Urso | Liguori | Micklich | Attorneys At Law

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Urso | Liguori | Micklich | Attorneys At Law

Our foundation is deep, so it is not restrictive.
It has allowed us to expand our practice to benefit our clients’ strategic, technological, and business needs.

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Firm News

  • March, 2024, Ms. Micklich is quoted in the Franchise Times article, “Franchisor Oversight Can Challenge Unit-level Ownership Transfers.” Read the article here: https://www.franchisetimes.com/franchise_legal/franchisor-oversight-can-challenge-unit-level-ownership-transfers/article_924ea876-e6d8-11ee-aa30-3b2a60bb457b.html
  • March, 2024, Ms. Micklich is proud to once again be featured in Franchise Times’ Legal Eagles listing of the top franchise lawyers. For more on Legal Eagles, https://www.franchisetimes.com/franchise_legal/franchise-times-names-2024-legal-eagles/article_24f0ae5e-e6d9-11ee-8561-17733228ffd9.html
  • March, 2024, Mr. Agostini presented on a panel of the Franchise, Distribution & Dealer Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association regarding Arbitration Waiver in the Wake of Morgan v. Sundance.
  • February, 2024, Ms. Micklich and Mr. Agostini successfully resolved a dispute concerning the enforceability of a services contract on behalf of a Rhode Island homeowner.
  • February, 2024, Ms. Micklich and Mr. Agostini represented a multi-unit QSR franchisee in connection with the mutual termination of a franchise agreement, sale of assets, and assignment of lease agreement.
  • January, 2024, Mr. Agostini represented a multi-unit QSR franchisee in connection with the sale of a sandwich shop business.
  • December, 2023, Ms. Micklich served as local counsel to a home inspection services franchisor wrongly sued by the customer of a franchisee and secured a dismissal of the claims against our client.
  • November, 2023, Ms. Micklich represented a QSR developer in the negotiation of the sale agreement and closing on the sale of multiple development agreements with territories in the northeast U.S.
  • November, 2023, Ms. Micklich represented a licensee in the negotiation of a Master Licensing Agreement granting the licensee rights to open a new location of one of the world’s leading merchants of coffee and related merchandise.
  • November, 2023, Ms. Micklich was proud to co-chair the Annual Meeting of the ABA Forum on Franchising in Dallas, Texas.
  • October, 2023, The Firm welcomes associate Sam Agostini, who is admitted in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Mr. Agostini’s experience includes assisting in a land use matter and interning for the Hon. Lincoln D. Almond, D. R.I.
  • October, 2023, Ms. Micklich is once again proud of the work of the ABA Forum on Franchising Women’s Caucus and is looking forward to the Women’s Caucus Breakfast on November 2 during the 46th Annual Forum on Franchising: The Glass Cliff.
  • October, 2023, The Firm is pleased to welcome Quinn Urbonas, a Westerly, RI, native, who has joined the Firm as an Administrative Assistant.
  • October, 2023, Ms. Micklich successfully resolved a matter in which a QSR franchisor alleged that a developer was in default of the parties’ agreement.

