Practice Areas/Emphasis: Franchise law: litigation, arbitration, mediation: Pre-and Post-contract advice.

Major Clients/Decisions: Franchisees from Burger King, McDonald s, KFC, Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, 7-Eleven, TCBY, Denny s, Johnny Rocket s, ServPro, Roto-Rooter, Little Caesar s, plus many more! Associations including Denny s, TCBY, Roto-Rooter, KFC (Florida), Schlotszky s (Houston), Little Caesar s, and Johnny Rocket s. Major decisions: Scheck V. Burger King (Encroachment)

Additional Information: Robert and his firm of 11 lawyers represent franchisees exclusively in over 100 different franchise systems from over a dozen countries and virtually every state in the U.S. Robert is a nationally recognized expert who frequently provides expert testimony and advice as well as commentary to national and local television, as well as print media. He was an elected delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business (WHCSB). Robert is especially known for his role and representation of franchisees in several landmark and prominent legal precedents which have helped shape franchise laws today.

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Reported Decisions/Arbitration Awards: Hengel, Inc. v. Hot n Now, Inc., et al., 825 F. Supp. 1311 (N.D. III 1993), which has had an impact on Illinois franchise law related to the statute of limitations for filing a complaint under the Illinios Franchise Disclosure Act, Section 27.  Genin, Trudeau & Co., Ltd. v. Integra Development International, and Zak Designs, Inc. 845 F. Supp. 611 (N.D. Ill. 1994), which involved issues related to the license of a trademark to manufacture and distribute product.  Dar v. Southland Corp., claimant was awarded over $200,000 for wrongful termination of a 7-ELEVEN franchise agreement, for breach of contract, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing (Dec. 1998).

Additional Information:  Marc has represented franchise clients for almost thirty years.  His franchise practice is divided between representing clients in various stages of dispute resolution and representing clients in transactional matters.

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Practice Areas/Emphasis:  Complete franchise legal services.  Extensive background representing franchisees, distributors, and franchisors in all transactions, litigation and arbitration matters since 1980.  Represents franchisee associations.  Negotiates franchise contracts initially and upon renewal.  Expertise in buying and selling businesses, leasing, financing, incorporating and estate planning.  Expert witness.  National practice.

Additional Information:  Michael R. Liss is a business and franchise attorney, a frequent instructor at area colleges and an author of numerous articles on buying a business, franchising, financing, and the legal issues which business owners must know.  He is a member of the American Franchisee Association, the International Franchise Association, the American Bar Association Forum Committee on Franchising, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the DuPage County Bar Association Business Law Committee, and the State of Illinois Attorney General's Franchise Advisory Board.

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Practice Areas/Emphasis: Specializes in franchise law, representing franchisees and franchisee associations, having represented franchisees throughout the country in a wide variety of matters including purchases, relocations, remodels, transfers, defaults, terminations, and lease issues.

Major Clients/Decisions: Franchisees / Associations of Franchisees: McDonald s, 7-Eleven, Pearle Vision, Ben & Jerry s, Unishippers, Pepperidge Farm, Great Clips, Little Caesar s, Howard Johnson s, Great Frame Up, Servpro, Beverly Hills Weight Loss, Foot Locker, Johnny Rockets, Better Living Patio Rooms.

Additional Information: Represents Affiliate Members on AFA s Board of Directors. Testified before U.S. House Small Business Committee on "Self Regulation of Franchising: The IFA Code of Ethics"; Elected delegate: 1995 White House Conference on Small Business; Advisory Committee, Franchise and Business Opportunities Committee, North American Securities Administrators Association; Regular guest lecturer at Babson College; Presenter at AFA, IFA, and ABA conventions; Program Chair, 1999 AFA Franchisee Legal Symposium.

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Practice Areas/Emphasis:  Shawn has practiced primarily in the areas of complex commercial litigation in recent years, but also has extensive experience in less complex litigation.  He has considerable experience in franchise matters involving a variety of issues, including:  Product sourcing restrictions, advertising fund misuse, encroachment, deceptive franchise sales practices, and franchise terminations.

Major Clients/Decisions:  Shawn was one of the lead attorneys in the Little Caesar s anti-trust class action suit which was one of the few cases to be successfully certified as a class action in the last 15 years.  In the course of that litigation, which began in 1993, he represented several franchisees in the system and worked very closely with one of its franchisee associations.  He has also represented franchisees in other systems, in both litigation and counseling matters.

Additional Information: Shawn has spoken on the use of class actions in franchise litigation from the plaintiff s perspective.

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