RECENT POSTS
What Franchisors Need to Know About the Maryland Franchise Reform Act
In 2026, various states reformed franchise laws to significantly impact the franchisor-franchisee relationship. Recently, Maryland lawmakers approved legislation that follows this trend. On May 12, Gov. Wes Moore signed Senate Bill 415 and House Bill
Franchise 101: No Parent Trap; and Leaving A Light On, For Withheld Funds
Franchisor 101: No Parent Trap A group of franchisees filed a petition to compel arbitration against two franchisor entities and their parent company. The district court found that the franchisees failed to show the parent
Remote Work and Wage-Hour Compliance: Hidden Risks in the Hybrid Workplace
The widespread adoption of fully remote and hybrid work arrangements brings lasting changes to how and where hourly employees perform their jobs. While much of the public conversation focuses on productivity, collaboration, and corporate culture,
Stronger Franchisee Protections Emerging in 2026 State Laws
It appears that franchisors will remain targets of state governments in 2026. Although a franchise system may not call a state with new legislation its home, franchisors and franchisees should stay informed about the potential
Franchise 101: Claim Preclusion; and Diversity Precedent
Franchisor 101: Claim Preclusion The federal district court in North Dakota granted a franchisee’s motion to dismiss a franchisor’s complaint for failure to state a claim and its motion for sanctions, finding the franchisor improperly
New Virginia Law Bans Non-Competes in Franchise Agreements
On April 13, Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed House Bill 69 and its companion Senate Bill 240 into law. The new legislation takes effect on July 1 and makes two major changes to the Virginia Retail
IEEPA Tariff Refunds: What Business Owners Need to Know
If your business paid duties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs imposed in 2025, you may be entitled to a refund. On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court in Learning Resources,
No Good Deed: How Non-Profit Employers Should Properly Classify Volunteer Services
When does a volunteer legally become an employee? For California’s nonprofit sector, the answer just got a lot clearer. A recent California appellate case, Spilman v. Salvation Army, provides a roadmap for distinguishing between employees
Franchise 101: When Franchisees Comb-Out; and The Unearthed FDD
Franchisor 101: When Franchisees Comb-Out A Utah federal court denied a motion by Larada Sciences, Inc. (“LCA”), a franchisor of lice clinics, for a preliminary injunction preventing a former LCA franchisee, The MIH Group, LLC
Importance of Keeping Gift Receipts in a California Divorce
With Valentine’s Day over, couples may have already eaten the chocolate and thrown away the flowers often associated with the holiday, but the thoughtful gifts they exchanged remain. What happens to those gifts if the