Thomas J. Liguori

  • September 28, 2023 – U | L | M was proud to join with our friends and colleagues in honoring Tom Liguori for his community leadership as he received the Ocean Community YMCA Leadership Award for Youth Development.
  • September, 2023, Ms. Micklich represented a development agent whom the franchisor alleged was in default of their obligations under the parties’ agreement and resolved the matter favorably and avoided litigation.
  • August, 2023, Nicole Liguori Micklich was included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Franchise Law.
  • July, 2023, Registration for the 46th Annual Forum on Franchising is open. Nicole Liguori Micklich is proud to co-chair this year’s annual meeting, which will be held in Dallas, Texas, November 1-3, 2023.
  • June, 2023, Nicole Liguori Micklich enjoyed IDI Conference 2023, Bologna, Italy, where she spoke on a panel with Silvia Bortolotti, Jean-Philippe Arroyo, and Allan Dick about Encroachment, Breach of Exclusivity and Reservation of Rights in Franchise Agreements.
  • June, 2023, The Firm settled a contract interpretation arbitration on behalf of a development agent in a case in which the parties disputed the term of the contract.
  • May, 2023 Nicole Liguori Micklich was once again proud to be selected to the Super Lawyer List and named a top rated franchise and dealership attorney. To learn more about how she was selected, visit Selection process – Super Lawyers.
  • May, 2023, The Firm successfully mediated and settled a case on behalf of multi-unit franchisees whose claims included that the franchisor unlawfully discriminated on the basis of ethnic origin in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981, breached the franchise agreements and the covenant of good and faith and fair dealing, and committed other tortious acts that damaged the franchisees.
  • May, 2023, The Firm successfully settled multi-party litigation on behalf of a former multi-unit franchisee whose claims included breaches of contracts and the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud, and violations of various state statutes.
  • March, 2023, The Firm represented a general contractor in a dispute with a commercial property owner in which the parties had claims against one another involving extra work and resolved the matter favorably and without litigation.
  • March, 2023, Nicole Liguori Micklich is honored to have received and pleased to have accepted an invitation to become a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Nomination to the Fellows by her peers and her election by the Board of the American Bar Foundation is a great honor. Ms. Micklich is proud that as a Fellow she supports an organization committed to advancing justice.
  • October, 2022, The Firm is pleased to welcome Gail Friswell and Kaitlyn Allard who have joined the Firm as paralegals.
  • October, 2022, Ms. Micklich is featured in Meet the Members of IR Global where she writes about “Franchise agreement changes and the impact on the franchisee.”
  • October, 2022, Ms. Micklich will speak at the 45th Annual Forum on Franchising. Ms. Micklich is pleased to be part of a distinguished group of attorneys presenting Fundamentals of Franchising.
  • October, 2022, Ms. Micklich is proud of the work of the ABA Forum on Franchising Women’s Caucus and is looking forward to the Women’s Caucus Luncheon on November 4 during the 45th Annual Forum on Franchising: Navigating Women’s Health in the Workplace – How to Discuss It, Support It, and Normalize It.
  • September, 2022, The Firm successfully settled a case related to a franchisee closing its restaurant prior to the expiration of the franchise agreement and lease.
  • August, 2022, The Firm successfully settled a case of wrongful termination on behalf of a development agent whose claims included allegations of breach of contract, breach of the duty of good faith, fraud, negligent misrepresentation and violation of statute.
  • May, 2022, Ms. Micklich is proud of the work of the ABA Forum on Franchising Women’s Caucus and the planned programming for 2022, including the May 25, 2022 virtual program on Women’s Health in the Workplace.
  • May, 2022, Ms. Micklich is honored to again receive the distinction of Rhode Island Super Lawyer.  Only 5% of attorneys in Rhode Island receive the honor, which is “reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice.”  To learn more about how she was selected, visit SuperLawyers.com / SelectionProcess.
  • May, 2022, Ms. Micklich traveled to Washington, DC for the IR Global On the Road Conference. She enjoyed catching up with friends, making new connections, and learning from others through interesting and informative roundtable discussions.
  • April, 2022, The Firm is proud to have represented the buyer of buildings in Mystic, Connecticut, which house independent bookstore Bank Square Books.
  • March, 2022, U|L|M is proud to continue its decades of support of the Westerly-Pawcatuck Branch of the Ocean Community YMCA. Micklich is a co-chair of the 2022 Ocean Community YMCA Annual Support Campaign.
    • Update: May, 2022, The successful Campaign exceeded its goals, which will allow the Y to provide memberships and camperships through its YCares Scholarship Fund.
  • March, 2022, Ms. Micklich has again been featured in Franchise Times’ Legal Eagles listing of the top franchise lawyers and was quoted in Franchise Times.  According to Franchise Times, Legal Eagles “live and breathe franchising and truly understand the nuances of the unique business model.” For more on Legal Eagles, https://www.franchisetimes.com/franchise_legal/franchise-times-names-2022-legal-eagles/article_fbecca66-aa20-11ec-9749-63783c580e9c.html.
  • January, 2022, U|L|M is thrilled to announce the launch of our new website featuring a cover photo of Castle Hill Lighthouse, in Newport, Rhode Island.
