Clark Hill Strasburger Member Earsa Jackson Receives 2019 Ronald E. Harrison Diversity Award from International Franchise Association

Clark Hill Strasburger’s Dallas Member Earsa Jackson was presented the 2019 “Ronald E. Harrison Diversity Award” by the International Franchise Association (IFA). The award recognizes businesses and individuals who have made significant contributions to diversity in franchising either within their own franchise organization or within the franchise community. Jackson received the honor at IFA’s 59th Annual Convention on February 26, 2019, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

“As a board member and current chair of IFA Foundation’s Diversity Institute, Earsa has helped our organization ensure that franchising remains an inclusive and diverse community through education, opportunities and best practices. Thirty percent of franchises are minority-owned, and we owe some of that success to the efforts Earsa and her team have done since the inception of the Institute,” said Robert Cresanti, President & CEO of IFA. “She has been at the forefront of serving the franchising community for two decades. It is an honor to name her this year’s Ronald E. Harrison Award recipient not only because of the impact she’s had on the minority franchising community, but because she is a true advocate for diversity and inclusion in whatever circle she operates.”

A Certified Franchise Executive with more than 20 years of franchise law experience, Jackson serves as Chair of Clark Hill Strasburger's Franchise & Distribution team as well as its Diversity Committee. She’s been chair of IFA’s Diversity Institute for nearly four years and served on its board for a decade. She also serves on the IFA Foundation’s Board of Trustees and is former Director of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Division for the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising. In 2016, she co-wrote the book Annual Franchise and Distribution Law Developments, and has published several other franchise and diversity articles, publications and presentations throughout her career. She handles franchise structuring, disclosure and state registration matters for a number of franchise systems across the country. Jackson also handles litigation matters in business and commercial, False Claims Act, business torts, trademark infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, contract disputes and probate.

“I am deeply honored to be named this year’s Ronald E. Harrison Diversity Award recipient as it validates the hard work and sacrifices our Institute has done to substantially enhance the franchising opportunities for our country’s diverse communities,” said Jackson. “Because of the great IFA member companies’ concerted efforts to diversify their base of franchisees, business ownership among minority groups has grown faster with franchised businesses than non-franchised businesses in our country in recent years. However, our work is not done, and I look forward to continuing to work with Robert and the rest of the IFA in bringing franchise support to more diverse populations around the country.”

The purpose of the Diversity Institute is to promote and foster diversity and inclusion within the franchising community. The Institute serves as the home for IFA and the Foundation’s diversity and inclusion programs – education, research, scholarships, and liaisons with other national organizations. The Institute provides information to assist IFA members in expanding their diversity recruitment and multi-cultural marketing efforts at all levels – franchisees, employees, suppliers, and consumers.

Clark Hill Strasburger’s Franchise and Distribution team is made up of experienced lawyers representing clients involved in all aspects of franchising, licensing, dealership and direct selling for the distribution of goods and services, both domestically and internationally. The firm has represented businesses in a wide variety of industries, including: restaurant, automotive, health and beauty, building products and services, clothing and accessories, food and beverage distribution, decorative products, computer-related products and services, hospitality, printing and photography, rental purchase businesses, and other retail businesses and services. To learn more, visit: https://www.clarkhill.com/.

About Clark Hill Strasburger

Clark Hill Strasburger is a multidisciplinary national law firm that draws upon our attorneys’ industry and policy knowledge, our deeply held shared values, and a global network of premier firms and advisors to provide innovative legal solutions and client-service excellence worldwide. To learn more, visit: https://www.clarkhill.com/.

In April 2018, law firms Clark Hill and Strasburger & Price merged to form Clark Hill Strasburger. Together, the two firms have more than 200 years of combined history providing client legal services as well as nearly 650 lawyers with 25 offices in 11 states, the District of Columbia, Ireland, and Mexico. Learn more: https://www.clarkhill.com/press/clark-hill-strasburger-price-announce-merger.

About the International Franchise Association

Celebrating 56 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 2.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.