Cynthia Flanagan participated in a panel discussion at the 2018 CLM & Business Insurance Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference, entitled “Threading the Needle:  Best Practices for Protecting the Franchiser’s Brand While Mitigating Risk from EPL Claims.”  The session addressed the delicate balancing act that franchisers must engage in to assert some control over the franchiser/franchisee relationship in order to protect the brand, while considering the risks of liability for employment-related claims. Panelists discussed the current law on joint employer liability and review recent case law involving franchiser liability for discrimination, harassment and wage and hour claims.