Obituaries
Pioneering Franchise Lawyer Lewis Rudnick Dies
Posted Jan 28, 2009, 07:55 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
Franchising pioneer Lewis Rudnick has died at the age of 73.
Rudnick, a name partner at the law firm once known as Rudnick & Wolfe, helped shape franchise law and helped train many of today’s leading franchise lawyers, according to the blogs Trade Regulation Talk and Blue MauMau.
Rudnick’s firm became part of what is now known as DLA Piper, which has the world’s largest franchise practice.
Rudnick was a former chairman of the ABA Forum on Franchising. Forum chairman Jack Dunham called Rudnick “one of the few, genuine giants of franchise law” in a notice on the ABA website.
Rudnick also was general counsel to the International Franchise Association and the International Franchise Association Educational Foundation.