-traditional opportunities, system restructuring and brand acquisition.  Amy also advises clients on the structuring of non-franchised distribution systems.

Amy is a current member of the International Franchise Association Women's Franchise Committee and she is also the Vice Chair of the International Franchise Association’s Annual Legal Symposium.  She is an Associate Editor for the American Bar Association’s Franchise Law Journal.  Amy also serves as a member of the Franchise Advisory Board for the Illinois Attorney General.  For her work in this area, Amy was named a "Legal Eagle" by the Franchise Times, recognized by Who's Who Legal, Leading Lawyers, and Chambers and Partners, and selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers of America® in the field of franchise law.

This week on Franchise Today the 4th Annual Franchise Legal Series continues with a look at Data & Information. Lee Plave, co-founding partner at PlaveKoch PLC joins host, Paul Segreto as they explore questions many franchisors have about data and information in today's hi-tech world. Especially as these questions specifically relate to liability, consequences and penalties.

About Our Guest

Lee Plave is a co-founding partner of Plave Koch PLC, an entrepreneurial law firm in Reston, Virginia. He counsels franchisors and distributors, drafts and negotiates agreements for international and domestic transactions, and advises clients on all aspects of franchise and distribution law.

Lee also works with clients on how to apply technology in franchise and distribution systems, including social networking and social media issues, e commerce, data, and security policies, cybersquatting and domain name disputes, as well as cybersmear/complaint sites. He also represents clients before the Federal Trade Commission, where he began his career.

The International Franchise Association Educational Foundation recognized Lee as a “Certified Franchise Executive.” London-based Chambers & Partners, which publishes an internationally-respected client guide, ranks Lee as one of the leading franchise lawyers in the United States. Another London-based publication, Who's Who Legal, named Lee one of the global Top 10 franchise lawyers in The International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers.

In 2012, Lee was appointed to serve as the Director of the International Division of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising for 2012-14.

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.

It's only fitting to review once again the IFA perspective on franchising in 2013 as Franchise Today heads into its 4th Annual Franchise Legal Series beginning on April 11th.

Replay Recap

Just days ahead of IFAs 53rd Annual Convention, Franchise Today welcomed IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira, as part of the show's "Voices of Franchising" series. Host, Paul Segreto and Steve Caldeira discussed IFAs 2013 policy agenda and offer insight into the economic future of franchising. In addition, Steve provided a preview of the then upcoming IFA Convention.

About the IFA

Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA's mission is to protect, enhance and promote franchising through government relations, public relations and educational programs.

This week on Franchise Today the focus is on real estate as the 2-part Multi-unit Franchising Series wraps up. Host, Paul Segreto is joined by Tom McCord, Vice President Real Estate and Franchise Development at CiCi's Pizza. From market planning to site selection to securing a lease, Paul and Tom discuss the importance of this phase in the franchise development process as the foundation of multi-unit success.

About Our Guest

Tom McCord is an experienced real estate and franchising executive with proven record in developing quick serve and casual dining restaurants. He has led corporate and franchise real estate, franchise recruiting, market planning, and portfolio management to consistently exceed expectations in privately and publicly held companies.

One can hardly think about building a culture in franchising without mentioning Jersey Mike's Subs. So, it's very fitting to start the Multi-unit Franchising Series on Franchise Today with a member of the Jersey Mike's corporate team as our guest in the first of two segments in the series.

Michael Manzo, Chief Operating Officer of Jersey Mike's joins host, Paul Segreto as they explore best practices in multi-unit franchising and how brand culture plays an important role in developing a successful multi-unit program.

About Our Guest

A Jersey Mike’s Subs veteran, Michael Manzo came up through the system “wearing the apron.”  Working side by side with Founder & CEO Peter Cancro, Michael’s fingerprints are on nearly every aspect of the company from operations to training and from purchasing to franchise development.

Michael has the distinction of working at the original Mike’s Subs restaurant in Point Pleasant during high school (1979-81). After serving 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Michael managed the original store in 1985. In 1987, the name was changed to Jersey Mike’s and the company began franchising. In 1992, after building out more than 30 restaurants, Michael left the company.  In 1996, he rejoined Jersey Mike’s when there were still less than 35 restaurants.

Ever since, Michael has been a champion for bringing customers the highest quality, freshest made sub in the industry. Today, Jersey Mike’s is a growing brand with 750 restaurants open and under development nationwide, winning best sub awards in virtually every market it serves.

Franchise Today is a production of Franchise Foundry.

This week on Franchise Today the series on Franchise Finance continues as host, Paul Segreto welcomes as his guest, Sandy Shoemaker, Partner at EKS&H. Paul and Sandy discuss various items of importance to get the "franchise house" in order for successful franchise financing and ultimately, successful franchise development. Items to be discussed include unit-economics, Item 19 preparation, FDD audits and necessary preparations to secure franchise financing.

About Our Guest

Sandy Shoemaker is a partner in the audit service

area of EKS&H and has been involved in public

accounting since 1990, serving publicly traded and

privately-held companies. She has extensive

knowledge of financial statement audits and has

provided services to companies in the franchising,

distribution, manufacturing, medical- device,

restaurants and real estate industries. Sandy has a

depth of experience working with employee-owned

companies and advising on the proper use of

employee stock ownership plans. She also has

extensive experience in audits of employee benefit

plans.

This week on Franchise Today a two-part series on Franchise Finance kicks off. Host, Paul Segreto welcomes as his returning guest to the show, Ron Feldman, CEO and Co-founder at Franchise America Finance.

Paul and Ron focus on several options, traditional and new for today's franchisees to explore and secure financing in continued tight, but slowly loosening credit markets. The discussion also includes the various challenges that small business owners are facing that ultimately may adversely affect their bottom line and their future ability to expand operations.

About Our Guest

Ronald Feldman is a co-founder of Franchise America Finance™, a boutique franchise investment and lending source. Prior to his affiliation with Siegel Financial Group & Franchise American Finance, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Response USA, a publicly traded Alarm Systems Company. Mr. Feldman was instrumental in both the public offering and ultimate sale of the Alarm Division.

Mr. Feldman and his wife were one of the early Goddard School Franchisees and successfully owned, operated and sold their Goddard School in 2007. He has been a keynote speaker at scores of franchise related events, appeared on television programs as the "Champion of Small Business", and has been published numerous times in trade magazines. He is also an instructor on financing and access to capital to the International Franchise Association (IFA).  Ronald has the distinction of being a Certified Franchise Executive ("CFE").

In the final segment of the "Voices of Franchising" series on Franchise Today, host, Paul Segreto welcomes Therese Thilgen, President & Co-founder, Franchise Update Media Group. Paul and Therese discuss the recently completed IFA Convention, trends in franchising and upcoming Franchise Update Media Group conferences.

About Franchise Update Media Group

Franchise Update Media Group (FUMG) has been a leader and innovator in providing valuable information and intelligence to franchisors, franchisees and franchise prospects for 25 years. Their purpose is to help franchisors, multi-unit franchisees, prospective franchisees and franchise service providers improve and grow profitable enterprises.

The "Voices of Franchising" Series continues this week on Franchise Today. Host, Paul Segreto welcomes as his guest, Nancy Weingartner, Executive Editor at Franchise Times Magazine. Just a day after the 53rd Annual International Franchise Association Convention in Las Vegas, Nancy and Paul discuss highlights of the event.

About Franchise Times

Franchise Times Magazine is the most respected news and information source for the franchise sector. Published 10 times a year, the magazine covers the people, events, issues, industries and companies that make the franchise sector one of the largest employers in the country.