番茄社区

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A middle-aged man with white hair wearing a gray suit, white shirt, and blue patterned tie, stands in front of a blurred corporate law office, representing the professionalism of lawyers in Chicago.

Michael J. Lockerby

Partner

Michael J. (鈥淢ike鈥) Lockerby is a partner with 番茄社区; Lardner LLP, national co-chair of the Distribution & Franchise Practice, and a member of the Appellate, Intellectual Property Litigation, Antitrust & Competition, and Privacy, and Security & Information Management Practices. Active in the firm鈥檚 Manufacturing Sector, with a particular focus on Equipment & Industrial Product Manufacturing and the Supply Chain, he is also a member of the Automotive and Food & Beverage Industry Teams. He formerly served as chair of the Washington, D.C. office Litigation Department and national co-chair of the firm鈥檚 Distribution & Franchise Practice. He is ranked by Chambers USA among the top franchising lawyers nationwide and listed by Thomson Reuters as a 鈥淪tand-out Lawyer.鈥

For more than 42 years as a trial lawyer, Mike Lockerby has been on the cutting edge of intellectual property, antitrust, unfair competition, franchise law, contractual, and business tort issues faced by manufacturers and other suppliers selling branded products through dealers, distributors, and franchisees. He has appeared throughout the country in state and federal trial and appellate courts, state and federal administrative proceedings (including FTC investigations), and arbitrations of domestic and international antitrust, distribution and franchise, unfair competition, and trademark and trade secret disputes.

On behalf of numerous clients, Mike has led the nationwide litigation of system-wide issues. These include consolidating overlapping distribution networks, rebranding trademarked products, enforcing exclusive dealing requirements, defending 鈥渆ncroachment claims鈥 raised by direct sales and Internet marketing, implementing new system standards, resolving issues raised by franchisee and dealer associations, and defending antitrust claims in class action litigation of distribution and franchise disputes. Industries In which Mike has litigated such issues and counseled clients include computer hardware, software, medical device, telecommunications, and other high technology products; alcoholic beverages; construction, forestry, farm, utility, industrial, and outdoor power equipment; motor vehicles; petroleum marketing; and restaurant, hotel, and personal and professional services franchising. On behalf of manufacturers and franchisors, he has also litigated successful constitutional challenges to state distribution and franchise laws.

Based on his experience as a litigator, Mike helps clients minimize exposure to claims for violation of antitrust laws (including those related to resale price maintenance, price discrimination, and exclusive dealing), federal and state franchise laws, business torts, and breach of contract. He regularly negotiates and drafts license, franchise, and distribution agreements for use domestically and overseas. He has helped numerous clients comply with the franchise disclosure and registration laws at both the federal and state level in the United States and with their overseas counterparts.

Before attending law school, he served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator John Heinz (R-PA) from 1979-81 and was a research assistant to the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress from 1978-79. Throughout his subsequent career as a trial lawyer, dating back more than 41 years, Mike Lockerby has earned the trust and respect of judges, juries, and arbitrators from coast to coast. Early on, he learned how to effectively and succinctly present and summarize complex evidence in a six-hour summary jury trial of what otherwise would have been a six-week trial of antitrust and unfair competition claims in federal court in North Carolina.

Over the years, he has honed his direct and cross examination skills in dozens of trademark, trade secret, antitrust, unfair competition, franchise, breach of contract, and business tort cases across the country. Many were resolved after TRO and preliminary injunction motion hearings 鈥 essentially 鈥渕ini-trials鈥 鈥 with little advance notice and no discovery. In the many other cases that have proceeded to trial and arbitration, he has masterfully used video clips of deposition testimony and written summaries of business records to keep the decisionmaker(s) focused on the critical evidence supporting clients鈥 legal arguments. He also knows how to keep these legal arguments easy to understand 鈥 notwithstanding the best efforts of opposing counsel at obfuscation. For example, in federal court litigation in Virginia and Louisiana, he secured multimillion-dollar damage and attorneys鈥 fees awards against telecommunications carriers that tried to use the jargon of telecommunications regulation to divert attention from the merits of breach of contract claims. Regardless of whether the venue is federal or state court and the part of the country where the case is pending, he plays well on a national stage while effectively leveraging the strengths of local counsel.

