Hot Topics for Franchise Registration and Renewal

Stephanie Zosak focuses her practice in the areas of United States and international franchising, licensing and distribution.

Stephanie advises both large and small franchisors in the retail, fitness, and food service sectors on registration, disclosure and exemption requirements and prepares initial, renewal and amended forms of franchise disclosure documents, franchise agreements and other franchise-related documents. Stephanie supports clients at every stage of the franchise relationship, including with negotiations of franchise agreements and addressing default and termination issues.

Stephanie has assisted several large franchisors in the food service and automotive sectors with franchise securitization transactions.

Stephanie's practice also involves drafting disclosure documents, area development agreements, license agreements, distribution agreements and ancillary agreements for retail, agricultural commodities, food service and lodging companies expanding their businesses worldwide, including in Canada, the Middle East, the CIS, Asia and South and Central America.

Stephanie is a member of the Chicago Associates Committee and the Chicago Pro Bono Committee of DLA Piper, and has been actively involved in the Chicago office's recruitment efforts.

Christina Heddesheimer is an associate in the Tax Practice Group and the Franchise Practice Group in the Dallas office of Haynes and Boone. Christina’s tax practice focuses on the federal and state taxation of investment funds, corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies. Christina’s experience includes tax planning for corporate acquisitions and reorganizations; investment fund, corporate, partnership, and limited liability company formations and operations; and federal and state voluntary disclosures.

Christina’s franchise practice focuses on the areas of franchise and distribution law where she supports clients in the structuring and operation of domestic franchise programs and international expansion, including drafting franchise-related agreements, and assisting in compliance with domestic and international franchise disclosure and registration requirements.

Prior to joining Haynes and Boone Christina spent a year at KPMG as a senior associate in mergers and acquisitions where her practice focused on corporate and international taxation.