Who We Are
Richard L. Rosen (Click for Credentials)
Richard L. Rosen is the founding member of The Richard L. Rosen law Firm, PLLC, whose offices are located at 110 East 59th Street, New York, New York 10022. Mr. Rosen has been actively engaged in the practice of franchise law in New York City for over 35 years during which time he has represented many franchisors and franchisees both as counsel and as a business advisor. Mr. Rosen has counseled and represented franchisors in the setting up of franchising systems and programs, has formed franchising entities, drafted and negotiated franchise agreements, registration statements, disclosure documents and other ancillary franchise documents; he has represented franchisees and franchisee associations, and has litigated (in both state and federal courts), arbitrated and mediated matters on behalf of both franchisors and franchisees.
Mr. Rosen is the immediate past Chairman of the Fair Franchising Standards Committee, having served in that position for nine years, and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD). He is also a past Chairman of the Legal Steering Committee and the Chairman of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the AAFD. In 2008 he received the AAFD’s Total Quality Franchising Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the field of franchising. He has been a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum Committee on Franchising and its Anti-Trust Section since 1968, is a Panel Member of the Committees on Franchising and Corporate Law sponsored by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, a founding member of the Franchise, Distribution and Licensing Law Section of the New York State Bar Association (and the Chairman of its Franchisee Relations and its Mission Statement Committees), a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA). Mr. Rosen is a member of the Steering Committee of the National Franchise Mediation Program, a member of the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution’s Distinguished Panel of Neutrals in conjunction with the National Franchise Mediation Program and has served as an arbitrator and mediator of franchise cases. Richard is listed in Who’s Who in America (Click for Profile), Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in the World, the Best Lawyers in America, 100 Best Franchise Lawyers in America (the Franchise Times), Best Lawyers in the U.S. and America’s Super Lawyers. He has frequently lectured on a variety of franchise topics before various groups and organizations, including the American Bar Association, the International Franchise Association, the New York State Bar Association, and The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, The Nassau County Bar Association and the AAFD and has been interviewed on both television and radio, the American Bar Association Journal, the Franchise Times and Forbes Magazine, regarding franchising. Mr. Rosen is a contributor to “Franchising 101, The Complete Guide to Evaluating, Buying and Growing Your Franchise Business” compiled by the Association of Small Business Development Centers and has written various articles on the legal and business aspects of franchising.
Richard L. Rosen and his firm are engaged in a general, commercial practice which includes active involvement in the fields of franchising, corporate, real estate and trust and estates law. The firm also maintains an active state and federal court litigation practice. He is married to Doris and the father of three children, Max, and twins Mollie and Hannah, whom he has coached in soccer, basketball, baseball, football and track. Richard served many years on the Board of Directors for the Jericho Athletic Association which provides athletic programs for school children residing in the Jericho Community. He still coaches a “kids” track team, the Jericho Jets, and competes in Masters Track as a sprinter.
Leonard S. Salis (Click for Credentials)
Leonard Salis is a Brooklyn Law School graduate with over 12 years of legal experience. Working closely with Richard Rosen since August 2002, Leonard has acquired an expansive knowledge of franchise law and franchise related matters. He became a Partner at the firm in April of 2010. Over the last 12 years, Leonard has also gained significant experience in the practice areas of corporate law, real estate, trusts and estates and commercial litigation. Leonard is admitted to practice law before the courts of the State of New York, the Southern and Eastern Federal Districts of New York as well as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the American Bar Association's Forum on Franchising, as well as the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and New York County Lawyers' Association.
Leonard and his wife, Andrea, have two sons: Mason, 2 1/2 and Jacob 4 months old.
John Karol (Click for Credentials)
Prior to joining The Richard Rosen Law Firm, PLLC as an Associate, Mr. Karol worked at the firms of Liddle & Robinson, L.L.P. (2002-2006); Thompson Wigdor & Gilly LLP (2006-2007), and Michael Faillace & Assoc., P.C. (2007-2010).
Mr. Karol initially represented individuals in the financial services industry in a wide variety of securities, regulatory, contract and employment matters in federal and state court, as well as in arbitrations before the NYSE and NASD (now FINRA). He has negotiated numerous complex separation agreements and compensation agreements for both employees and management, and has served as "class counsel" in several federal employment-related litigations. He has also advised small and large business entities, including "Fortune 500" companies, on various employment matters, such as drafting employment manuals and policy manuals. Mr. Karol expanded his practice in 2006 to include general litigation, and obtained substantial experience litigating many federal class actions and "collective actions" under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) on behalf of classes of wage and hour plaintiff classes. In addition to his experience in state and federal court, Mr. Karol has also practiced in numerous Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) forums, including the AAA and JAMS.
In 2010, Mr. Karol brought his practice to The Richard Rosen Law Firm, PLLC, where he continues litigating a wide variety of commercial matters and disputes in addition to maintaining his prior employment litigation practice.
Mr. Karol is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the United States District Court for New Jersey.
Lauren A. LaGrua, Associate
Lauren LaGrua initially concentrated her practice in corporate and commercial matters, representing business entities and individuals in mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate transactions and mortgage and asset-based financing. Lauren's practice expanded to include general litigation, where she gained substantial experience representing insurance companies in declaratory judgment actions and personal injury plaintiffs in state and federal court. With The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm Lauren will continue to focus on corporate and commercial matters and litigation and will expand her areas of expertise to include the field of franchise law.
Prior to joining The Richard Rosen Law Firm, PLLC as an Associate, Ms. LaGrua worked at the firms of Ryan Smith & Carbine, Ltd. (2005-2007), Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo, Cohn & Terrana, LLP (2007-2009), and Gold, Stewart & Benes, LLP (2010).
She is admitted to practice in New York, Vermont, the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York, and the United States District Court for the District of Vermont.
Carol A. Lewis, Administrative Director
Carol A. Lewis brings a rich background in office administration and financial management to The Richard L. Rosen Law Firm.
Carol founded and operated (for 24 years) J.P. Office Services, Inc. in Boston, MA. After selling her company in 2003, Carol moved to Guangdong Province in southern China where she resided for four years. While in China she first managed an international language school and then taught English at a Chinese university. During her stay, Carol learned to speak Mandarin Chinese (no small accomplishment).
Carol returned to the USA in late 2007 and moved to New York City where she enjoys living in a large multi-cultural environment as well as being near her son, who also lives and works here.
Carol graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a B.A. in English. In New York City she belongs to two book groups, several investment groups and a walking club. She loves current affairs, business, and conversation and enjoys meeting new people.
Paula S. Reich, Paralegal
Paula Reich is a paralegal and law office administrator with extensive experience in both the Federal and State court systems and private practice. She holds a BA and an MA (Lehman College/CUNY) in European history with a specialty in 16th century England. In addition to her legal experience, Paula has taught adult literacy classes and is a licensed New York State Drivers' Education Instructor.
Paula is an accomplished singer who has studied classical voice for many years; she also plays guitar and some piano. Paula lives in upstate New York with a Persian cat and 170 antique teapots.