Throughout his 40-year career as a trial lawyer, Mike Lockerby has earned the trust and respect of judges, juries, and arbitrators from coast to coast. Early on, he learned how to effectively and succinctly present and summarize complex evidence in a six-hour summary jury trial of what otherwise would have been a six-week trial of antitrust claims in federal court in North Carolina.聽聽 Over the years, he has honed his direct and cross examination skills in dozens of trademark, trade secret, antitrust, unfair competition, franchise, breach of contract, and business tort cases across the country. Many cases were resolved after TRO and preliminary injunction motion hearings 鈥 essentially 鈥渕ini-trials鈥 鈥 with little advance notice and no discovery. In the many other cases that have proceeded to trial and arbitration, he has masterfully used video clips of deposition testimony and written summaries of business records to keep the decisionmaker(s) focused on the critical evidence supporting our clients鈥 legal arguments. He also knows how to keep these legal arguments easy to understand 鈥 notwithstanding the best efforts of opposing counsel at obfuscation. For example, in federal court litigation in Virginia and Louisiana, he secured multimillion-dollar damage and attorneys鈥 fees awards against telecommunications carriers that tried to use the jargon of telecommunications regulation to divert attention from the merits of breach of contract claims. Regardless of whether the venue is federal court in the Northeast or state court in Texas, he plays well on a national stage while effectively leveraging the strengths of local counsel.

