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Leslie’s sharp wit and fantastic smile brighten the hallways of Plave Koch. She brings over 8 years of experience in franchise counseling and regulatory compliance. Leslie’s clients have made her a trusted troubleshooter for defaults, system changes, international expansion, buyback/resale programs, and other tough franchise system issues.
She counsels franchisors, licensors, and manufacturers domestically and internationally on transactional, regulatory, and intellectual property issues involved in developing, expanding and maintaining franchise programs.
Leslie represents franchise clients on developing and revamping franchise programs, drafting franchise, license, and development agreements and counseling franchisors with regard to the franchise sales process and regulatory (UFOC and FDD) compliance. She also advises franchisors with regard to all aspects of the franchise relationship, including operational compliance, enforcing system standards, default, termination, renewal, workouts, transfers, remodeling/reimaging, debt restructuring, acquisition of franchised outlets, sale of company-operated outlets and sale of franchise systems. Leslie prepares a broad range of agreements for franchisors, including asset purchase agreements, advertising co-op agreements, assignment agreements, workout agreements, confidentiality agreements, promissory notes, fee deferral and/or abatement agreements, guarantees, termination agreements and renewal agreements.
Her International experience includes structuring and maintaining relationships through master franchising, direct franchising, joint ventures and development transactions. She also represents franchisors in corporate transactions, financing and bankruptcy issues, captive market development, dispute resolution and negotiating contracts.
Publications (as author or co-author)
Legal Considerations In Expanding a Business through Franchising
July 2007 | The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel
Sweeping Changes to Federal Labor Law Gain Momentum on Capitol Hill
May 2, 2007 | Franchise Alert
The Franchise Transfer Process: Taking it One Step at a Time
April 25, 2007 | Franchise Alert
Small Business Health Plans: What Will 2007 Bring?
March 16, 2007 | Franchise Alert
The Basics of the Franchise Registration Process
February 21, 2007 | Franchise Alert
Franchise Registration: It’s Time to Renew
February 20, 2007 | Franchise Alert
Taking The Plunge—Are You Ready To Franchise?
Winter 2006 | Small Business Opportunities
Small Business Health Plans: Are They Getting Closer to Reality?
September 2006 | The Franchise Lawyer, Vol. 10, No. 1
Retool Your Franchise Program to Attract and Retain Women Franchisees
June 2004 | Franchising World
Speeches and Presentations (as presenter, moderator, or co-presenter)
Best Practices for Dealing with a Franchisee Who Doesn’t Fit Into the System
Legal Roundtable
41st International Franchise Association Legal Symposium
May 2008 | Washington, DC
Touching Base with the Beneficiaries of PD: A Reality Check
ALI-ABA/NALP 2007 Professional Development Institute
June 2007 | Denver, Colorado
Pros and Cons of Using Brokers, Development Agents and Referral Sources
American Bar Association
30th Annual Forum on Franchising
October 10-12, 2007 | Phoenix, Arizona
How to Deal with the Financially Distressed Franchisee
40th International Franchise Association Legal Symposium
May 8, 2007 | Washington
Best Practices for Working with Franchisees on Transfers Roundtable
International Franchise Association 47th Annual Convention
February 24-27, 2007 | Las Vegas, NV
Dealing with Financially Distressed Franchisees
38th International Franchise Association Legal Symposium
May 8-10, 2005 | Washington, DC
Obtaining Franchisee Buy-In to Re-Imaging Programs
International Franchise Association's 45th Annual Convention
March 6-9, 2005 | Hollywood, FL
Legal Aspects of Franchising a Business
International Franchise Expo
May 1, 2004 | Washington, DC
Education
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J.D., magna cum laude, University of Pittsburgh School of Law; Order of the Coif
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B.A., Elizabethtown College
Law Journals
Bar & Court Admissions
- District of Columbia Bar
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Courts for the District of Colorado and District of Columbia
Association Memberships
- American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Liaison to the Governing Committee, Forum on Franchising (2007-Present).
- International Franchise Association.
- Northern Virginia Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners, Board of Directors, Member Services Co-Chair (2008-Present)
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