Doing Business in Florida Blog

When a Franchisor Liquidates: What Franchisees, Landlords and Suppliers Should Know

August 11, 2026

A wave of franchise-related bankruptcy filings has refocused attention on the treatment of franchise agreements, leases, and supplier relationships in bankruptcy. Recent cases span the franchise ecosystem: Red Lobster (May 2024, Chapter 11), Rubio’s Coastal Grill (June 2024, Chapter 7), COVID-era cases such as NPC International and Friendly’s, and most recently, In re Fat Brands Inc., Case No. 26-90126 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. filed Jan. 26, 2026), a multi-brand restaurant franchisor operating 18 brands across approximately 2,200 locations with 670 franchise partners worldwide. The Fat Brands filing illustrates the scale at which franchisor financial distress can simultaneously affect hundreds of franchise partners, particularly where whole-business securitization structures pledge franchise royalties as collateral for approximately $1.4 billion in securitization debt. Whether the distressed party is the franchisor, a major franchisee, or a related entity, stakeholders should understand how their contracts may be treated and act early to protect their interests.

Eleventh Circuit Holds Competitive Keyword Bidding Not Trademark Infringement

August 7, 2026

The Eleventh Circuit’s recent opinion in Deltona Transformer Corp. v. NOCO Co., No. 24-13590, 2026 WL 2236806 (11th Cir. Aug. 4, 2026) substantially limited liability exposure for sellers on the e-commerce platform, Amazon, who competitively bid on keywords that substantially resemble or match rival sellers’ existing marks. The issue was a matter of first impression in the Eleventh Circuit.

Protecting Trade Secrets During Technology Pilots and Vendor Evaluations

August 3, 2026

A recent lawsuit filed by AI MCP gateway startup Runlayer against HR software giant Rippling is a reminder that a pilot program can quickly turn into a corporate espionage nightmare. According to the complaint, what began as a prospective customer relationship devolved into allegations of intellectual property theft. Runlayer claims it shared proprietary roadmaps, architecture, and source code over several months. When commercial terms fell through, Runlayer alleges it received a tip from inside Rippling that the company was building a near-identical competing product. Rippling has dismissed the claims as meritless.

What Florida Businesses Should Know About the Limits of State Labor Enforcement

July 30, 2026
Andrew B. Zelman

A recent federal court decision involving Amazon reinforces an important principle for businesses: states generally cannot replace the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) when it comes to private-sector union elections and unfair labor practice disputes governed by federal law.

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Doing Business in Florida Blog

When a Franchisor Liquidates: What Franchisees, Landlords and Suppliers Should Know

Eleventh Circuit Holds Competitive Keyword Bidding Not Trademark Infringement

Protecting Trade Secrets During Technology Pilots and Vendor Evaluations

What Florida Businesses Should Know About the Limits of State Labor Enforcement

Florida’s Infill Redevelopment Act Creates a New Path for Residential Development

Federal Court Vacates FinCEN Real Estate Reporting Rule

Chatbots and Website Tracking Technologies: Considerations Under Florida’s Security of Communications Act

Supreme Court Decision in Cox Communications v. Sony Highlights the Role of Online User Agreements

Supreme Court Warns Litigators: Even Void Judgments Must Be Challenged Promptly

FinCEN Reporting Requirements for Residential Real Estate Transfers

Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Federal Ancillary Jurisdiction in Casa Express v. Venezuela

Eleventh Circuit Seeks Florida Supreme Court Guidance on Fraudulent Transfers and Proceedings Supplementary