Franchising & Distribution Law Blog

On Friday, April 11, 2014, Dawn Johnson will discuss some of the surprising ways that Big Data has impacted cases and identify strategies for using Big Data to your advantage while avoiding costly pitfalls in her presentation, “Big Data: Opportunities and Challenges in Litigation,” at the American Bar Association Petroleum Marketing Attorneys’ Meeting. Greensfelder is a Platinum sponsor for the event. Other Greensfelder attorneys attending the Petroleum Marketing Attorneys’ Meeting include Dan Garner, David Harris, John Petite and Abby Risner.

Breaking Distribution Barriers
Bringing Your Goods & Services to the Market

Date: September 18, 2013

Location: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Join Greensfelder for an afternoon of knowledge sharing on important business issues and legal developments impacting the distribution of products and services.

Who Should Attend?

Executives, business leaders, management and in-house counsel at companies that distribute, supply and/or manufacture products or services will not want to miss this year's program.

Questions? Contact Jessie Fenton at 314-335-6835 or jlf@greensfelder.com.

As small local breweries continue growing in popularity throughout the nation, Congress is considering previously introduced legislation that would significantly reduce excise tax rates for small brewers. The Small Brew Act (H.R. 494, http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr494) would amend Internal Revenue Code and reduce excise tax rates by 50% on the first 60,000 barrels for brewers producing under 6 million total barrels per year, from $7.00/barrel to only $3.50/barrel. After that, the excise tax would be a flat $16.00/barrel, up to a total of 2 million barrels.

In 1986, California enacted the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Environment Act popularly referred to as “Proposition 65.” Cal. Health & Safety Code § 25249.6 (West 2012). Proposition 65 requires that any product or services which contain certain chemicals with the potential to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity to give a “clear and reasonable warning” that the product or services contain such chemicals. The breadth of Proposition 65 is comprehensive applying not only to California business, but also to any other companies that sell products or engage in activities that could result in potential exposures in the State of California. Hence, any company which distributes products or performs services which have the potential to end up in California commerce should be aware of the Act and comply with its terms if necessary.

Here are some key points identified by the speakers at the 2012 Distribution Symposium on navigating through the legal landmines in distribution:

State revenue enhancement: The states are desperate for money and trying to collect more revenue using a variety of approaches. For example, some states are trying to attribute nexus status to a parent because an affiliate has an office in the state. Other states are using the escheat laws to recover old credits and refunds due to a customer, such as from unused gift cards.

On September 13, 2012, attendees will have a unique opportunity to hear speakers address their experiences with some of today's hot distribution topics. The symposium will focus exclusively on distribution, and includes a roundtable with in-house counsel.

Topics will include the current challenges in distribution, hidden business opportunities, distributing abroad, gift cards and loyalty programs, distributor bankruptcy and insolvency, and advertising.

For more information and to register for the complimentary program, please visit http://www.greensfelder.com/distribution-seminar-2012.aspx.