Gray, Michael R.: - Michael R. Gray is a partner with Lathrop GPM in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He brings 37 years of experience representing franchisors, companies, and individuals in trial, arbitration, and other civil proceedings throughout the United States. He is lead litigation counsel for several national franchise companies and has litigated franchise and intellectual property disputes in more than 38 states. Mike served on the ABA Forum on Franchising Governing Committee for 6 years, was Finance Officer for three years and Program Co-Chair for the 2018 Forum Annual Meeting in Nashville. Mike has written many articles and presented materials on franchise and intellectual property topics for The International Franchise Association, The American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, The Franchise Law Journal, The Practising Law Institute, and the Business Law Institute. Mike is a contributing author to the Franchise Desk Book (W. Michael Garner, editor), co-edited the third and fourth editions of Covenants Against Competition in Franchise Agreements, and co-authored Covenants Not to Compete and Nonsignatories: Enjoining Unfair Conspiracies, 25-WTR FRANCHISE L.J. 107, Winter 2006. Mike has been recognized by Chambers for his expertise in franchise law, named as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" by Woodward/White, a "Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Law & Politics, and a "Legal Eagle" by Franchise Times and is listed in The International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers. Mike is admitted to practice in Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as numerous federal district and appellate courts throughout the United States. He currently lives in Minneapolis, MN.
McKnew, Natalma M.: - Natalma M. ("Tami") McKnew is a partner at Fox Rothschild, LLP, in Greenville, South Carolina. She has been in private practice since 1978 with Fox or its predecessors, Smith Moore Leatherwood or Leatherwood Walker Todd & Mann, P.C., where she served as the firm's Managing Director for six years. She concentrates her practice in the areas of franchising, intellectual property, and antitrust, primarily in litigation. She is a member of the South Carolina Bar and is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in South Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.Tami has spoken at the Forum's Annual Meeting many times, served on the Governing Committee and was the Forum's Diversity Officer, and has authored numerous articles and edited or contributed to various ABA Forum on Franchising publications. Tami received a Master's degree from the University of California Los Angeles and her law degree from the Northeastern University School of Law.
Sentell, William W.: -
William W. Sentell is a partner with Akerman LLP in Houston. He focuses his practice on franchise dispute resolution and related corporate, regulatory, and compliance matters.
With more than 14 years of complex commercial litigation experience, including first- and second-chair trial and arbitration experience, William provides support and clear risk assessment in all phases of litigation. Avoiding risk in the area of franchise sales and managing relationships throughout the franchise lifecycle are practice focuses for William.
William speaks regularly about issues affecting the franchise community, including before the American Bar Association, International Franchise Association, and the Louisiana State Bar Association and at Tulane University and the University of New Orleans. His written work has appeared in the Franchise Law Journal, The Franchise Lawyer, Franchising World, Modern Restaurant Management, Franchising.com, and Law Week Colorado, among other publications. William has also contributed to the ABA's best-selling Franchise Deskbook (3rd ed.), and he is a member of the ABA Franchise Forum's Publications Committee.