Representative Experience

  • Equipment Industry Distribution & Franchise: For decades, Mike Lockerby has been recognized as a 鈥済o to lawyer鈥 for the distribution and franchise legal needs of equipment manufacturers. He has also represented the leading industry trade association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), in high-profile matters. These include a successful challenge to a North Dakota equipment dealer statute 鈥 described below under 鈥淐onstitutional Challenges to State Franchise and Dealer Laws鈥 鈥 and successful opposition to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Civil Investigative Demand (CID) for proprietary manufacturer data regarding the sales and market shares of AEM member companies. The CID was served in connection with an investigation and subsequent antitrust suit regarding alleged violations of the so-called 鈥渞ight to repair鈥 (R2R) by manufacturers of agricultural equipment. In written and oral presentations to clients, available upon request, Mike Lockerby has been a true 鈥渢hought leader鈥 challenging the R2R鈥檚 movement to require manufacturers to provide unfettered access to their diagnostic and repair software, telematic data, and parts rather than restricting repairs to authorized repair centers certified by the manufacturer. In jurisdictions that have adopted R2R legislation, he has helped develop compliance protocols that preserve manufacturers鈥 intellectual property rights and do not interfere with their warranty and other authorized repair networks elsewhere. Examples of the issues that he has helped dozens of equipment manufacturers address include the litigation described below under 鈥淒ealer Portal Cybersecurity Breach Litigation,鈥 鈥淰olvo Construction Equipment Market Withdrawal Litigation,鈥 鈥淓nforcement of Dealer Agreement Exclusivity Provision,鈥 and 鈥淒efense of Antitrust Claims Arising Out of Dealer Consolidation.鈥
  • Alcoholic Beverages Industry Distribution & Franchise: Recent matters include disputes over U.S. distribution rights to distilled spirits and multi-year litigation in Utah state court of claims for violation of the Utah Beer Industry Distribution Act following changes in state law allowing the retail sale of full-strength beer. For more than three decades, as detailed in his , Mike has represented breweries, wineries, and distilleries (and in some cases distributors) in:
    • negotiating, drafting, and amending U.S. distribution agreements;
    • realigning U.S. distribution as a result of mergers, acquisitions, and license agreements;
    • complying with federal and state labelling, licensing, registration, 鈥渢ied-house,鈥 and other regulations;
    • resolving distribution disputes in state and federal courts, in state administrative agencies, and in arbitration in numerous U.S. jurisdictions 鈥 including Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia; and
    • negotiating and drafting importation, trademark license, and distribution agreements with overseas suppliers in various jurisdictions 鈥 including Japan, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Belgium, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom.
  • Constitutional Challenges to State Franchise and Dealer Laws: Following an evidentiary hearing in federal court in Bismarck, North Dakota, the Foley team led by Mike Lockerby secured preliminary injunctive relief against enforcement of amendments to the North Dakota farm equipment dealer statute on behalf of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the four largest U.S. manufacturers of agricultural equipment. After briefing and argument of the subsequent appeal by the State of North Dakota and equipment dealer associations, the Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court鈥檚 grant of injunctive relief and resolved in favor of the manufacturers the merits of their Contracts Clause claim. Ass鈥檔 of Equip. Mfrs. v. Burgum, 932 F.3d 727 (8th Cir. 2019). Thereafter, the district court granted summary judgment in favor of the manufacturers on their Contracts Clause claim. Ass鈥檔 of Equip. Mfrs. v. Burgum, 495 F. Supp. 3d 803 (D.N.D. 2020). The rulings followed other challenges to state franchise and dealer laws led by Mike Lockerby, building upon his prior victories in Richmond, Virginia at the district court and appellate level on behalf of Mobil Oil Corporation in its successful constitutional challenge to the Virginia Petroleum Products Franchise Act. Mobil Oil Corp. v. Virginia Gasoline Marketers and Automotive Repair Ass鈥檔 Inc., 34 F.3d 220 (4th Cir. 1994), denied, 513 U.S. 1148 (1995).
