Jim adds the benevolence and perspective that only a father of 4 daughters can deliver.  More than that, he brings over two decades of franchise litigation, arbitration, and mediation experience to Plave Koch.  His resume includes some of the best-known cases in franchising, particularly in post-merger disputes.    Jim specializes in franchise and trademark litigation and counseling.  He also counsels franchisors operating competing brands on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, extraterritorial application of U.S. trademark law and franchise termination disputes and distribution issues.

Publications (as author or co-author)   Prevailing Franchisor Awarded Attorneys’ Fees July 30, 2007 | Franchise Alert   Operation of Competing Brands Upheld Again September 2005 | The Franchise Lawyer, Vol. 9, No. 1     Using the Lanham Act to Combat Foreign Trademark Piracy May 18, 2001 | Franchise Alert   Operation of Competing Franchise Systems May 28, 2000 | Franchise Alert

Speeches and Presentations (as presenter, moderator, or co-presenter)   Expansion, Encroachment, Impact and Cannibalization 41st International Franchise Association Legal Symposium May 2008 | Washington, DC After the Acquisition:  Legal Issues Affecting the Integration/Conversion of Acquired Units 39th International Franchise Association Legal Symposium May 2006 | Washington, DC Representing Franchise Clients in the Post-Enron World American Bar Association 27th Annual Forum on Franchising October 7, 2004 | Vancouver, British Columbia   Using the Lanham Act to Combat Foreign Trademark Piracy 34th International Franchise Association Legal Symposium May 2001 | Washington, DC   Representing Multiple Brands International Franchise Association Annual Convention February 2001 | Las Vegas, NV   The Role of Technology in Tactical Execution International Franchise Association Annual Convention February 2001 | Las Vegas, NV   Mergers and Acquisitions of Franchise Companies 32nd International Franchise Association Legal Symposium May 1999 | Washington, DC   Acquiring and Operating Multiple Franchise Systems International Franchise Association Annual Convention March 1999 | Miami Beach, FL

Education   ·         J.D., with high honors, The George Washington University Law School; Order of the Coif ·         B.A., Brown University

Law Journals   Editor in Chief, The George Washington Law Review

Clerkships Law Clerk for the Honorable J. Clifford Wallace, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (1980-1981)

Honors ·         International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers Mr. Rubinger was awarded an "AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review" rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

Bar & Court Admissions   District of Columbia Bar Virginia Bar New York Bar

Association Memberships   ·         Member, American Bar Association, Sections of Litigation and Antitrust, Forum on Franchising.