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American Bar Association

ABA Career Counsel
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Attorney By Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession

Who?

Susan Grueneberg
Partner
sgrueneberg@agsk.com

What?

Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Franchise Law.

When?

Years in the Legal Profession:
Since 1982.

In the Legal Profession:
Since 1982.

Where?

Employer:
Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan LLP
www.agsk.com


Size/Sector:
100 attorneys

City/State:
Santa Monica, CA
Law School:
UCLA

Other Post-Graduate Education:
University of Beijing, Chinese University of Hong Kong


Undergraduate School/Degree:
UCLA

Why?

Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Because of the regulated aspects of franchising, a franchise lawyers need to understand their clients' franchised business. As a result, client relationships tend to be rewarding because of the amount of time spent each year preparing disclosure documents.

Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
A franchise lawyer must have a working knowledge of a variety of laws in addition to franchise law, e.g., anti-trust law, trademark law and certain aspects of tax law. It is also essential to remember that, despite periodic disputes, franchisers and franchisees have to continue to live together most of the time.

Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area:
The most important tools to develop are common sense and a good sense of humor.

How?

Career Path to Current Position:
After law school, Ms. Grueneberg was a National Academy of Sciences fellow at the University of Beijing. Before joining a predecessor firm of Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan, she spent three years as an associate at Bushkin Gaims Gaines & Jonas.

Influences and Mentors:
Ralph Jonas

Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
Fundamentals of Franchising, published by the ABA Forum on Franchising and the magazine Franchise Times.

Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
Networking with colleagues in other firms.


Bar Affiliations and Activities:

Chair, ABA Forum on Franchising (2001-2003)
Chair, California State Bar Franchise Law Committee (1988-1989)

Recent Professional Publications:

Author, Internet Offer Exemptions: California Joins the Fold, Franchising World, January/
February 2001
Co-Author, Complying with U.S. Franchise Laws in the Wake of an Amended FTC Rule,
program materials for the American Bar Association 2000 Annual Forum on Franchising.
October 18-20, 2000.

Recent Professional Presentations:

Moderator, 25 Years of Franchising: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?, ABA
2002 Annual Forum on Franchising, October 9-11, 2002.
Speaker, Understanding Franchising Business & Legal Issues, Practicing Law Institute,
June 11-12, 2001.

Memorable Career Moment:

Becoming Chair of the ABA Forum on Franchising.

Intriguing Interests:

China and Basketball.