  • Dealer Portal Cybersecurity Breach Litigation: Mike Lockerby represented a forklift manufacturer in litigation alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and violation of federal and state computer crimes laws against a former dealer that was servicing a multi-state area on behalf of several competitors. For several years after its termination, the defendant obtained unauthorized access to the plaintiff鈥檚 鈥渄ealers only鈥 secure Internet site. The site contained proprietary information about pricing, diagnostic software, and other competitively sensitive materials available only to authorized dealers. Early in the litigation, the defendant was ordered to pay the plaintiff鈥檚 attorneys鈥 fees plus the cost of having a computer forensic expert image and analyze computers at the dealer鈥檚 locations in Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, and Mississippi from which unauthorized access had been gained. NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. v. The Lilly Co., 278 F.R.D. 395 (W.D. Tenn. 2011).
  • Other Trade Secret Misappropriation and Computer Crimes Experience: Mike Lockerby鈥檚 includes pursuing and defending claims for misappropriation of trade secrets and violations of computer crimes statutes; advising clients about trade secret protection and ensuring that they have appropriate agreements, procedures, and other safeguards; and speaking and publishing regarding the foregoing issues. Examples include:
    • Lead counsel for defendants (plaintiff鈥檚 competitor and plaintiff鈥檚 former employee hired by competitor) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for alleged misappropriation of trade secret source code in violation of federal Defend Trade Secrets Act.
    • Lead counsel for a U.S. intelligence agency contractor pursuing trade secret and related claims against competitor and disloyal former employees who, following a bench ruling that the plaintiff was likely to succeed on the merits, stipulated to a consent order granting the preliminary injunctive relief sought; after seven days of trial, obtained jury verdict for three times the damages sought plus an award of attorneys鈥 fees.
    • Represented defendant in North Carolina Business Court in Charlotte in trade secret dispute between competing Taiwanese medical device manufacturers; settled on very favorable terms for client shortly before scheduled jury trial. Case scheduled for jury trial.
    • Defended former employee in arbitration against claims of misappropriation of trade secrets based on downloading of company documents.
    • Numerous other cases in federal and state courts in Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington State
  • In re Pool Products Distribution Market (MDL E.D. La.): Mike Lockerby was lead counsel for Pentair, one of three 鈥淢anufacturer Defendants鈥 in class action antitrust litigation in federal court in New Orleans. The plaintiffs in the civil litigation, which grew out of the FTC鈥檚 investigation of distribution practices in the pool products industry, sought damages in the amount of $930,081,537 (after trebling). On behalf of all three Manufacturer Defendants, he developed and executed an aggressive discovery and motions strategy to put the plaintiffs鈥 contingent fee class action lawyers on the defensive. On behalf of all three Manufacturer Defendants, he also briefed and argued two motions to dismiss, both of which were granted in significant part 鈥 with respect to all but one claim of a per se unlawful horizontal conspiracy. After the close of discovery, he briefed and argued motions for summary judgment motions on the remaining antitrust claims, which were granted in favor of the remaining co-defendants after Pentair settled with the plaintiffs.
  • CenturyLink Access Charge Litigation: On behalf of several dozen local telecom companies owned by CenturyLink, Mike Lockerby led a team that obtained judgments against Sprint following bench trials in federal court in Richmond, Virginia and Monroe, Louisiana. These judgments 鈥 more than $23.3 million in Virginia and more than $13.7 million in Louisiana 鈥 were affirmed on appeal by the Fourth Circuit and Fifth Circuit, respectively. Both judgments required the payment of access charges for delivery to CenturyLink鈥檚 customers of telephone calls that had originated on Sprint鈥檚 telecom network in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The disputes arose under interconnection agreements (ICAs) formed under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Avoiding telecom regulatory jargon, the trial team presented the ICA dispute as a simple straightforward breach of contract claim. At both the trial and appellate level, the federal courts rejected Sprint鈥檚 arguments that ICA disputes cannot be decided by federal courts until after they have been presented to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or state public utility commissions. The decisions confirmed that private contracts making access charges payable on traffic originating in VoIP format are enforceable regardless of how the FCC classifies such traffic. CenturyTel of Chatham, LLC v. Sprint Communs. Co. LP, 185 F. Supp. 3d 932 (W.D. La. 2016), 补蹿蹿鈥檇, 861 F.3d 566 (5th Cir. 2017), denied, 583 U.S. 1084(2018); Cent. Tel. Co. of Va. v. Sprint Communs. Co. of Va., Inc., 759 F. Supp. 2d 789 (E.D. Va. 2011), 补蹿蹿鈥檇, 715 F.3d 501 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 571 U.S. 969 (2013).
