Barry Kurtz
Certified
Specialist,
Franchise & Distribution Law
The State Bar of California Board of Legal
Specialization
As a franchise attorney, Mr. Kurtz has represented clients on a wide range of subjects, including the review and preparation of Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD) franchise registration and disclosure documents; the structuring of franchisors, franchisees, management teams and affiliated companies; work-out arrangements with distressed franchisees in lieu of termination of the relationship; the development and enforcement of system-wide standards; franchisor and franchisee litigation and termination matters; due diligence, acquisitions and dispositions of franchised and independent units and businesses; commercial real estate leasing and acquisitions; and the development and implementation of regional, national and international franchise expansion programs.
Mr. Kurtz's practical hands-on experience includes the development and administration of 22 quick service restaurants as a co-franchisee in a regional food service chain; serving as a founder, officer and director of his franchise system's franchise advisory council, independent franchisee association and marketing and new products committees; and serving, over a period of years, as outside franchise counsel, chief operating officer, vice president of national and international franchise expansion and general counsel of a national retail franchisor with 100+ units producing in excess of $60 million in annual sales.
A graduate of UCLA (1970) and Southwestern University School of Law (1973). Mr. Kurtz has been a member of the American Bar Association Section on Business Law and Forum on Franchising since 1982 and was a member of the International Franchise Association's Legal/Legislative Committee from 1991 to 1998. In addition, Mr. Kurtz served as an appointed member of the Franchise Law Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California from 1983 to 1985 and was re-appointed to the Committee for a three year term in 1998. Over the years, Mr. Kurtz has also presented programs on the fundamentals of franchising and franchising in the fast food business for the American Bar Association and the UCLA Extension School and on the development and implementation of demographic and information systems for franchise site selection for the National Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives. Mr. Kurtz was certified as a mediator by Pepperdine University, School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, in June, 2001.
Practice Areas: Franchise Law; Franchise Licensing; Franchise Regulation; Franchise Termination; International Franchising; Intellectual Property Licensing; Trademark Licensing; Business Law; Buying and Selling of Businesses; Commercial Law.
Admitted: 1973, California and U.S. District, Central District of California; 1974, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California; 1978, U.S. Supreme Court
Law School: Southwestern University, J.D., 1973
College: University of California at Los Angeles, B.A., 1970
Member: San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, American (Member: Section on Antitrust Law; Forum Committee on Franchising, 1982-) and International (Member, Section on Business Law-International Franchising) Bar Associations, 1983-1986; State Bar of California (Member: Corporation, Banking and Business Law Section; Franchise Law Committee, Business Law Section, 1983-1986, 1998-2001); International Franchise Association (Member, Legal/Legislative Committee, 1990-1998).
Biography: Note and Comment Editor, Southwestern University Law Review, 1972-1973. Lecturer: American Bar Association, Forum Committee on Franchise, Fundamentals of Franchising Program, 1987-1988; University of California at Los Angeles Business and Management Extension Education, Fast Food and Restaurant Management, 1988-1989.
Candice Lee
Candice Lee joined the firm in April 2010 as an associate. Candice previously worked as an associate with O’Melveny & Myers L.L.P. in San Francisco, California, where she represented public and private companies in securities matters and corporate governance. Prior to that, Candice worked as an associate with McDermott Will & Emery L.L.P. in Irvine, California, where she gained experience as a transactional attorney on a wide range of real estate and merger and acquisition transactions. She also served as an Extern for The Honorable Ernest M. Hiroshige, Superior Court in Los Angeles.
Practice Areas: Candice’s practice as a franchise lawyer includes the review and preparation of UFDD franchise registration and disclosure documents and regulatory compliance; acquisitions and dispositions of franchised and independent units and businesses; commercial real estate leasing; corporate and commercial transactions involving franchisors and franchisees; and the drafting of franchise-related documents.
Professional and Admissions: Ms. Lee is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice in all California state courts.
Law School: University of Southern California, Gould
School of Law, JD, 2005
College: University of California at San Diego, B.A. cum laude, 2001
Nicola McDowall
Nicola McDowall represents both franchisors and franchisees. Having been General Counsel of a publicly held franchisor and developed that system from 14 of the United States to nationwide and from 17 countries to 52 countries in five years, she has the ability to provide clients with a unique perspective on the issues and demands that owners, sellers and buyers of businesses face in the sale, purchase, financing and operation of their businesses. As a franchise lawyer, Nicola particularly assists clients of this firm in their international expansion. Her experience includes franchise sales, acquisitions and restructuring of franchise systems nationally and internationally, operating system compliance issues, distribution and licensing arrangements, technology development and implementation issues and contract negotiation. Her familiarity with franchising - as an attorney and as a prior franchisor executive - brings a wealth of experience to her clients.
Admitted: 1987, England, Northern Ireland, Wales; 1990, California;
Law School: Guildford College of Law, Admitted as Solicitor, 1985
College: University of Birmingham, England, LLB with Honors, 1984
Practice Areas: Yi Sun Kim’s practice as a franchise lawyer includes corporate and commercial transactions involving franchisors and franchisees, the drafting of franchise-related documents, and regulatory compliance.
Professional and Admissions: Ms. Kim is a member of Greenberg & Bass, LLP, and is of counsel to Barry Kurtz, A Professional Corporation. She is a member of the State Bar of California and the San Fernando Valley Bar Association and is admitted to practice in all California state courts.
Education: Ms. Kim received her B.A. (2002) from Wellesley College and her J.D. (2007) from Loyola Law School, where she was Articles Editor for the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review from 2006-07. Ms. Kim also participated in a study abroad program at Hong Kong University while in law school, and at University College London as an undergraduate.
Peggy Karavanich has held her Certified Legal Assistant designation since August 1999, and is an experienced franchise, intellectual property and corporate paralegal. Peggy joined the firm in October 2006 and assists clients in franchise registration and compliance and corporate matters.
Peggy serves on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Paralegal Association and is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants and California Association of Paralegals.
