Growing a Franchise
Franchise Legal Player Awards | Q&A with Lee Plave
1851 Interviews the Highest Profile Attorneys in Franchising
Name: Lee Plave
Firm: Plave Koch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/plave/
About Plave Koch: Plave Koch is an entrepreneurial law firm that represents franchisors and distributors in U.S. and international transactions, litigation and disputes. Working closer than ever with its clients, at reasonable and predictable rates, the lawyers are having the time of their lives. The firm has practices in franchise and distribution law, vehicle rental law, trademarks, litigation and dispute resolution, FTC matters, and technology.
Website: http://plavekoch.com/
1851: How did you fall into franchising?
Plave: I was at the FTC and looking at options, and seeking a practice where I could work closely with innovative clients and colleagues. Found it!
1851: What do you love most about franchising?
Plave: As a lawyer, you have to have a passion for the business or activity upon which the law acts. And I really love the entrepreneurship and vitality of franchisors and franchisees. An old colleague used to say that the “dirty little secret of franchising” is that it’s fun. He was right.
1851: What makes a great client?
Plave: A company with passion for delivering a service or a product that makes their customers’ lives better, more enjoyable, or even more fun.
1851: What makes a great franchise attorney?
Plave: That’s the $64,000 question. Listening to what your clients are trying to accomplish and helping them reach that goal is critical. And while this will sound trite, putting your clients’ interests first will help them in the short-term and forge a long-term relationship that’s based on something much more than legal fees generated this quarter.
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About the Author
Nick Powills
FollowNick Powills, CFE, founded No Limit Agency in 2008 and serves as Chief Brand Strategist for the Chicago-based firm. No Limit is a full-service communications agency that establishes and elevates brands by bridging Public Relations, Social Media, Marketing, Advertising, Digital, and a lot of creativity, to best strategize well-rounded and successful campaigns for 50+ global franchise brands. By presenting visionary ideas and building real relationships, No Limit is able to create effective media branding strategies to help companies grow. Nick currently leads a staff of writers, media strategists, designers, social media experts and digital producers in an office think-tank where brands are humanized for strong, compelling media stories. Prior to starting No Limit at the age of 27, Nick spent four years working at a franchise PR agency where he mastered the art of building rapport with media outlets and creating newsworthy pitches for earned media placements. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Drake University in Iowa.