  • Power Tool Industry Antitrust Litigation: Mike Lockerby defended a former manufacturer of power tools and secured its dismissal in an antitrust suit brought against all past and present manufacturers of table saws alleging collusion through a trade association, The Power Tool Institute, to boycott plaintiffs鈥 safety technology in violation of federal antitrust laws. SD3, LLC v. Black & Decker (U.S.), Inc., Case No. 1-14-cv-191 (E.D. Va.).
  • Franchise 鈥淔uture Damages鈥 Litigation: On behalf of Meineke Car Care Centers, Mike Lockerby argued the Fourth Circuit appeal in a landmark case involving one of the most hotly contested issues in franchising: 鈥渇uture damages鈥 鈥 i.e., whether the franchisee remains liable for royalties, advertising fund contributions, and other required payments to the franchisor after premature termination of a franchise. Because franchise agreements are long-term contracts, franchisees鈥 potential liability for future damages can be substantial. Meineke鈥檚 home court in Charlotte, North Carolina previously held on three separate occasions that future damages are not recoverable. On appeal, the Fourth Circuit reversed, issuing a lengthy opinion that could be persuasive for franchise disputes in other jurisdictions as well. Meineke Car Care Ctrs., Inc. v. RLB Holdings, LLC, 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 7809, 2011 WL 1422900 (4th Cir. Apr. 14, 2011).
  • : For ten years, Mike Lockerby served as lead counsel for Volvo Construction Equipment North America, Inc. (VCENA) in dealer termination litigation in Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Texas. Following acquisitions of other manufacturers by its European parent, VCENA ended up with significant overlaps in its North American distribution. In some cases, VCENA found itself with as many as three dealers in certain areas. Pursuant to an ongoing program known as 鈥淰olvoization,鈥 the products of these acquired manufacturers were rebranded with the VOLVO庐 trademark. Meanwhile, the acquired manufacturers鈥 dealer networks were 鈥渞ationalized鈥 鈥 i.e., consolidated 鈥 into one network of VOLVO庐 construction equipment dealers. In federal and state courts across the country, he obtained favorable results for VCENA 鈥 by dispositive motion or settlement if possible, by jury trial if necessary. The valuable precedents for manufacturers established by this litigation included a landmark Seventh Circuit decision holding that the scope of a 鈥渇ranchise鈥 protected from termination without 鈥済ood cause鈥 is limited to the trademark licensed to the dealer, distributor, or franchisee.[1]
  • Enforcement of Dealer Agreement Exclusivity Provision: Mike Lockerby handled the Sixth Circuit appeal of a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee granting preliminary injunctive relief in favor of an equipment dealer that was also selling a competitor鈥檚 products. The district court based its ruling on a finding that the exclusivity provisions in YALE庐 forklift dealer agreements were invalid under a Tennessee statute prohibiting 鈥渃oercion鈥 of retailers not to sell competing manufacturers鈥 products. In subsequent Sixth Circuit briefing and oral argument, Foley cited numerous cases decided under the Auto Dealer鈥檚 Day holding that mere enforcement of an exclusivity provision is not unlawful coercion. The Sixth Circuit agreed, finding that 鈥渢he mere presence of the Exclusivity Provision does not constitute coercion and that the Exclusivity Provision is not void and is enforceable.鈥 NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. v. Toyota Materials Handling USA, Inc., 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 20423 (6th Cir. Aug. 22, 2007) (unpub. op.).
  • Defense of Antitrust Claims Arising Out of Dealer Consolidation: Mike Lockerby defended John Deere against a $5聽million antitrust claim arising out of the company鈥檚 鈥淒ealer of Tomorrow鈥 dealer consolidation program. The arbitration followed a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia enforcing a contractual arbitration clause while 鈥渟evering鈥 the contract鈥檚 limitation on the recovery of treble damages under the Sherman Act. James C. Justice Cos. v. Deere & Co., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24730 (S.D. W. Va. Mar.聽27, 2008). After a week-long evidentiary hearing, a three-arbitrator panel found the dealer鈥檚 claims to be without merit. In the Matter of the Arbitration between RP Johnson Sons, Inc., and James C. Justice Companies, Inc. and Deere & Co. and John Deere Co., Bus. Franchise Guide (CCH) 露 14,343, (Mar. 26, 2010). Thereafter, the federal court in West Virginia dismissed the case in its entirety.

