Top Franchise Legal Players: Marlén Cortez Morris, Shareholder for Ogletree Deakins
With more than 15 years of experience as a legal professional, Cortez Morris has progressed into a leading representative for franchise law in greater Chicago.
Marlén Cortez Morris is a seasoned advocate and litigator for franchise companies and businesses on a wide range of franchise and distribution, labor and employment, and commercial litigation matters. She represents clients in courts and alternative dispute resolution venues and before government agencies across the country. She is a shareholder at the Chicago office of Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management. Ogletree Deakins’ labor and employment practice is complemented and supported by related practice groups in the areas of litigation, business immigration, employee benefits, occupational safety and health, and construction law. Her unique blend of franchise and labor and employment law expertise allows her to serve as a trusted and strategic advisor to franchises and employers on a broad array of employment and franchising issues, as well as effectively litigate claims arising in the employment and franchising relationships.
She is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law and has developed her knowledge of the franchising industry through a wide range of litigation, counseling and labor representation.
“Having litigated a lot of disputes, I think it is very important that [franchisees] do their homework,” she said.
Cortez Morris advises all prospective franchisees to evaluate what they are getting themselves into and to explore viable business practices with guidance from an experienced legal counsel.
“Based on my experience, there are a number of employment-related issues that franchisors and franchisees are facing,” she said. “They are after anything ranging from vaccine mandates, workplace safety, to the pending pro act in congress and reversal of joint-employer agency rules.”
She advises franchise brands to be mindful of the changing landscape of franchising at large, as well as several privacy-related concerns as brands develop into a modern era.
Watch the full interview with Cortez Morris above, or click here to watch it on YouTube.