With significant updates taking effect from April 2025, the new Franchising Code of Conduct reshapes disclosure requirements, termination rights, restraints of trade, and introduces new penalties. This essential session will guide franchisors, franchisees, and advisors through the critical changes, transitional provisions, and compliance obligations. Stay ahead by understanding how these reforms impact agreements, dispute resolution, and legal costs.
Franchising Code of Conduct: Key Changes and Compliance Strategies
- Code Simplification: Introduction of the Key Fact Sheet and streamlined numbering
- Disclosure and Cooling-Off Changes: New rights to opt out under certain repeat agreement scenarios
- 7-Day Termination Reforms: Broader circumstances requiring extended notice and dispute resolution options
- Restraints of Trade: New limits on enforceability when renewal or extension options are absent
- Return on Investment (ROI) and Capital Expenditures: Mandatory disclosure and impact on franchise negotiations
- Early Termination Compensation: Obligations for franchisors to provide compensation and stock buy-backs
- Legal Costs: Requirement for costs to be "reasonable" — but who decides?
- Privacy Compliance: Managing personal information to avoid breaches
- ADR and Ombudsman Powers: Expanded authority, including naming non-compliant parties
Presented by Elizabeth Gore-Jones, Founding Partner, The Franchise & Business Lawyers; Deputy Chair of the Queensland Law Society Franchising Committee; Lecturer, Bond University in Franchise Law
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Presenters
Elizabeth Gore-Jones, Founding Partner, The Franchise & Business Lawyers
Elizabeth Gore-Jones was admitted in 1994 and commenced specialising in franchising law in 2000. She started the law firm "The Franchise & Business Lawyers" in 2012 specialising in providing commercial, business and franchising advice to franchisors and franchisees alike. She is a member of the Queensland Law Society Franchising Committee and is a past member of the Franchise Council of Australia, the Queensland chapter of the Franchise Council committee and the Women in Franchising committee. Elizabeth lectures at the Bond University PLT course in franchise legal practice. Elizabeth has a particular interest in setting up new franchise systems and assisting franchisees in dispute to reach an agreement without resorting to the court system. Elizabeth advises Franchisors ranging from large Australia wide franchisors through to the smaller franchise systems. As franchising law becomes more complex, Elizabeth is called upon to assist legal practices in representing their clients.
