Franchise Lawyer Speaks on Canadian Expansion for Retailers At SPECS Show

CHICAGO, March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael R. Daigle, international franchise lawyer and partner at Cheng Cohen LLC, will participate on a panel discussing the nuances of design and building for retailers interested in Canadian expansion on March 16.  The session takes place at the 51^st Annual SPECS Show in Las Vegas, March 15 – 17. SPECS (Store Planning, Equipment, Construction and Facilities Services) is attended by retail and food service corporate executives involved in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of stores and restaurants nationwide and is exclusively produced by Chain Store Age magazine.

The "Oh Canada: Design and Building Challenges" session will delve into the challenges U.S. retailers face in Canada including laws, tariffs, materials sourcing, licensure, disability accommodations, permitting and regulations, product safety and green initiatives, including LEED certification. Dan Wisk, VP facilities and construction for Hertz Corporation, will moderate and Marissa Sidel, president of National Dispatch Services, will join Daigle on the panel.

"I've had the great fortune to work in house with several U.S. retailers when they made entree into or expanded their footprints in Canada.  I'm pleased to be able to share with other U.S. retail executives my first-hand experiences and knowledge of the legal and practical challenges they'll likely face in that country," Daigle said. "Much of the information we will discuss during the panel is critical for executives to learn so their companies can successfully avoid pitfalls and unpleasant surprises when doing business with our neighbors to the north."

Daigle is a franchise law veteran and, in addition to currently being a partner in the franchise industry's premier full service boutique law firm of Cheng Cohen, he formerly served as chief legal counsel for franchise brands including Quiznos, Boston Market and Einstein Bagels. Active in the American Bar Association's (ABA), he has served as co-chair of the International Commercial Transactions, Franchising and Distribution Committee of the ABA Section of International Law for the last two years.  A frequent speaker at franchise industry events, Daigle also has presented at ABA conferences in Dublin, Paris, and London and most recently last fall in Argentina when he discussed the impact of the use of sales intermediaries in the distribution of products in Latin America. He is a Franchise Times Legal Eagle and was recently inducted as a Fellow of the ABA, an honor earned by invitation extended to only one-third of one percent of lawyers in each state and up to 300 foreign lawyers.

Exclusively produced by Chain Store Age magazine and part of the Lebhar-Friedman, Inc. company, SPECS brings together the nation's top retailers and top suppliers for the purpose of learning, sharing ideas, developing business partnerships and problem solving.  All retail chains are represented – specialty, supermarkets, discount, drug, department, home center, warehouse clubs, convenience and restaurants – and all attendees are retail headquarters executives.

About Cheng Cohen, LLC:
Established in 2007, Cheng Cohen grew out of a simple credo: to provide uncompromising client service and sound, practical legal advice to franchise and distribution clients for a fair and reasonable fee. Today, the boutique law practice is recognized as one of the leading franchise firms in the country providing franchisors, licensors and manufacturers with the comprehensive legal services, litigation support and development assistance needed to bring their products and services to market efficiently and economically. In addition to its consistent first tier ranking for franchising by U.S. News – Best Lawyers listing of Best Law Firms, Cheng Cohen has also been recognized by Chambers & Partners USA as a leader in franchising for both client service and commercial awareness. Additional information about Cheng Cohen can be found at www.chengcohen.com.

Contact:
Jessi Nunez
Fish Consulting
[email protected]
954-893-9150

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SOURCE Cheng Cohen LLC