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Movers & Shakers
In early March, litigators John F. Dienelt and Scott McIntosh joined Quarles & Brady LLP as partners and opened the firm's Washington, DC, office. Both attorneys had been at DLA Piper. Dienelt has 30 years of trial and appellate experience, particularly in franchising, antitrust, intellectual property, and other commercial cases. He concentrates on complex and enterprise-threatening litigation, including class actions. McIntosh has a broad-based practice in franchising law, with significant experience in business, litigation, and regulatory issues.
In the past two years, Quarles & Brady has added six attorneys to its 20-member franchise and distribution industry team. “We want to further develop the skills and services we can provide franchise and distribution clients,” stated Dienelt. “With the firm's existing industry focus and strong team, we think Quarles offers the best platform to do so.”
While the franchise and distribution industry will be the initial focus of the DC office, John W. Daniels, Jr., chairman of Quarles & Brady, anticipates a broader service selection over time. “Clients who use us for their government relations, intellectual property, and health care regulatory work will benefit from our new office,” he said.
Frank Zaid recently retired from 39 years as a franchise attorney, most of them with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, in the firm's Toronto office. “Although I intend to remain involved in the franchise industry in several diverse capacities, I have joined ADR Chambers as a mediator and arbitrator to operate out of its Toronto office as chair of the Franchising Expert Panel,” he said.
During his career, Zaid was involved with more than 300 franchise systems and participated as an owner/investor on both the franchisor and franchisee side. “I am looking forward to bringing my unique legal and business experience in franchising to my mediation and arbitration practice with a thorough understanding of the industry and the relationship between the parties,” he said. “I believe that there is a growing need in Canadian and international franchising for mediators and arbitrators, as well as ombudspersons, who have practical experience in the industry to assist the parties to come to creative solutions to meet their interests, while resolving the issues in contention.”
In January, John B. Sivertsen joined the Atlanta office of Epstein, Becker & Green (“EBG”). Most recently, Sivertsen was a partner at Kaufman, Miller and Sivertsen in Atlanta, but much of his experience has been as in-house counsel for several major companies, including franchisors Arby's and Burger King (where he was vice president and assistant general counsel). His work for EBG includes counseling clients on franchise law and supply and distribution, antitrust, acquisitions and divestitures, commercial contracts, and supply chain issues.
Franchise business activity is strongly on the upswing, according to Nancy L. Lanard, one of three partners at the newly formed Spadea, Lanard & Lignana. The Philadelphia-based firm includes partners Tom Spadea and Josh Lignana, and three associates. “Back in 2007, I'd get two or three inquiries a day from businesses interested in becoming franchisors, or franchisors looking to register in additional states,” said Lanard. “That dried up in the recession, but it's back to that level. It's almost a boom time again, where prospective franchisees can borrow and franchisors have easier access to credit for expansion.” Spadea, Lanard & Lignana is primarily a transaction-oriented firm, built on Lanard's nearly 30 years of experience and Spadea's network of contacts developed during his years as an executive with franchisors Rita's Italian Ice, Saladworks, and Huntington Learning Center. “Together, we have added depth, so that a franchise can come to us for anything, from registering a trademark, to preparing an FDD and registration, to leases, and even litigation,” said Lanard.
In early March, litigators John F. Dienelt and Scott McIntosh joined
In the past two years,
While the franchise and distribution industry will be the initial focus of the DC office, John W. Daniels, Jr., chairman of
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