FRANCHISE SUMMIT 2024

Ryan Ford understands the automotive business, and the challenges facing companies that sell and distribute motor vehicles in the United States. An experienced litigator and trial lawyer, Ryan combines his industry knowledge and first-class litigation skills to achieve practical results for his motor vehicle manufacturer clients.

Ryan has handled litigation for motor vehicle manufacturers in more than 20 jurisdictions across the United States. He has tried (and won) cases before judges, juries, arbitrators, and administrative agencies, and protected those wins on appeal.

Unprecedented advances in technology and innovation are dramatically changing the way clients go to market in every industry. James serves as a guide for clients as they navigate the changing landscape, helping them to achieve their business objectives and defending their business practices when they come under challenge.

For more than 25 years, James has worked with clients in highly regulated industries as they look to establish, grow, and maintain their businesses and distribution networks. Drawing on his substantial knowledge across franchise and distribution, antitrust and competition, and complex commercial litigation, James evaluates risk and determines a strategic course of action that best suits his clients' objectives. He is an experienced trial lawyer with a track record of success at the trial and appellate levels before state and federal courts, and administrative agencies throughout the country.

For more than 30 years, Steve has dedicated himself to meeting and exceeding his clients’ needs in the automotive industry.  He is the leader of the firm's nationally recognized Automotive Industry Group, which provides comprehensive strategic counseling, experienced litigators, and proven trial attorneys in virtually all aspects of the transportation sector.  In this capacity, Steve works closely with more than 100 attorneys in the Automotive Industry Group, and with dozens of clients throughout the industry.  He is one of a very small number of lawyers to have been recognized by Chambers USA with a Nationwide Band 1 Ranking in the category of America's Leading Lawyers for Business, in the Transportation: Road (Automotive). Additionally, Steve has been recognized by Legal 500 United States as a Leading Lawyer in the Transportation: Rail and Road sector.

Owen is a trial attorney and legal advisor for leading companies and distinctive brands. Owen works with clients in heavily regulated industries to help them get ahead of the litigation risks they face. And when disputes arise, clients turn to Owen to guide them through pre-trial litigation, trial, and appeals in jurisdictions throughout the country.

Owen is a partner in BFKN’s Litigation Group and a first-chair trial attorney representing manufacturers and distributors, fashion and luxury retail brands, financial institutions, real estate investment companies, and law firms in individual and class actions arising under federal and state constitutions and statutes, as well as contract, tort, and fiduciary duty laws.

Owen serves as co-chair of BFKN’s Motor Vehicle Group. He regularly advises and litigates on behalf of automobile, motorcycle, truck, and powersports manufacturers and distributors, as well as captive finance companies, in motor vehicle distribution and franchise matters, such as buy-sell transactions and rights of first refusal, establishments and relocations, terminations, incentive programs, facility programs, sales performance standards, allocation practices, and warranty compensation practices.

Lauren Deeb brings a wealth of experience to advise automotive and mobility companies on their toughest franchise and distribution issues.

She counsels manufacturers in franchise disputes in the domestic automotive and mobility sector and advises on the expanse of motor vehicle laws across the United States. Lauren also supports clients on franchise and distribution matters worldwide, particularly for clients in Europe. She is well-versed in key franchise law issues, including incentive programs, establishments, brand withdrawals, online sales, partnerships with third-party sellers, and more. A strategic commercial litigator, Lauren aggressively defends her automotive and mobility clients in federal and state courts, as well as alternative dispute resolution settings and mediation.

In addition to counseling motor vehicle manufacturers and distributors on their dealer networks, Lauren's experience includes general contract disputes, partnership disputes, fiduciary duty actions, merger and acquisition litigation, trade secret misappropriation, trademark litigation, regulatory and government work, and internal investigations. Lauren has also spent years building experience in electronic discovery and other document retention issues.

Ronnie focuses his practice on franchise and distribution litigation, business litigation, and appellate practice, with an emphasis on motor vehicle manufacturer/distributor litigation and consulting. He has experience representing and counseling many automotive, heavy truck, powersports and equipment manufacturing and distributing entities.

Katherine is passionate about finding creative ways to defend her clients' interests in franchise and antitrust litigation, and other complex commercial disputes.

Katherine counsels clients regarding a broad range of commercial disputes, regulatory and compliance concerns, and business relationships—with a special focus on franchise disputes and antitrust litigation. Companies that bring their products and services to market through a franchise distribution network are subject to a complex, evolving set of laws governing their relationships with franchisees and retail consumers. Clients turn to Katherine for help navigating such regulations, litigating and resolving regulatory and contract disputes with franchisees, and for practical solutions to the legal and strategic challenges presented by various franchise models when businesses seek to grow, consolidate, or improve their product distribution networks.

