The aftermath of Awuah: are courts encroaching on a franchisor's traditional protections from a franchisee's employment decisions? *

USA - May 23 2012
There is growing concern over whether courts will deem franchisees "employees" or "joint employers," as opposed to contractors or wholly separate enterprises, as further decisions are handed down in the wake of the highly publicized Awuah case and courts grapple with today's complex franchisor-franchisee relationships.

Co-authors: Michael J. Gray, E. Michael Rossman , Jeffrey J. Jones, J. Todd Kennard.

Women-owned small business alert: SBA proposes new rule to change government contract eligibility *

USA - June 25 2010
"Although [the federal government] ha[s] made some progress—particularly with respect to Recovery Act contracts—more work can and should be done."

Co-authors: Nancy L. Berardinelli-Krantz, Peter F. Garvin III.

Massachusetts district court finds janitorial franchisees are employees, not independent contractors *

USA - May 19 2010
On March 23, 2010, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts held in Awuah v. Coverall North America, Inc. that a group of janitorial franchisees were misclassified as independent contractors.

Co-authors: Michael J. Gray, Allison E. Haedt, Jeffrey J. Jones, J. Todd Kennard, Alison B. Marshall.