Beata Krakus is an Associate in the Franchising & Distribution and Corporate Practice Groups. She works with clients in domestic and international franchise transactional matters, as well as related areas such as distribution and sales representative arrangements and other commercial contracts. She has advised, structured and prepared franchise programs for many different franchise concepts including real estate brokerages, hotels, restaurants and fitness and personal health systems. Her experience practicing in Warsaw, Poland gives her a unique perspective in her international work. Ms. Krakus has prepared domestic and international franchise disclosure documents, franchise agreements, area development agreements, master franchise agreements, distribution agreements, supply agreements and similar documents. She assists clients with state franchise registrations and counsels clients on federal and state franchise law compliance. She has also assisted clients with mergers and acquisitions, both involving franchise concepts and other business models. Ms. Krakus has also assisted clients in general corporate matters.
Ms. Krakus interned for the Honorable Ann Claire Williams, United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit.
Prior to joining Greensfelder, Ms. Krakus was associated with Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP. She also practiced in Warsaw, Poland with the Swedish law firm of Magnusson Wahlin. Her practice focused on assisting foreign businesses in their activities in Poland, ranging from counseling in connection with initial start-ups and negotiation of commercial contracts to assisting with multinational antitrust filings and privatization negotiations with government representatives.
Publications
- "Changes to the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Law Effective October 1, 2009," LexisNexis Emerging Issues Analysis, November 2009.
- "Do Franchise Agreements Without Formal Expiration Dates Continue in Perpetuity?:, Franchise Law Journal, Volume 28, Number 4, Spring 2009, Beata Krakus and John R. F. Baer.
- "Observations on Negotiating Franchise Agreements in Today's Legal Environment," LJN Franchising Business & Law Alert, January 2007, Beata Krakus and Rochelle B. Spandorf.
- "A Time of Change? Franchising in Poland," International Franchising Newsletter of the International Bar Association Section on Business Law, October 2004.
Seminars
- Presentation, ABA Forum on Franchising, October 2009, "From License Agreement to Regulated Relationships: The Accidental Franchise" Beata Krakus, Kenneth R. Costello and Kristy L. Zastrow.
Awards/Recognitions/Achievements
- 2010 Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star
- Staff Member, Loyola Consumer Law Review