Message from the 2020
CFA Franchise Law Day Co-Chairs

Lara Di Genova
Teplitsky Colson LLP

Michael Melvin
McInnes Cooper

Rebecca Valo
Yum Brands

Welcome to Virtual Franchise Law Day 2020

This past year has been a learning experience for all of us as we have navigated unprecedented situations and challenges. In the spirit of continual learning, we invite you to join us on September 24, 2020 for the CFA’s first-ever virtual Franchise Law Day – “Franchising Through Extraordinary Times: When Necessity Fuels Innovation”.

This year’s CFA Law Day program will focus on essential legal and practical knowledge franchisors need to continue adapting to the changing business environment created by COVID-19 and to find innovative responses to the novel circumstances it has created.

The day will begin with a plenary session entitled “Moving from Crisis to Recovery – Stories from the Trenches”. We have gathered an excellent group of panelists with both franchisor and franchisee perspectives, to share and discuss real world experiences of adjusting their franchise systems and operations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Law Day will include six carefully chosen concurrent sessions that will delve into many of the legal issues that franchise systems have faced over the past number of months, and will help to  better equip you to meet your business goals and legal obligations in the COVID-19 era. The concurrent sessions will explore many aspects of franchising from disclosure practices, to leasing issues, to handling workplace-related issues to supporting your franchisees and modifying your system through these extraordinary times. You will also have the opportunity to participate and share your own experiences in several roundtable discussions on some of this year’s most essential topics in franchising.

The program will also include a legal and legislative update that will bring you up to speed on the past year’s judicial decisions and changes in legislation relevant to the franchise industry.

Finally, our keynote speaker, Steve Buors of Reshift Media, will walk you through an exciting presentation entitled “Growing a Brand in Trying Times: How to Successfully Leverage Technology and Data”, where he will explore the latest industry trends in digital marketing and utilizing consumer insights, and share practical tips and tricks for leveraging technology to grow your business, even in extraordinary times.

We look forward to a fabulous program and hope you will join us!