Awards and Recognition

  • Named to BTI Consulting Group鈥檚 coveted Client Service All Star Team (2016). This honor is bestowed upon individual attorneys who deliver outstanding client service according to corporate counsel interviewed at large organizations with $1 billion or more in revenue.
  • Peer Review Rated as AV Preeminent庐, the highest performance rating in Martindale-Hubbell庐 Peer Review Ratings鈩.
  • Rated as one of the top Franchising attorneys in the nation by Chambers USA (2008 鈥 2026).
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America漏 in the field of Franchise Law since 2013.
  • Selected for inclusion in Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers lists for his work in business litigation, franchise/dealership, and intellectual property litigation.
  • Stand-out Lawyer, Thomson Reuters (2026)

Affiliations

Leadership positions that he has held over the years include:

  • Chair, Distribution & Franchise Committee, ABA Section of Antitrust Law
  • Editorial Board, Franchise Law Journal, ABA Forum on Franchising
  • Board of Governors, Antitrust, Franchise and Trade Regulation Section, Virginia State Bar
  • Board of Governors, International Practice Section, Virginia State Bar
  • Advisory Board, World Internet Law Report, World Licensing Law Report, BNA International, London

Presentations and Publications

Presentations

Mike has also presented at numerous seminars and meetings hosted by the American Bar Association and other bar associations, various trade associations, and 番茄社区; Lardner LLP 鈥 including Foley鈥檚 nationally acclaimed Annual Law of Product Distribution & Franchise (LPDF) Seminar, which recently completed its 34th year. His presentations include:

