bfa LEGAL SPECIALIST SEMINAR – Laying down the laws

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Our flagship and popular Legal Specialist Seminar – a must for all in Franchising! Once again back face to face at The Oxford Belfry, our Industry Experts share their insights and knowledge to prepare us all for the months ahead. They will be discussing details on cases that may have implications for the industry and any key areas that anyone in the industry should be looking out for. Our panel of legal experts will spend the day enlightening us on any relevant changes in the law that could affect us all.

VENUE: THE OXFORD BELFRY

250 QFP Points

Download Agenda Here

09:30 Coffee and networking

09:45 Welcome and Introduction – Pip Wilkins, bfa

09:50 Franchisee escape routes – Roz Goldstein, Goldstein Legal

• Franchise Agreement execution problems
• Misrepresentation risks
• Restrictive covenant drafting
• Guarantor problems

10:25 Tips for avoiding getting sued for misrepresentation – Stephen Thompson, Darwin Gray

• What is misrepresentation?
• When does it typically occur in a franchising context?
• What are the risks for the franchisor and directors personally?
• What steps can a franchisor take to avoid a claim being made?

11:00 EU’s block exemption and the UK government’s proposal to prepare its own block exemption – John Pratt, Hamilton Pratt

• What is the UK government doing to replace the EU’s block exemption on vertical agreements– the block exemption that regulates franchise agreements?
• Why are the block exemptions important for franchisors and not simply something that should be left to lawyers?
• What are the likely differences between the EU and UK block exemption?
• Going forward, what are the problems?

11:35 Coffee Break

11:55 Back to Basics – Nina Moran-Watson, NMW Legal Services Ltd

• From the perspective of a specialist solicitor reviewing franchise agreements for prospective franchisees
• Essential terms which should appear in every ethical business format franchise agreement
• Provisions which should be avoided in most franchise agreements

12:30 I’m a Franchisor – Get me out of here! – Fiona Boswell and Clive Day, Knights PLC

• Navigating LLP structures
• Worker rights issues and the Trading Schemes Act

13:05 Copycat products and the Metaverse – John Shaw, Foot Anstey

• Lessons from Colin the Caterpillar from cease and desist to social media
• Intellectual property issues that may arise when taking a business into virtual reality

13:40 Lunch

14:40 Managing the brand reputation – Nicky Broadhurst, Stevens & Bolton

• Contractual provisions to mitigate risk;
• Engaging with social media
• Grounds for claims where the franchisor brings the brand into disrepute
• Areas of regulatory risk and government initiatives (e.g. fraudulent use of Covid benefits)
• The new guidance to businesses on greenwashing

15:15 International expansion – Iain Bowler, Freeths LLP

15:50 The Drain Doctor case – what does it mean for franchisors? – Russell Ford, Owen White

• Restrictive covenants – still enforceable?
• Covid and force majeure – is this now history or are there lessons for the future?
• Misrepresentation – how one franchisor avoided a claim

16:25 Summary and close – Pip Wilkins, bfa