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Movers & Shakers

By ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |
March 28, 2007

As of March 1, Leonard Vines and Marilyn Nathanson joined the firm of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. (St. Louis, MO). Greensfelder has an established franchise transaction and litigation practice, including Eric Riess, chair of the Corporate Department, and Christopher Feld-meir, Dawn Johnson, David Harris, Kevin Hormuth, Sheldon Stock, and Jennifer Weber.

'The firm is the fourth-largest in St. Louis, with 170 attorneys. Greensfelder represents franchisors, franchisees, and franchisee associations,' said Vines. 'We are planning to expand our national franchise transactional practice, while also building on the firm's strengths and resources in franchise litigation in Missouri, Illinois, and several other states.'

After more than 10 years with DLA Piper LLP's Tampa, FL, office, Scott Weber recently joined the partners of Phelps Dunbar LLP (also in Tampa) to head the firm's franchise practice. Alison R. Miller, an associate, formerly of Haynes & Boone (Dallas), also recently joined Phelps Dunbar's franchising practice.

Weber and Miller will be working with P. Regan Richard, a partner in Phelps' Baton Rouge office, and Andy Ezell and Randy Roussel. The Baton Rouge office represents multi-unit Taco Bell, Popeyes, and Burger King franchisees, among others.

The hiring of Weber represents a significant additional commitment to the franchise industry for Phelps Dunbar. Weber brings to the firm considerable experience in representing startup and mature franchisors. However, the firm will work with both franchisors and franchisees (when conflicts do not arise). 'I see a great potential for growth in Florida and the Gulf states,' Weber told FBLA. 'Phelps Dunbar is a well-respected regional firm that has offices throughout the Gulf, as well as in London.'

As a midsize firm, Weber adds that Phelps Dunbar offers the ideal blend of cost-effective service and wide range of expertise. 'Ancillary work for the firm may be significant. Already we are generating new tax and employment work, and I can see the franchisor and franchisee clients choosing us for a wider range of corporate, real estate, and trademark work, as well as litigation services,' he said.

Three well-known franchise lawyers, Lee Plave, David Koch, and John Tifford, have formed Plave Koch PLC (Reston, VA). Koch had been a partner and chair of the Franchise Group at Washington, DC's Wiley Rein LLP, while Plave and Tifford were longtime partners in the Franchise and Distribution practice at DLA Piper.

Plave said the move was designed to 'get us closer to our clients and give us more flexibility in how we deliver and charge for legal services.' The three partners, collectively, have over 60 years of franchise law experience in private practice, and all are former Federal Trade Commission lawyers, a perspective that they have begun putting to use in helping clients transition to the newly amended FTC Franchise Rule.

As of March 1, Leonard Vines and Marilyn Nathanson joined the firm of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. (St. Louis, MO). Greensfelder has an established franchise transaction and litigation practice, including Eric Riess, chair of the Corporate Department, and Christopher Feld-meir, Dawn Johnson, David Harris, Kevin Hormuth, Sheldon Stock, and Jennifer Weber.

'The firm is the fourth-largest in St. Louis, with 170 attorneys. Greensfelder represents franchisors, franchisees, and franchisee associations,' said Vines. 'We are planning to expand our national franchise transactional practice, while also building on the firm's strengths and resources in franchise litigation in Missouri, Illinois, and several other states.'

After more than 10 years with DLA Piper LLP's Tampa, FL, office, Scott Weber recently joined the partners of Phelps Dunbar LLP (also in Tampa) to head the firm's franchise practice. Alison R. Miller, an associate, formerly of Haynes & Boone (Dallas), also recently joined Phelps Dunbar's franchising practice.

Weber and Miller will be working with P. Regan Richard, a partner in Phelps' Baton Rouge office, and Andy Ezell and Randy Roussel. The Baton Rouge office represents multi-unit Taco Bell, Popeyes, and Burger King franchisees, among others.

The hiring of Weber represents a significant additional commitment to the franchise industry for Phelps Dunbar. Weber brings to the firm considerable experience in representing startup and mature franchisors. However, the firm will work with both franchisors and franchisees (when conflicts do not arise). 'I see a great potential for growth in Florida and the Gulf states,' Weber told FBLA. 'Phelps Dunbar is a well-respected regional firm that has offices throughout the Gulf, as well as in London.'

As a midsize firm, Weber adds that Phelps Dunbar offers the ideal blend of cost-effective service and wide range of expertise. 'Ancillary work for the firm may be significant. Already we are generating new tax and employment work, and I can see the franchisor and franchisee clients choosing us for a wider range of corporate, real estate, and trademark work, as well as litigation services,' he said.

Three well-known franchise lawyers, Lee Plave, David Koch, and John Tifford, have formed Plave Koch PLC (Reston, VA). Koch had been a partner and chair of the Franchise Group at Washington, DC's Wiley Rein LLP, while Plave and Tifford were longtime partners in the Franchise and Distribution practice at DLA Piper.

Plave said the move was designed to 'get us closer to our clients and give us more flexibility in how we deliver and charge for legal services.' The three partners, collectively, have over 60 years of franchise law experience in private practice, and all are former Federal Trade Commission lawyers, a perspective that they have begun putting to use in helping clients transition to the newly amended FTC Franchise Rule.

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