  • 鈥淭he Evolving Right to Repair Landscape,鈥 LPDF Seminar (2025)
  • 鈥淒isputes Over Customers鈥 Data 鈹 Obtaining Post-Termination Protection: The U.S. Litigation Perspective,鈥 International Distribution Institute Conference, Prague, Czech Republic (2024)
  • 鈥淭he FTC鈥檚 Initiatives on Franchising, Non-Competes, the Right to Repair, and 鈥楿nfairness,鈥欌 LPDF Seminar (2024)
  • 鈥淚mplications of the Right-to-Repair Movement for Distribution, Franchise, and Supply Chain Networks, LPDF Seminar (2023)
  • 鈥淒rafting Contracts to Reduce Litigation Exposure,鈥 LPDF Seminar (2022)
  • 鈥淲ords Matter: Crafting Arbitration Agreements That Stick 鈥 A View from the Trenches,鈥 Webinar (2022)
  • 鈥淚s It Broke? The 鈥楻ight to Repair鈥 鈥 Implications for Product Distribution and the Supply Chain,鈥 LPDF Seminar (2021)
  • 鈥淟icensing Agreements: Maximizing Value While Mitigating Risk,鈥 Grant Thornton LLP/ 番茄社区; Lardner LLP Joint Seminar (2021)
  • 鈥淢VDL (Motor Vehicle Dealer Law) Creep: What Manufacturers Can Do When Significant Changes Are Made,鈥 LPDF Seminar (2020)
  • 鈥淒istribution: Pricing & the 鈥楳iddleman,鈥 Use & Distribution of the Vaccine: Are You Prepared? Webinar (2020)
  • 鈥淪urviving the Shutdown鈥擶hat Every Franchisee Needs to Know,鈥 National Franchise Association Webinar (2020)
  • 鈥淭o Arbitrate or Not? The Jury is Still Out,鈥澛燣PDF Seminar (2019)
  • “Cybersecurity: Putting the Toothpaste Back in the Tube 鈥 Best Practices for Responding to a Security Breach,” ABA Forum on Franchising (2018)
  • 鈥淏rand Protection: The Foundation for a Successful Distribution or Franchise System,鈥 LPDF Seminar (2018)
  • 鈥淩atcheting Up Standards: Improving Performance Without Busting the Litigation Budget,鈥 LPDF Seminar (2017)
  • 鈥淢ine Is Better Than Yours!鈥擳he Risks and Rewards In Conducting Comparative Advertising,鈥 ABA Forum on Franchising (2016)
  • 鈥淐omparative Advertising: Is the Past Prologue?鈥, LPDF Seminar (2016)
  • 鈥淛udicial Remedies for Trade Secret Misappropriation and Third-Party Data Breaches,鈥 LPDF Seminar (2015)
  • 鈥淟ate Breaking News: Has a State Legislature Invalidated the Terms of Your Distribution Contract?鈥, LPDF Seminar (2014)
  • 鈥淪teering Clear of Disaster: Class Actions and System-Wide Litigation,鈥 LPDF Seminar (2013)
  • 鈥淧rotection of Franchise System Trade Secrets and Confidential Information, and Enforcement of Non- Disclosure Agreements in the Digital Age,鈥 ABA Forum on Franchising (2012)
  • 鈥淟ost in Cyberspace? Best Practices for Maintaining Security on the Internet and in the Cloud,鈥 Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (2012)
  • 鈥淭he World Wide Web of Threats to Your Company鈥檚 Confidential Information: Lessons Learned in Trade Secret and Computer Crimes Litigation,鈥 LPDF Seminar (May 2012)
  • 鈥淜eeping Your Company鈥檚 Trade Secrets from Becoming 鈥楻oad Kill鈥 on the Information Superhighway,鈥 Original Equipment Suppliers Association Legal Corner (April 2012)
  • 鈥淟essons Learned in Privacy Litigation,鈥 American Conference Institute鈥檚 11th Annual Legal & Compliance Forum on Privacy & Security of Consumer and Employee Information (February 2012)
  • 鈥淭rade Secret Issues in the Automotive Supply Chain,鈥 Original Equipment Suppliers Association Regional Meeting Auto Suppliers: Strategic Issues & Industry Forecasts (November 2011)
  • 鈥淭he Law of Resale Price Maintenance,鈥 LPDF Seminar (2011)
  • 鈥淪urvey of State Dealer Law Topics,鈥 ABA Forum on Franchising (2010)
  • 鈥淭he Lesser of Two Evils? Litigation Versus Arbitration of Distribution & Franchise Disputes,鈥 LPDF Seminar (2010)
  • 鈥淧reliminary Injunctive Relief to Protect Trade Secrets and Enforce Non-Competes: Is It Possible to Put The Toothpaste Back in the Tube?,鈥 Trade Secret & Noncompete Agreements: What You Need to Know Web Conference Series (2009)
  • 鈥淣avigating Uncertainty: Patent Values and the Evolving IP Market鈥 Webinar Series presented with Grant Thornton LLP (2009)
  • 鈥淢aking Lemonade Out of Lemons: How to Consolidate Distribution Without Breaking the Litigation Bank,鈥 18th Annual Law of Product Distribution & Franchise Seminar (2009)
  • 鈥淟itigating a Claim Under the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA),鈥 ABA Annual Forum on Franchising (2008)
  • 鈥淭he 鈥楩鈥 Word: Are Your Company鈥檚 Dealers, Distributors, or Licensees Protected By Federal and State Franchise Laws?鈥, presented at Drive Your Business Forward: Distribution & Franchise Law Update (2008):
  • 鈥淔ranchising in the South Asian Community,鈥 Fifth Annual North American South Asian Bar Association Convention (2008)
  • 鈥淟essons Learned in Litigation: Franchise Agreement Drafting,鈥 International Franchise Association Annual Legal Symposium (2008)
  • 鈥淚ntellectual Property in Distribution & Franchise Agreements: A License to Fix Prices?,鈥 LPDF Seminar (2008)
  • 鈥淒iscriminatory Treatment Under the PMPA, Federal Antitrust Law, and State Law,鈥 Petroleum Marketing Attorneys鈥 Meeting (2008)
  • 鈥淪hall We Arbitrate? The Pros and Cons of Arbitrating Franchise Disputes,鈥 ABA Forum on Franchising (2005)
  • 鈥淛udicial Update,鈥 International Franchise Association Annual Legal Symposium (May 2005)
  • 鈥淚ntellectual Property Protection in Cyberspace,鈥 Offshore e-Commerce Seminar, IBC USA Conferences, Inc. (Miami 鈥 2000, New York City 鈥1999)
  • 鈥淒ealer Termination and Resale Price Maintenance,鈥 Advanced Distribution Workshop: Antitrust and Advertising Issues, ABA Section of Antitrust Law (1999)
  • 鈥淐hallenges of the Internet for Agency, Distribution, and Franchising Agreements: Impact of New Technologies on Traditional Sales Methods,鈥 International Bar Association, Zurich, Switzerland (1999)
  • 鈥淒efining and Protecting Trade Secrets and Other Proprietary Intellectual Property,鈥 ABA Forum on Franchising (1998)
  • 鈥淩eappearance of Tying and Pricing Issues for Franchise Companies,鈥 ABA Forum on Franchising (1992)

