Haynes and Boone, LLP Partner Deborah Coldwell and Counsel Maral Kilejian have been named 2017 Legal Eagles by Franchise Times, a prestigious honor that the magazine bestows on 100 of the top franchise practitioners in the United States.
This marks the first time that Kilejian has been selected as a Legal Eagle and the 13th selection for Coldwell. In 2013, Franchise Times also inducted Coldwell into its inaugural Legal Eagles Hall of Fame.
Selected through nominations from peers, clients and the publication editors, Legal Eagles are hailed as “superior attorneys.”
"I am so glad to be joined this year by my colleague Maral Kilejian, who is definitely a Legal Eagle," Coldwell said.
Kilejian added: “I’m thrilled to receive this important industry distinction.”
Last year, Kilejian earned a Certified Franchise Executive™ (CFE) designation from the International Franchise Association’s Institute of Certified Franchise Executives (ICFE). The designation is a mark of distinction for franchise professionals and signifies their commitment to franchising.
At the firm, Kilejian focuses her practice in the areas of franchise and distribution law, corporate law, trademark law, and advertising, sweepstakes, 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, development and implementation of social media policies and guidelines, and nation-wide and international sweepstakes and contests
With more than 25 years of experience, Coldwell has represented franchise and distribution clients of varying sizes across a diverse range of industries, with the goal of developing business solutions to disputes whenever possible. Coldwell has also successfully tried jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations, and has sought and received preliminary and permanent injunctive relief for franchisors, distributors, and the individuals who run those companies.
Coldwell co-chairs the firm’s Franchise and Distribution Practice, which ranks consistently among the top global and domestic franchise practices in Chambers USA, Chambers Global and U.S. News/Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”. She is described by clients in Chambers as "an especially good advocate,” “outstanding trial lawyer,” and “very poised, thoughtful and smart."
Haynes and Boone franchise and distribution lawyers 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.