Baker Donelson is pleased to announce that Joel R. Buckberg, chair of the Firm's Commercial Transactions and Business Counseling Group, has been named a "Legal Eagle" by Franchise Times, a national publication for franchisors and multi-unit franchisees.
The Legal Eagles annual list recognizes leading franchise law attorneys from across the country based on input from their peers and clients. To be included in the list, attorneys must be nominated by their peers or clients and must meet the criteria of the Franchise Times editorial panel. Mr. Buckberg has been recognized as a Legal Eagle by Franchise Times since 2007, and was named to the publication's "Legal Eagles Hall of Fame" in 2016.
A shareholder in the Firm's Nashville office, Mr. Buckberg counsels clients on business transactions and operations, particularly in hospitality, franchises and distribution, including strategic planning, development, disclosure, equity and debt financing, mergers and acquisitions, system policy and practice development, regulatory compliance and commercial contracts. He served for four years as administrator for the International Franchise Association's Franchise Compliance Training Program and is currently a legal advisor and trainer for IFA's Fran-Guard compliance and business culture training program.
A regular presenter on product distribution and a frequent speaker on franchising topics, Mr. Buckberg served as co-author of the 2009 edition of Annual Developments in Franchise and Distribution Law; a chapter author in the first, second and third editions of the treatise The FTC Franchise Rule; a chapter author in the first edition of Exemptions and Exclusions Under Federal and State Franchise Registration and Disclosure Laws; and a chapter co-author in the first edition of The Bankruptcy Handbook for Franchisors and Franchisees, all published by the American Bar Association. He is the former editor of and a frequent contributor to Baker Donelson's Hospitalitas electronic newsletter on franchising and hospitality, and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Franchise Law since 2008. He was also named the publication's Nashville Franchise Law "Lawyer of the Year" in 2014 and 2017.