Haynes and Boone, LLP Partners Deborah Coldwell and Maral Kilejian have again been featured in Franchise Times’ Legal Eagles listing of the top franchise practitioners in the U.S.
This is the fifth time that Kilejian has been named a Legal Eagle and the 17th year for Coldwell. In 2013, Franchise Times inducted Coldwell into its inaugural Legal Eagles Hall of Fame, which comprises lawyers who have been on the list for 10 years.
Legal Eagles are “star legal professionals” who have been nominated or recommended by peers, clients and the publication editors, according to Franchise Times.
In the 2021 issue, Franchise Times asked some of Legal Eagles about industry trends. Coldwell said: "The pandemic underscored the importance of relationships—with clients, colleagues and opposing counsel. If you strive for, and cultivate, strong relationships, you will weather any storm."
To view the full listing, click here.
Coldwell represents franchisors, distributors, joint ventures, limited liability companies, partnerships and the individuals who run those companies in jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations. She has litigated across several industries – from hotels and restaurants to health clubs and tax preparation services to product and service-based franchise and distribution networks. She is a past chair of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising. She also served the Forum as editor-in-chief of the Franchise Law Journal and as its publications officer.
Kilejian focuses her practice in the areas of franchise and distribution law, and advertising, marketing, and promotional law. She provides practical initial and ongoing counsel and legal support to franchisors in the structuring and operation of domestic franchise programs and international expansion, including in the drafting of franchise-related agreements, franchise compliance issues, franchise and business opportunity registrations and exemptions, non-traditional venues, alternative distribution channels, managing franchisee relationships, crisis management, operations manuals, marketing materials, gift card programs, and development and implementation of social media policies and guidelines.
Haynes and Boone’s Franchise and Distribution Practice Group ranks consistently among the top global and domestic franchise practices in Chambers USA, Chambers Global and U.S. News/Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.” Members of the group have experience in-house with franchise companies and outside in the real world working in the industries served and seek to combine business skill and legal knowledge to balance the business objectives and economic expectations of franchise and distribution clients.