Matt’s practice transcends litigation and transactions. In the course of counseling dozens of financial, motor vehicle, and manufacturing clients, he has served not only as a trial attorney, but also a regulatory advisor, strategic counselor, and lead negotiator. At the onset of engagement, Matt asks the question: “Where do you want to end up?” His client’s answer allows him to formulate and implement a tailor-made strategy that furthers the client’s objectives and protects its interests.

Matt has counseled, advised, and defended a broad spectrum of clients that include motor vehicle manufacturers, manufacturing corporations, and financial institution clients. In addition to his litigation practice, Matt routinely counsels and litigates regarding warranties and aftersales issues, including the warranty terms, compensation paid to its warranty work providers, audits associated with warranty work (and potential chargebacks of warranty claims inappropriately submitted and paid), and the manufacturer’s interactions with customers seeking warranty service.

Sally serves as managing partner of the Columbia office and concentrates her practice in the areas of complex commercial contract negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate matters. Sally has extensive experience representing manufacturers in the automotive industry, including drafting and negotiating supply agreements, strategic commercial agreements, joint ventures, and other contracts. She also advises clients with respect to franchise and distribution matters, including developing marketing representation policies and programs and other strategic legal issues.

When automotive manufacturers and distributors need counsel concerning state motor vehicle franchise laws and dealer matters, they turn to Scott Golden. Scott helps clients develop and implement sophisticated strategies to achieve business goals in the face of a challenging automotive regulatory environment.

Scott is known for his ability to analyze complex and difficult issues, identify risks, and come up with creative solutions to mitigate such risks and achieve the client's desired outcome.

Scott began his legal career as a bankruptcy attorney. His first foray into the automotive industry came during the economic crisis of 2007-2008, when he successfully represented clients in numerous dealer bankruptcies throughout the U.S. and advised clients regarding the GM and Chrysler bankruptcies. Shortly thereafter, as clients recognized that Scott had substantial transaction and courtroom skills that were applicable beyond bankruptcy, clients began seeking Scott's advice for non-bankruptcy dealer-related issues. As a result, Scott's work in the automotive industry quickly expanded beyond bankruptcy, and ultimately he became a full-time member of our automotive practice.

Today, Scott is a sought-after advisor to automotive clients. He understands that business goals are often impeded by the highly regulated environment of the U.S. automotive industry. Scott is a highly skilled negotiator and draftsman when it comes to complicated transactions, and he excels at navigating the complex regulatory environment and finding effective solutions to help his clients.

John helps his franchise and distribution clients achieve their strategic goals as they develop and manage their franchise and dealer networks.

Today's manufacturers, distributors, and franchisors operate in a rapidly changing environment driven by unprecedented technological change and governed by inconsistent federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Clients look to John to help them resolve systemwide challenges as they develop and manage their networks and litigate complex disputes with franchisees and dealers.

Since the early 1990s, John has worked with clients in the automobile, restaurant, hospitality, and bedding industries, developing a deep knowledge and understanding of those industries, and the complex web of federal and state laws and regulations governing his clients’ distribution networks. John knows his clients' business, people, and agreements—something he believes is essential to being able to resolve disputes and develop effective business strategies. John especially enjoys working with some of the largest, most sophisticated automotive manufacturer and distribution clients, and relishes the daily challenge of anticipating the emerging trends and issues facing clients in one of the most heavily regulated franchise industries. 

Clients are not in the business of litigation, which is why in his over 25 years of practice, Steve has developed an approach that is more akin to a business counselor who helps clients favorably resolve disputes and, when necessary, will take a tough case to trial.

Steve’s clients know he will bring creative solutions to help them avoid disputes, counsel them on the risks and potential benefits of litigation when a dispute is unavoidable, and maintain the kind of professional relationship with opposing counsel necessary to get a business deal done when the opportunity strikes. And when a deal cannot get done on acceptable terms, Steve applies his trial experience to give his clients the best shot at prevailing at trial.

Much of Steve’s work has been in the auto industry, where he represents manufacturers in dealer disputes. Through his litigation and trial work for manufacturers, Steve has learned the lessons necessary to be an effective business counselor who advises manufacturers in connection with a range of dealer network initiatives.

Steve also knows litigation is often unpredictable, and it is critical for clients to understand the process, the risks, and the potential outcomes. He accordingly draws on his litigation and trial experience to effectively advise clients throughout the process, helping them balance the risks in deciding when and how to resolve a case.