Franchise Law Specialist Launches New Program: “Franchise Rescue Team”

Dec. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- (Toledo, Ohio)---Roetzel & Andress LPA, a full-service corporate law firm with 13 offices nationwide, is pleased to announce the formation of a “Franchise Rescue Team,” created specifically to help franchisors seek out their best options for addressing consistently underperforming franchisees. This new team will evaluate each unique situation on an individual basis and execute a tailored plan to assist the franchisor in remedying their specific problem. A group of experienced attorneys and specialists with a wide range of experience and backgrounds make up the “Franchise Rescue Team,” which is spearheaded by Anthony Calamunci, partner-in-charge of the Roetzel & Andress Toledo office.
   Other team members include: Robert Emden, executive managing director at New York City-based multinational real estate service firm Newmark Knight Frank; Rhonda Sanderson, a leader in the public relations industry for more than 25 years and an expert source in the area of franchising PR; and Kimberlie Buchanan, a CPA with Rehmann, a nationwide comprehensive business services firm. Buchanan brings several years of experience in accounting, business valuation and sales experience to the team.
   A former franchisor himself, Calamunci, in conjunction with his partners, developed the “Franchise Rescue Team” after identifying a widespread need for help among franchisors when addressing the problem of underperforming units. Through his years of experience providing legal services to franchisors, Calamunci came across the same situation time after time—executive teams were wasting massive amounts of time, money and energy addressing problems associated with their distressed units.
      Calamunci feels that the “The Franchise Rescue Team” is an invaluable tool for franchisors and an unprecedented type of service because it encompasses the entire legal process of dealing with this type of issue from start to finish into one easy package and takes the weight off the shoulders of the franchisor.
    “I’ve witnessed many franchisors who often get involved in these complex situations where they find themselves allocating too much of their time to the bottom 15 percent of their franchisees,” said Calamunci, a former prosecutor and franchise litigator. “The ‘Franchise Rescue Team’ executes a specialized process to combat the franchisor’s problem in the most comprehensive way possible, which allows the franchisor to focus their attention where it should be—on sales growth and business development—while we deal with the dirty work.”  
   Recognizing that one size doesn’t fit all, the “Franchise Rescue Team’s” services are  tailored specifically to each franchisor’s individual needs and unique situation. Services are generally executed through four phases outlined below.

•   Phase 1: Initial lease evaluation and market analysis, unit level economics—Profit &    Loss Statement, Franchise Agreement or Area Rep Agreement
•   Phase II: Recommendation report is provided to franchisor with proposed budget for the    execution phase.
•   Phase III: Execution phase: the recommended action is taken (store closings, lease    renegotiations, franchise agreement and royalty deferment, valuation and packaging of    distressed inventory, etc.).
•   Phase IV: Exit Phase: Packaged distressed inventory bundled and transferred to fund,    sold to third party operator, PPM offered by Franchisor, etc. Multiple exit options are    provided to the franchisor with various pre-negotiated success fees.
   
“The ultimate end result is a winning situation for both the franchisee and the franchisor,” Calamunci said. “We provide the best solutions for each different case, whether it’s helping the franchisee continue to operate under varying terms or giving the client help in another area.”
   The professionals involved with this team understand the complex franchising issues that affect both the franchisor and franchisee. The team’s credibility is built on the combination of detailed business knowledge of ever-changing marketing and distribution methods with thorough legal knowledge of franchise law, including licensing franchise sales, trademark infringements and franchise agreements.
   A 12-year veteran of corporate law, Calamunci has served as franchise counsel for national and regional brands and is a former Lucas County Ohio Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. He was recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine as an “Ohio Super Lawyer” for three consecutive years, and was highlighted by the Toledo Business Journal on their “Who’s Who in Toledo-Area Law” list. Calamunci and his team provide legal counseling to a myriad of franchisors and franchisees across a host of different industries including the automotive, real estate, retail, hotel, manufacturing, beer and wine and restaurant industries.
   Adding to the team’s credibility, real estate law powerhouse Newmark Knight Frank, one of the largest firms of its kind in the world, will serve as Calamunci’s strategic partner, playing a key role in the real estate assessment phase. For more information on Newmark Knight Frank visit www.newmarkkf.com.

About Roetzel & Andress
Founded in 1876, Roetzel is a law firm with 13 offices throughout Ohio, Florida, Illinois, New York and Washington, D.C. The firm has more than 200 attorneys who provide comprehensive, integrated legal counsel in more than 40 different areas of law, and practice both nationally and internationally. For more information, visit www.ralaw.com.
About Robert Emden
Robert Emden has more than 40 years of experience in real estate. His areas of expertise are tenant representation, strategic planning, and acquisitions and dispositions. Over the course of his career, Emden has negotiated more than $3 billion in lease obligations as a tenant’s representative and has delivered on a wide scope of achievements, including acting as a receiver on foreclosure properties and buying and selling buildings. Emden is a member of the real estate board of New York. To reach Robert Emden at Newmark Knight Frank call 212-372-2365 or e-mail remden@newmarkkf.com.
About Rhonda Sanderson
Rhonda Sanderson is owner of Sanderson & Associates, Ltd. Sanderson is considered an expert source in the area of franchising and small business marketing and has written articles for numerous trade publications covering a wide variety of industries. She has been quoted as an expert in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Restaurant Business, and The Wall Street Journal. Rhonda also served as Chair of the Supplier Forum, an arm of the International Franchise Association in 2002 and hosted numerous IFA Development Seminars over the years. She is active on several committees of the International Franchise Association including the PR and Marketing Committee. To reach Sanderson & Associates, Ltd. call: 312-829-4350 or e-mail Rhonda@sandersonpr.com.
About Kimberlie Buchanan
Kimberlie Buchanan joined Rehmann in July 2008 as Principal, Director of Client Service & Practice Growth. She is responsible for business development, sales growth, brand building and practice growth strategies and is part of the Franchise Leadership Team. Her career began at Deloitte and Touche in 1985 as an auditor in the Middle Market Practice. She spent the next ten years in various accounting and financial roles with Fortune 100 companies in the franchising, retail and staffing industries before becoming an executive recruiter focused on business development for finance and accounting professionals. During the past six years Buchanan worked in business development, practice growth and client services with a Big 4 Firm while also working for a publicly-traded consulting firm. To reach Rehmann call 248-458.7935 or email Kimberlie.Buchanan@rehmann.com.