Representative Experience
Rochelle (Shelley) is a nationally recognized business franchise and distribution attorney with more than 30 years of experience representing franchisors, manufacturers, licensors, suppliers, franchisees and distributors in their domestic and international expansion and strategic development. Shelley concentrates her practice on a broad spectrum of transactional and regulatory issues for clients in all industry sectors, from start-ups to mature, public companies.
Shelley assists clients with their contracts and legal compliance including preparing franchise disclosure documents, domestic and international franchise and distribution agreements, and registration filings. She counsels manufacturers, suppliers and franchisors on a broad array of operating issues ranging from contract enforcement to trademark protection, relationship disputes, antitrust and pricing matters, terminations and transfers and mergers and acquisitions. She also advises product manufacturers, suppliers and licensors on possible alternatives for structuring distribution networks so that they are not regulated as franchises. On behalf of subfranchisors and area developers, Shelley assists with the acquisition and sale of franchise rights and various transactional assignments.
Prior Experience
Partner, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
Representative Clients
Red Bull North America
Roll International
uWink restaurants
Yoshinoya Franchise of North America Inc.
New Horizons Computer Learning Centers
AAMCO and Cottman Transmission Centers
Publications and Presentations
Registration Duties, Fundamentals of Franchising, Third Edition, ABA Forum on Franchising, 2008
“Complying with the Updated and Upgraded FTC Franchise Rule – Lessons Learned (So Far),” plenary speaker and paper delivered at the 2008 Annual Legal Symposium of the International Franchise Association, May 2008
“Thirty Years of Franchising,” ABA Franchise Law Journal, Fall 2007
“Rediscovering Subjectivity: Does the UCC’s Open Price Doctrine Offer New Theories for Reining In Discretion and Filling in Gaps in Franchise Contract Disputes?”, paper delivered and speaker at the 2007 Annual Forum of the ABA Forum on Franchising, Oct. 2007
“Franchise Overhaul,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 2007
“Turning the Ship Around: Managing Relationships to Address Franchisee Unrest,” paper delivered and speaker at the 2007 Annual Legal Symposium of the International Franchise Association, May 2007
“Observations on Negotiating Franchise Agreements in Today’s Legal Environment,” Franchising Business and Law Alert, Jan. 2007
“State Income Tax Uncertainty Plagues Franchisors,” The Franchise Lawyer, May 2006
“Franchise Player,” Los Angeles Lawyer, Dec. 2006
“Fundamentals of Franchise Registration Practice,” 2005 Fundamentals of Franchising program sponsored by the ABA Forum on Franchising, Oct. 2005
“Franchising in China,” speaker at the China Global Conference hosted by the Asia Pacific - USA Chamber of Commerce, Nov. 2005
“When are Distribution or Licensing Agreements Franchise Agreements?”, paper delivered and speaker at the 2004 Annual Legal Symposium of the International Franchise Association, May 2004
“Fundamental Change or Fine-Tuning? The New FTC Rule,” paper delivered and lead plenary speaker at the 2005 Annual Forum on Franchising, Oct. 2005
“When are Distribution or Licensing Agreements Franchise Agreements?”, paper delivered and speaker at the 2004 Annual Legal Symposium of the International Franchise Association, May 2004
“The New FTC Rule,” teleconference sponsored by the ABA Forum on Franchising, Oct. 2004
“Advanced Drafting,” workshop presentation at the 2004 Annual Forum of the ABA Forum on Franchising, Oct. 2004
“Close Encounters: Franchisee Associations and Councils,” paper delivered and speaker at the 2003 Annual Forum of the ABA Forum on Franchising, Oct. 2003
“Franchise Transfer, Succession and Renewal Issues,” paper delivered and speaker at the 2003 Annual Legal Symposium of the International Franchise Association, May 2003
“The Accidental Franchise,” paper delivered and speaker at the 2001 Annual Forum of the ABA Forum on Franchising, Oct. 2001
Memberships and Activities
Nationally ranked by Chambers USA among franchise attorneys, 2007 (first year of ranking), 2008
Selected to the International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers, 2003-2008
Selected to "Southern California Super Lawyers," Law & Politics, 2004-2008
Chair, ABA Forum on Franchising, 1995-97 (Member, Governing Committee, 1992-1999)
Chair, Franchise Law Committee, Business Law Section of the California State Bar, 1987-1988; 2001-2002
Co-chair, Southern California Women’s Franchise Network, 2006-current
Member, Board of Editors, Franchising Business & Law Alert
Member, Franchise Law Certification Committee, California Board of Legal Specialization, 2005--2007.
Member, Board of Trustees, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter
Member, Executive Committee, California State Bar, 1990-1993
Education
J.D., Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, MO, 1976
New York University School of Law, New York, NY, 1975-1976
B.S., with distinction, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1973
