(Nashville, TN/April 3, 2007) Nashville attorney Joel R. Buckberg, head of the franchise and hospitality practice groups of the law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, has been named a Legal Eagle by Franchise Times, a national publication for franchisors and multi-unit franchisees. An annual listing that recognizes franchise law attorneys on the basis of input from their peers and clients, the Legal Eagles list for 2007 includes 125 franchise attorneys from across the country.
Mr. Buckberg counsels clients on corporate and asset transactions and operations, particularly in hospitality, franchising and distribution, including strategic planning and transactions, financing, mergers and acquisitions, system policy and practice development, regulatory compliance and contract system drafting. He previously served as executive vice president and deputy general counsel of Cendant Corp., where he was involved in acquisitions, international master license transactions and the supervision of legal practice groups.
Active in the International Franchise Association (IFA), Mr. Buckberg was recently named administrator for the IFA's Franchise Compliance Training Program, an educational program designed to aid companies in meeting the requirements of federal and state franchise sales and disclosure regulations. He will be offering the training as part of IFA Legal Roundtable events in five locations around the country in 2007. He will also be speaking at the IFA's Legal Symposium on May 7 in Washington, D.C. on a panel discussing the changes in the rules governing franchisor disclosure documents and procedures recently announced by the Federal Trade Commission. Additionally, Mr. Buckberg is the host/organizer for the Nashville chapter of the IFA’s Franchise Business Network.