Christina M. Noyes Co-Author of Annual Franchise and Distribution Law Developments 2014
A review of the judicial development in franchise and distribution law from August 2013 to August 2014.
Gust Rosenfeld congratulates Christina M. Noyes, Chair of the Franchising Practice Group, on being the co-author of Annual Franchise and Distribution Law Developments published by the American Bar Association in 2014. She co-authored the book with Christopher P. Bussert. The book is a review of the judicial developments in franchise and distribution law from August 2013 to August 2014. The co-authors presented their findings in a session, Survey of Key Cases and Decisions in Franchise Law Over the Past Year, at the recent American Bar Association Forum on Franchising Conference in Seattle, Washington.
As background for the book, Christina Noyes and her co-author reviewed hundreds of cases, examined numerous arbitration opinions, and studied state, federal and international statutory and regulatory changes to analyze the trends and developments that had or will have an impact on franchise and distribution practices.
“It has been an interesting year for franchising,” Noyes said, noting that the co-authors identify several trends involving franchising and intellectual property. “For example, many cases brought by employees addressed the ability of a franchisor to be held liable as a joint employer with its franchisees. In this area, franchising is poised on a potential liability cliff. We also saw that state taxation departments had amended their statutes and were focusing on increasing revenue apportioned to their state from a franchisor’s licensing of its trademarks to franchisees and affiliates. Many franchisors are ignoring this issue and may face adverse consequences in the future.”
Christina Noyes, who is a member of the Executive Committee of Gust Rosenfeld, speaks frequently on franchising at seminars and conferences and is the author of numerous articles on this subject.
Christina focuses her practice on advising corporate clients on corporate, franchise, and intellectual property law issues, including drafting business agreements, forming entities, handling mergers and acquisitions; dealing with regulatory agencies; analyzing franchise and business opportunity laws; preparing and reviewing franchising agreements, disclosure documents and registrations; as well as handling federal and state trademark registrations and renewals. She represents both franchisees and franchisors and has been listed in the Franchise Law category of The Best Lawyers in America© since 2009. Christina M. Noyes is a graduate of Miami University (B.A., cum laude, Accounting, 1990) and Arizona State University College of Law (J.D. cum laude, 1996, managing editor, Arizona State University Law Journal).
Gust Rosenfeld is a full service law firm established in 1921 with offices in Phoenix, Tucson and Wickenburg. The Firm is known for the quality of its lawyers and legal advice, as well as its creative insights and practical solutions in business, public and civil law. Gust Rosenfeld is experienced in alternative dispute resolution, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, business and corporate law, commercial finance, education law, environmental law, franchises and franchising, insurance, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, natural resources, public finance, public law, real estate, taxation, trusts and estates.