Partner Jonathan Solish was invited to speak at the Enriching the Middle East’s Economic Future conference by the Foreign Ministry of the State of Qatar and the UCLA Center for Middle East Development. At the conference, held on May 9 and 10 in Doha, Qatar, Solish discussed "The Role of Franchising in the Regional Economy and Local Businesses" along with Michael Seid, managing director of MSA Worldwide, and Tariq Farid, CEO and Founder of Edible Arrangements. After a general presentation, the group presented a franchising workshop. Both sessions were well attended and were simultaneously translated into five languages to the participants through headphones. Solish stressed two key benefits that franchising offered to the region. First, franchising would help in the development of a middle class. Second, in a region where unemployment among youth is rampant franchising develops new job opportunities. At the closing session of the conference, the franchising presentation was singled out as particularly significant in identifying strategies that might benefit the region.

While at the conference, Solish had breakfast with Jessie Jackson to discuss the role of franchising in developing the economy in Africa. While in Doha, Solish visited the local franchised outlet of the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the Souk Waqif marketplace. Ken Costello of Bryan Cave handled the legal work on that expansion matter.

Bryan Cave LLP Partner Keith Klein will speak at the first annual Franchise Consumer Marketing Conference by the FranchiseUpdate Media Group. At the conference, held on June 14 and 15 in San Francisco, Klein will discuss “Reputation Management” along with several other expert panelists. The session will focus on discovering the best methods and guidelines for monitoring brand representation and integrity within online communities, websites, blogs and other interactive media.