In the News

Attorney Thomas M. Pitegoff Co-Authors Article in New York Journal Discussing Law Amendments to Promote Franchise Growth in New York

August 30, 2024
Attorney Thomas M. Pitegoff Co-Authors Article in New York Journal Discussing Law Amendments to Promote Franchise Growth in New York

Thomas Pitegoff, principal franchise law attorney, co-authored a New York Law Journal article titled "Amending New York’s Franchise Law to Promote Franchise Growth." The article addresses long-standing concerns about the outdated New York Franchise Sales Act (NYFSA) of 1981, which has yet to be amended to align with modern state and federal franchise laws.

Tom and collaborators Marc A. Lieberstein, partner at Kilpatrick Townsend and David T. Azrin, partner at Wuersch & Gering, highlight how the current NYFSA hampers New York’s potential as a global hub for international franchising and propose crucial amendments. These changes aim to rectify two key issues: removing the registration requirement for out-of-state franchise sales by New York-based franchisors and refining the definition of "franchise" to prevent unnecessary entanglements in trademark license agreements.

The proposed amendments are vital for enhancing New York's competitive edge, ensuring that businesses can thrive without the burdens imposed by the current franchise laws. The article provides a compelling case for how updating the NYFSA will attract more franchisors to establish their headquarters in New York and reinforce the state’s position as a leader in international trade and business.

To read the full article, please click here.

Related People

Related Services

Firm Highlights

  • Podcasts
    Artful Donations: Exploring Museum Exchange
    In this episode of The Legal Canvas, host Caryn Keppler welcomes Robert Wainstein and Michael Darling, co-founders of Museum Exchange, the first digital platform dedicated to facilitating art donations to museums and nonprofit institutions across North America. Together, they explore how technology is transforming the way collectors, artists, estates, and cultural organizations connect through charitable giving. Robert and Michael explain the inspiration behind Museum Exchange, the challenges they set out to solve, and how the platform has grown into a network of more than 400 museums. They walk listeners through the donation process—from evaluating artwork and matching donors with institutions to handling logistics, documentation, and tax considerations. Along the way, they discuss the realities of museum collecting, why many donations are declined, and how thoughtful placements can help preserve artists' legacies while expanding access to important works of art. The conversation also explores Museum Exchange's work with living artists, artist estates, hospitals, universities, and smaller regional museums, as well as the launch of the Charis Foundation for the Arts, a nonprofit designed to steward significant collections before placing them with institutions that can best benefit from them. Robert and Michael conclude by sharing their vision for the future of charitable art transactions and how Museum Exchange is helping reshape philanthropy in the arts for generations to come.