1851

Honoree:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/plave/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-legal-players-lee-plave-plave-koch-plc-2726986" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lee Plave</a> Role:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.plavekoch.com/attorney/plave-lee-j/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-legal-players-lee-plave-plave-koch-plc-2726986" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Partner, Plave Koch PLC</a>Lee Plave, a partner at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.plavekoch.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-legal-players-lee-plave-plave-koch-plc-2726986" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Plave Koch PLC</a>, brings extensive experience in counseling distributors and franchisors. He specializes in drafting and negotiating franchise agreements for complex international and domestic transactions and advises clients on all aspects of franchise and distribution law. Plave also provides guidance on the application of technology to franchise and distribution systems, addressing issues such as social networking, e-commerce, data security, cybersquatting and domain name disputes. His expertise extends to serving as an expert witness and representing clients before the Federal Trade Commission.Plave’s numerous accolades include being named Global Franchise Lawyer of the Year by Who’s Who Legal for three consecutive years and receiving the Lexology Client Choice Award for Top Franchise Lawyer in the United States in 2023. Plave is also recognized as a Certified Franchise Executive (IFA) and has been listed in Chambers USA and Chambers Global, among other prestigious directories.1851 Franchise reached out to Lee Plave to learn about how franchisors can protect their brand and avoid legal mistakes. Check out his insights below.1851 Franchise: What do you see as the most important things a franchisor should do to protect their brand?Lee Plave: Embrace CCA – a culture of competence, a culture of compliance and a culture of accountability. Those core principles can serve as a guide to seeking operational excellence, which really is the key not just to success, but also to nurturing and protecting the brand.1851 Franchise: How important is the information in Item 19?Lee Plave: A prospective franchisee likely wants to see&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/guide-to-buying-another-franchise-search-for-brands-that-align-with-your-financial-outcome-2726350">financial performance data</a>, and providing that can sometimes make a substantial difference in offering a franchise. Each franchisor must decide what and how much information — if any — it wishes to provide. Some systems rely on franchisees to provide an assessment. One challenge for counsel in preparing FPRs [financial performance representations] is that state examiners sometimes demand deletion of explanatory information that can be helpful in putting the data in a real-world context. Although examiners understandably want to prevent a franchisor from disclaiming the data, that can be accomplished through simple text saying “nothing here is a disclaimer” — while the franchisor can still provide detail that is genuinely useful to understanding the circumstances surrounding an FPR.1851 Franchise: What is the single largest legal mistake brands make?Lee Plave: Attention to detail in operations is the key to success, and any lack of focus on that will cause business headaches. And … business headaches lead to legal nightmares.1851 Franchise: How do you stand out as a franchise law firm?Lee Plave: We don’t monetize every waking moment of our existence and our clients tell us that that resonates with them. Because we’re a relatively small firm that focuses attention on franchising and distribution, we don’t have the trappings, bloat and bureaucracy of a large firm. We typically only represent franchisors and manufacturers, so we rarely have conflicts (which especially comes in handy when we collaborate with national “white shoe” law firms on their clients’ PE transactions). Our experienced deep bench of 10 partners who work on franchisors’ behalf day-to-day is almost unmatched in the U.S. — and with what our clients tell us are reasonable rates.1851 Franchise: What is the best business advice you have received in your career?Lee Plave: Focus on the long-term, maintain that strategic focus and don’t succumb to short-termism.Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.1851growthclub.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-legal-players-lee-plave-plave-koch-plc-2726986" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.1851growthclub.com</a> and start your journey.

Meet Lee Plave: Top Franchise Legal Expert | Plave Koch PLC

1851 Franchise

1851 Franchise’s annual showcase of the top players in the franchise industry is back. Meet Lee Plave, and hear his insights on legal issues in the franchise space.


Top Franchise Legal Players: Lee Plave, Plave Koch PLC

top-franchise-legal-players-lee-plave-plave-koch-plc

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Hometown News: Like Father, Like Son — Family-Run Inspection Business Blends Generations of Expertise and a Keen Eye for Detail

father-son-home-inspection-franchise-florida

KLA Schools

KLA Schools of Beachwalk Hosts Admissions Kick-Off Celebration

kla-schools-of-beachwalk-hosts-admissions-kick-off-celebration

Good Day Columbus: Home Insurance Expert Reveals Why Central Ohio Premiums Are Rising and How to Combat Costs

rising-home-insurance-costs-ohio

CapitalSpring

Primetime Fitness Expands Crunch Portfolio With CapitalSpring’s Backing

primetime-fitness-expands-crunch-portfolio-with-capitalsprings-backing

Children's Lighthouse

How Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees Scale to Multiple Locations

how-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees-scale-to-multiple-locations

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

Mike Revak - Chief Business Officer - Sky Zone - Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Mike Revak — President and Chief Business Officer, Sky Zone

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-mike-revak-chief-business-officer-sky-zone

What It Really Feels Like To Franchise Your Business

what-it-really-feels-like-to-franchise-your-business

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Cathy Chavenet — Chief Marketing Officer, Paris Baguette

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-cathy-chavenet-chief-marketing-officer-paris-baguette

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Top Franchise Legal Players: Lee Plave, Plave Koch PLC

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS