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Marisa Faunce - Falls Church, VA
3120 Fairview Park DriveSuite 420 Falls Church, VA 22042
Plave Koch PLC
Falls Church Franchising Lawyer
Overview
Marisa counsels franchisors, licensors, and manufacturers on transactional, regulatory and intellectual property issues involved in developing and growing franchise programs. She also counsels franchisors regarding all aspects of the franchise relationship, including operational compliance, system standards, default and termination strategies and franchise workouts. Marisa represents franchisors ranging in size from start-ups to category leaders in connection with the development and maintenance of their franchise programs. She has extensive experience in structuring and revamping franchise programs, drafting franchise, license and area development agreements and counseling franchisors with regard to regulatory (FDD) compliance issues. She also represents franchisors with regard to corporate transactions, contract negotiations, master franchise programs, captive market development, international transactions, and dispute resolution matters.
Marisa counsels trademark owners on brand protection strategies and handles domestic and international trademark portfolios. She regularly represents our clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in trademark prosecution actions and handles trademark-licensing transactions around the world.
Marisa regularly trains franchisor executives with respect to franchise sales, relationship and regulatory compliance issues.
About Marisa Faunce
Current Employment Position(s)
- Partner
Practice Areas
- Franchising
- Licensing
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution
- Trademarks & Copyrights
- International
- Business & Finance Transactions
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- Virginia
- District of Columbia
Other Affiliations
- Vice Chair, Women’s Franchise Committee, International Franchise Association
- Member, Diversity Institute, International Franchise Association
- Supplier Forum Advisory Board, International Franchise Association
- American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising
- Co-Chair Women’s Franchise Network, Washington, D.C.
Classes and Seminars
- WEB 2.0: Social Networks, Branding, and Franchising – 2022 and Beyond!, June 2022
- Why Franchising? How Women Can be Successful in Today’s Franchising Marketplace, May 2018
- Franchising Your Business, May 2018
- Dealing with Legal Issues for Franchisors Arising from Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat (policies for franchisees, trademark issues, getting posts taken down, etc.) (Roundtable), May 2018
- Why Franchising? How Women Can be Successful in Today’s Franchising Marketplace, November 2017
- Franchising Your Business, November 2017
- The Accidental Franchise, October 2017
- Walking The Line: How to Administer a Franchise System in Light of the NLRB’s New Joint, June 2017
- The Legal Aspects of Franchising Your Business, June 2017
- Graying of a Franchise System: How to Deal with an Aging Franchisee Population, May 2017
- The Legal Aspects of Franchising Your Business, May 2003 - June 2017
- Franchisees: What Does the NLRB Mean to You?, January 2017
- Moderator: Annual Leadership Conference, January 2017
- The Accidental Franchise: Tips for Business Lawyers, May 2016
- Joint Employer Issues in Franchising, April 2016
- Steps to Franchise Your Business, March 2016
- Shifting Gears: Modifying Key Franchise Agreement Terms in Response to Recent Regulatory Changes, February 2016
- Brand Protection Strategies: Handling Trademark, PR, and Social Media Crises in an Online World, February 2016
- The Legal Aspects of Franchising Your Business, October 2004 - October 2015
- Franchise Registration, May 2015
- Cutting Edge Franchise Agreements and Concepts, February 2015
- How Much Am I Going to Earn? How Franchisors May (and May Not) Answer This Question, February 2015
- Using the Manual to Enforce System Standards (Roundtable), May 2014
- The Accidental Franchise: Traps for the Unwary and Elements of Control in Trademark License Agreements, March 2014
- Leadership Conference Roundtable, February 2014
- Protecting Your Brand Through Social Media Roundtable, February 2014
- Assessing Materiality – What to Include and When to Amend, October 2012
- Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Financial Performance Representations, May 2012
- Trademarks and Intellectual Property Roundtable, February 2012
- Franchising Your Business, April 2003 - April 2011
- Financial Performance Representations (Roundtable Facilitator), May 2011
- Franchising Your Business, April 2011
- Financial Performance Representations, February 2011
- Franchising Your Business, October 2007 - November 2010
- Franchising Your Business, April 2010
- Financial Performance Representations, April 2010
- What’s in a Name? A Lot: Trademark and Brand Protection Strategies for Franchisors, March/April 2010
- Financial Performance Representations, October 2009
- Franchising Your Business, April 2009
- Financial Performance Representations, April 2009
- Trademarks and Intellectual Property, March 2009
- Helping Franchise Systems Succeed: Avoiding the Pitfalls Encountered in the Early Stages of Franchising, May 2008
- Earnings Claims and Financial Performance Representations, April 2008
- Franchisor/Franchisee Communications, February 9-12, 2008
- Financial Performance Representations: The New Earnings Claim, October 19-21, 2007
- Legal Considerations In Expanding a Business through Franchising, July 2007
- Alternatives to Single Unit Franchising, May 7, 2007
- Earnings Claims, March 30, 2007
- Franchisor and Franchisee Communications Roundtable, February 24-27, 2007
- Federal Trade Commission Amends Franchise Rule, January 26, 2007
- Taking The Plunge—Are You Ready To Franchise?, Winter 2006
- Registration and Franchise Law, May 8-10, 2005
- Retool Your Franchise Program to Attract and Retain Women Franchisees, June 2004
- Unauthorized Transfers, May 24, 2004
- Creative Solutions for Dealing with Financially Troubled Franchisees, March 9, 2004
- The Madrid System and a Streamlined Process for Registering Trademarks Around the World, Winter 2003
- Dealing with Financially Troubled Franchisees, February 15, 2003
- Franchising and Licensing Your Spa, September 28, 2000
Education
- The College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, Williamsburg, Virginia
J.D.
Honors: Order of the Coif - University of Virginia
B.A.
Fees
Accepts Credit Cards
Office Information
Address
3120 Fairview Park DriveSuite 420 Falls Church, VA 22042
Phone
Fax
- 703-774-1201
Websites
Achievements
Honors
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® – Franchise Law 2025
- Thought Leaders – United States Franchise Law, Lexology (formerly Who’s Who Legal), 2025
- Recommended, Lexology (formerly Who’s Who Legal), 2025
- Chambers USA
- Super Lawyers of Virginia and Washington, DC
- The Best Lawyers in America
- Franchise Times Legal Eagles – Hall of Fame
- Who’s Who Legal 2019 – Franchising
- International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers
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