The Firm has provided legal services to independent manufacturers’ representatives for more than half a century. As part of our diversified practice, SFNR has provided advice to hundreds of sales rep organizations. We have earned the reputation of being the “go-to” law firm for reps facing organizational or exit strategy problems, conflicts with their principals, or a need to discuss any business or legal aspect of their rep business.
We offer the broad perspective of a business oriented law firm combined with an unusual depth of specialized knowledge of the issues facing manufacturers’ representatives. This expertise in all aspects of the manufacturers’ representative business and the laws relating to the protection of manufacturers’ representatives saves our clients time and money. We don’t have to learn what the rep business is all about, and we usually have already done the research relating to most types of rep problem. It is our business to know the law and the precedents. Our background and in-depth knowledge of rep-manufacturer dynamics and relations enables us to focus quickly on the issues and achieve a more expedient, successful and cost efficient result for our clients.
Our services to manufacturers’ representatives include:
Negotiation and review of rep-principal contracts with suggestions on how to make the contracts more beneficial to the representative.
Litigation to enforce sales rep contracts and protect sales reps’ commission claims. We have successfully recovered millions of dollars in disputed commission claims for our clients just over the last few years.
Sales, mergers and acquisitions of rep organizations
Exit strategies, including succession planning and documentation to provide for the next generation.
Advising and representing reps concerning non-competition provisions, including litigation, when necessary
Comprehensive tax planning (state and federal).
Preparing state-of-the-art employee manuals and handbooks
Employee benefit programs, including pension and insurance programs
Advising reps on general corporate and strategic matters
Associations for manufacturers’ representatives
Intimately related to our services to representatives is our relationship with their associations. We provide legal counsel to the associations listed below, and offer our Expert Access program to members of any rep association that is a sponsor of the Manufacturers’ Representatives Educational and Research Foundation (MRERF). Expert Access provides a free 20 minute telephone consultation to answer any legal question related to your business.
The Trade Associations we represent:
Electronics Representatives Association (ERA)
www.era.org
Manufacturers Agents for the Food Service Industry (MAFSI)
www.mafsi.org
International Housewares Representatives Assn. (IHRA)
www.ihra.org
Health Industry Representatives Assn. (HIRA)
www.hira.org
Association of Industry Manufacturers Representatives (AIM/R) -
www.aimr.net
