In 2026, various states reformed franchise laws to significantly impact the franchisor-franchisee relationship. Recently, Maryland lawmakers approved legislation that follows this trend.
On May 12, Gov. Wes Moore signed Senate Bill 415 and House Bill 730 into law. The bills,
Franchisor 101: No Parent Trap
A group of franchisees filed a petition to compel arbitration against two franchisor entities and their parent company. The district court found that the franchisees failed to show the parent company was bound by the
The widespread adoption of fully remote and hybrid work arrangements brings lasting changes to how and where hourly employees perform their jobs. While much of the public conversation focuses on productivity, collaboration, and corporate culture, a quieter but equally significant
It appears that franchisors will remain targets of state governments in 2026. Although a franchise system may not call a state with new legislation its home, franchisors and franchisees should stay informed about the potential ramifications of statutes in other
Franchisor 101: Claim Preclusion
The federal district court in North Dakota granted a franchisee’s motion to dismiss a franchisor’s complaint for failure to state a claim and its motion for sanctions, finding the franchisor improperly attempted to relitigate issues previously
On April 13, Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed House Bill 69 and its companion Senate Bill 240 into law. The new legislation takes effect on July 1 and makes two major changes to the Virginia Retail Franchising Act. The Act
If your business paid duties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs imposed in 2025, you may be entitled to a refund.
On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump held these
When does a volunteer legally become an employee? For California’s nonprofit sector, the answer just got a lot clearer.
A recent California appellate case, Spilman v. Salvation Army, provides a roadmap for distinguishing between employees and volunteers, specifically in
Franchisor 101: When Franchisees Comb-Out
A Utah federal court denied a motion by Larada Sciences, Inc. (“LCA”), a franchisor of lice clinics, for a preliminary injunction preventing a former LCA franchisee, The MIH Group, LLC (“MIH”), from operating competing lice
With Valentine’s Day over, couples may have already eaten the chocolate and thrown away the flowers often associated with the holiday, but the thoughtful gifts they exchanged remain. What happens to those gifts if the holiday went poorly?
While they