Dear Colleagues:
Come join us in Austin, Texas, widely known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” for what promises to be another spectacular Forum. The Hilton Austin is located just blocks from historic Sixth Street and the Warehouse District, known worldwide for their superb live music venues and restaurants. Along with timely and insightful programs and materials and great opportunities for networking and relaxation in Austin’s unique environment, this year’s Forum will include some of the best in live music entertainment.

The Forum will again present a mix of first-rate practical, educational and entertaining programs offering something for everyone, whether you are in-house or outside counsel, counsel to franchisors or franchisees, a litigator or a transactional lawyer, experienced or new to franchise law, or an international practitioner. Three Wednesday “Intensives” will offer full-afternoon programs on the insights gleaned by practitioners and regulators in interpreting and complying with the new disclosure regime imposed by the amended FTC Rule, an in-depth look by some of the country’s foremost franchisor and franchisee litigators, along with a respected evidence professor from the University of Texas Law School, at critical evidentiary and trial issues that often arise in franchise litigation, and the Forum’s perennially popular Fundamentals of Franchising ® program. Thursday’s plenary session will be a program on written advoca- cy and contract drafting given by Bryan Garner, dubbed by The New York Times as “the persnickety stylist for a linguistically challenged profession,” whose latest book on legal argument, co-authored with Justice Antonin Scalia, is scheduled for release this Spring. In addition to the Forum’s signature Annual Developments plenary session on Friday, this year’s Forum will also include a full slate of cutting-edge workshops Thursday and Friday on franchise counseling issues, developments in international franchise law, advanced franchise litigation issues, and ethics issues arising in a multi-jurisdictional franchise practice.

In the evenings, we will enjoy some of Austin’s live music and unique venues. Thursday night’s reception/dinner will be held at the new Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and will include performances by LZ Love and Carolyn Wonderland. Friday evening will also be truly special, with a casual dinner at Antone’s, one of the true homes of the blues in the United States, followed by an evening of high-energy southern pop and roadhouse blues with nationally renowned singer/pianist Marcia Ball.

On Saturday, you can participate in the Forum’s annual community service event, or enjoy an excursion with guests into the beautiful Texas hill country.

Austin’s roles as the capital of Texas, the home of the University of Texas, and the center of the live music industry combine to create an atmosphere that is one of a kind, and the franchise legal programs at this year’s Forum will again be the most useful and informative anywhere. This Forum will be memorable, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Joseph J. Fittante, Jr.     Peter J. Klarfeld
Program Co-Chair         Program Co-Chair