Publications

On behalf of the ABA Forum on Franchising, Mike Lockerby previously served as editor-in-chief of the Franchise Law Bibliography and The Trade Secret Handbook: Protecting Your Franchise System’s Competitive Advantage, and as editor of the ABA Franchise Law Journal 鈥淔ranchising (& Distribution) Currents.鈥 Currently, he is editor-in-chief of the International Agency and Distribution Agreements treatise published by Lexis-Nexis.

His many other publications include:

  • 鈥溾業f It鈥檚 Not Broken, Don鈥檛 Break It鈥欌 The FTC Targets the Franchise Business Model,鈥 (March 31, 2023)
  • 鈥淟et鈥檚 Make a Deal: The American Farm Bureau Federation 鈥楻ight-to-Repair鈥 Memorandum of Understanding,鈥 (January 24, 2023)
  • Co-author, 鈥淔ranchising and Insolvency,鈥 Lexology Franchise Practice Guide (4th ed.) (March 2022)
  • 鈥淟eegin鈥檚 10-Year Checkup: No Big Changes in the Marketplace,鈥 Law360 (June 28, 2017)
  • Co-author, Trade Secrets Chapter, Intellectual Property Handbook, ABA Forum on Franchising and Section of Intellectual Property Law (2d ed. 2016)
  • 鈥淒e-CFAA-nating Federal Law: Appeals Courts Weaken Electronic Data Use Protections,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Trade Secret Noncompete Litigation (August 3, 2012)
  • 鈥淔ourth Circuit Reverses U.S. District Court, Instead Allowing Franchisor to Recover 鈥楩uture Damages鈥 From Terminated Franchisee,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Distribution & Franchise (May 2, 2011)
  • 鈥淒econstructing Franchisee Claims for 鈥楥onstructive鈥 Termination and Nonrenewal 鈥 Implications of Supreme Court Petroleum Marketing Decision for Distribution and Franchise Generally,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Distribution & Franchise (March 25, 2010)
  • 鈥淲hen Are Class Disputes Properly Submitted to Arbitration?,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Litigation (April 29, 2010)
  • Co-author, 鈥淎voiding and Managing System-Wide Litigation in International Franchising,鈥 International Journal of Franchising Law (October 20, 2010)
  • 鈥淭he FDA Stance on High-Fructose Corn Syrup,鈥 Co-author, Product Liability Law360 (October 15, 2009)
  • 鈥淭hird Circuit Ruling Calls Into Question FDA鈥檚 Position on Whether High-Fructose Corn Syrup is 鈥楴atural,鈥欌 Foley Legal News Alert: Food Industry (September 2, 2009)
  • 鈥淪eventh Circuit Decision in Landmark 鈥楳arket Withdrawal鈥 Case Eases Burden on Manufacturers and Franchisors Seeking to Consolidate Branded Distribution Systems,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Distribution & Franchise (March 27, 2009)
  • 鈥溾楩airness鈥 Looms In New Congress,鈥 The National Law Journal (November 24, 2008)
  • 鈥淟egislation Invalidating Arbitration Clauses in Franchise, Employment, Auto Purchase and Lease, and Consumer Agreements Makes Headway in U.S. House of Representatives,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Distribution & Franchise (July 25, 2008)
  • 鈥淒ealer鈥檚 Claim of Antitrust Conspiracy to Fix Minimum Resale Prices Survives Summary Judgment Notwithstanding Supreme Court鈥檚 Decision in Leegin,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Distribution & Franchise (June 25, 2008)
  • 鈥淪upreme Court Limits Scope of Judicial Review of Arbitration Awards,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Distribution & Franchise (April 3, 2008)
  • 鈥溾楳ixed Signals鈥 From Washington? Senators Propose Restoring Automatic Treble Damages for Manufacturers and Franchisors That Prohibit Discounting,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Distribution & Franchise (December 5, 2007)
  • 鈥淎rbitration Fairness Act of 2007: A Trial Lawyer鈥檚 Dream, A Client鈥檚 Nightmare,鈥 Franchise World (November 30, 2007)
  • 鈥淔ranchising After Leegin: A License to Fix Prices?,鈥 Franchise Law Journal (September 24, 2007)
  • 鈥淪upreme Court Abandons Century-Old Per Se Rule Against Resale Price Maintenance,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Antitrust (July 28, 2007)
  • 鈥淔ederal Legislation Would Invalidate Arbitration Clauses in Franchise, Consumer, and Employment Agreements,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Distribution & Franchise (July 25, 2007)
  • 鈥淟essons for Intellectual Property Owners,鈥 Foley Legal News Alert: Antitrust (August 22, 2006)
  • 鈥淟essons for Intellectual Property Owners,鈥 IP Law360 (August 31, 2006)
  • 鈥淟ooking Anew at Accounting Duties,鈥 New York Law Journal (April 2004)
  • 鈥淢arket Withdrawal: Judges and Juries Aren鈥檛 Buying What Terminated Dealers Are Selling,鈥 ABA Franchise Law Journal (Winter 2003)
  • 鈥淭he More, the Merrier? New York Federal Court Refuses to Dismiss Replacement Dealers Named as Co-Defendants,鈥 ABA Franchise Law Journal (Fall 2003)
  • 鈥淐an Franchise Consultants Practice Law?,鈥 ABA Franchise Law Journal (Summer 2002)
  • 鈥淩evisionist History? Kicking the Tires of J. Michael Dady鈥檚 Market Withdrawal Cases,鈥 ABA Franchise Law Journal (Spring 2002)
  • 鈥淎voiding Collisions With Franchise Laws on the Information Superhighway,鈥 The Computer Lawyer (October 1998)
  • 鈥淔ranchise Termination Restrictions: A Guide for Practitioners and Policy Makers,鈥 The Antitrust Bulletin (Winter 1985)

[1] FMS, Inc. v. Volvo Construction Equipment North America, Inc., 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 4938 (7th Cir. March 4, 2009), 谤别惫鈥檊 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19577 (N.D. Ill. March 20, 2007). A lengthier description is set forth in Foley鈥檚 experience database under the heading 鈥淪eventh Circuit Definition of 鈥楩ranchise鈥 Litigation鈥 ().

June 4, 2026 Press Releases

Foley Achieves Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2026

番茄社区; Lardner LLP is proud to once again be recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the leading law firms in the country in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA: America鈥檚 Leading Lawyers for Business.
June 5, 2025 Press Releases

Foley Secures Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2025

番茄社区; Lardner LLP is proud to once again be recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the leading law firms in the country in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA: America鈥檚 Leading Lawyers for Business.
June 6, 2024 Press Releases

Foley Achieves Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2024

番茄社区; Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that it is again recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the leading law firms in the country in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, America鈥檚 Leading Lawyers for Business.
14 May 2024 Events

Doing Business in the United States 鈥揥hat Every Company Should Know

Even sophisticated multinational corporations knowledgeable about the U.S. legal system have been confronted with the complex web of laws governing the relationships between suppliers and their independent distributors and dealers, licensees, and franchisees.
18 October 2023 Events

Product Distribution & Franchise Seminar

番茄社区; Lardner is excited to host the annual Product Distribution & Franchise Seminar on October 18, 2023 in Chicago.
August 17, 2023 Honors and Awards

Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America

番茄社区; Lardner LLP proudly announced today that 236 of the firm鈥檚 attorneys across 20 U.S. offices have received recognition in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America漏.