  • November, 2021, The Firm is pleased to support Mr. Liguori and members of Westerly High School’s Class of 1970 who created the Westerly High Music Hall of Fame and inducted its inaugural class during a ceremony at the United in Westerly on Sunday, November 7, 2021.
  • October, 2021, The Firm is proud to announce the publication of Annual Developments in Franchise and Distribution Law, 2021, co-authored by Ms. Micklich and Mark VanderBroek, Esq. and published by the American Bar Association. Ms. Micklich and Mr. VanderBroek will present the signature event, Annual Developments, at the Annual Forum on Franchising to be held this year in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • June, 2021, Mr. Liguori presented a virtual program for National Business Institute, Introduction to Land Use and Zoning, A Guide to Rhode Island Land Use and Zoning Laws, which is available on demand by visiting https://www.nbi-sems.com/89774.
  • June, 2021, The Firm successfully settled an arbitration between a development agent and franchisor in which the development agent alleged fraud, misrepresentations, deceptive trade practices, and breaches of contract.
  • June, 2021, The Firm is advising a growing franchisor regarding its agreements and relationships with Area Developers.
  • June, 2021, Ms. Micklich is pleased to be named a member of IR Global and its exclusive Franchise & Distribution Law member in Rhode Island.
  • May, 2021, Ms. Micklich was once again proud to be selected to the Super Lawyer List and named a top rated franchise and dealership attorney. To learn more about how she was selected, visit SuperLawyers.com / SelectionProcess.
  • April, 2021, The Firm represented multi-unit franchisees in a successful mediation with the franchisor in a case in which the parties alleged wrongdoing and numerous defaults against one another.
  • March, 2021, Ms. Micklich has again been featured in Franchise Times’ Legal Eagles listing of the top franchise lawyers.  According to Franchise Times, Legal Eagles are “star legal professionals” nominated by peers who “understand what is at stake for both the brand and the franchisee.” For more on Legal Eagles, click here.
  • January, 2021, The Town of Westerly Town Council voted to reappoint Ms. Urso as Probate Judge of the Westerly Probate Court.  The Westerly Probate Court has jurisdiction over the probate of wills, administrations, custodianships, guardianships, adult adoptions, change of name, and other matters pursuant to Title 33 of Rhode Island General Laws.
  • December, 2020, Ms. Micklich completed forty hours of mediation training in accordance with M.G.L. ch.233 § 23C with MWI in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • October, 2020, Ms. Micklich will speak at the 43rd Annual Forum on Franchising. Ms. Micklich is pleased to be part of a distinguished group of attorneys presenting Intensive Program No. 1, A Sharper Focus on the Shifting Realities for Franchisees in the 2020s.
  • October, 2020, The Firm is a proud sponsor of the IFA Marketing, Operations & Development Virtual Conference, where Ms. Micklich is a panelist presenting Re-Examining FPRs During and After the Pandemic.
  • September, 2020, The Firm successfully settled a case on behalf of a development agent whose claims included allegations of breach of contract, fraud, various torts, and violations of state and federal laws. Ms. Micklich and Ms. Urso prepared various pleadings in the case.
  • August, 2020, Ms. Micklich advised a multi-unit quick-service restaurant franchisee on its successful exit from its franchise system, including the termination of franchise and multi-unit development agreements and resolution of leasing and other issues.
  • Tom Liguori secured permitting for additional elements to Weekapaug Inn to allow the Inn to operate beyond its traditional summer season.
  • June, 2020, Ms. Micklich enjoyed recording a webinar for the American Arbitration Association. As part of a distinguished panel, Ms. Micklich recorded Practical Tips in Franchise Arbitration: With Speed, Fairness and Cost in Mind, the program is available here.
  • May, 2020, Ms. Micklich was selected to the 2020 Rhode Island Super Lawyer List. To learn more about how she was selected, visit SuperLawyers.com / SelectionProcess.
  • March 30, 2020, Ms. Micklich was once again named a Legal Eagle by Franchise Times Magazine.  Ms. Micklich is especially proud of this honor because the selection process involves nominations by peers and clients. For more information, visit https://www.franchisetimes.com/Resources/Legal-Eagles/.
  • March 23, 2020, In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Micklich was tapped to participate in an ABA Forum on Franchising Webinar: Franchising Going Viral – Managing Coronavirus-driven Disruption in Contracts, Supply Chains, and More.
  • February, 2020, Ms. Micklich settled claims on behalf of a long-time franchisee, without litigation.  The franchisee’s claims included breach of contract and violations of the FTC Franchise Rule.
  • January, 2020, Ms. Micklich was proud to be a part of the Professional Women in Construction panel: AEC Industry Women: A 20/20 Vision for the Future.
  • October 2019, Ms. Urso and Ms. Micklich attended the 2019 Annual Forum on Franchising in Denver, Colorado. During the Forum, Ms. Micklich was elected to the Governing Committee of the Forum on Franchising and was a panelist for the Workshop: Structuring the New Franchisee Evaluation and Approval Process.
  • October, 2019, The Firm successfully settled claims by a real property purchaser relating to condition of the property, purchase and sale agreement, and title.
  • Fall, 2019, The Firm is a proud supporter of the Westerly Education Endowment Fund. For more information, visit https://www.weefri.org/.
  • Spring, 2019, Ms. Micklich co-authored an article published in the Franchise Law Journal, Professional Franchises: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same.