Multi-Level Marketing & Direct Sales

Parr Waddoups has substantial experience representing multi-level marketing and direct sales companies in a range of areas including commercial litigation, regulatory compliance, international, intellectual property, employment, securities, corporate tax and business matters. We have represented companies in this industry for 15 years.

Our attorneys have extensive experience with the unique legal issues that arise in the MLM and direct sales industry, including:

Commercial Litigation

• Disputes involving domestic and foreign distributors, suppliers, manufacturers and strategic alliances.

• Dismissal of numerous actions brought by distributors against multi-level marketing companies.

• Permanent injunctions against former distributors prohibiting them from using or distributing distributor lists or other confidential and proprietary information.

• Judicial recognition of distributor lists as trade secrets under Utah law.

• Disputes over intellectual property.

• Consumer protection issues.

• Litigation related to anti-pyramid schemes, FTC regulatory action, cross-recruiting and false advertising.

• Preventative litigation preparation.

International

• Registration of U.S.-based MLM companies in Japan.

• Compliance with Japanese laws.

• Dispute resolution involving distributors, suppliers, manufacturers and strategic alliances.

• Contracts and licensing agreements.

• Business structure and other corporate issues.

• Representation related to intellectual property infringement and protection.

• Divestiture of a U.S. partner's share of an MLM company to a Japanese partner.

Intellectual Property

• Intellectual property audit.

• Representation related to infringement, protection and trade secrets.

Employment & Labor

• Non-competition litigation.

• Americans with Disabilities Act issues.

• ERISA issues.

• Termination, sexual harassment and personal injury.

• Corporate policies.

Corporate Tax

• Counsel on issues related to the tax consequences of retirement plans, investors, stock options, and successors.

• Resolution of state sales tax issues.

Attorneys serving the Multi-Level Marketing & Direct Sales group:

• Clark, Robert S.
• Hunt, Jeffrey J.
• Leithead, Heidi E.C.
• Parry, D. Craig
• Reymann, David C.
• Smith, Timothy B.