Quentin is a principal at Gray Plant Mooty, where he practices in the area of business litigation, with a special emphasis on cases between competitors. He joined the firm in 1987. Quentin is a trial attorney who represents businesses in preventing or resolving disputes involving antitrust and distribution, as well as many other types of disputes. He has coordinated and tried franchise, distribution, noncompete, and employment cases throughout the United States.
Experience
- Defending franchisors, product manufacturers, and other companies against fundamental challenges to their businesses in courts and in arbitration proceedings
- Obtaining injunctions and verdicts for employment law clients in noncompete and discrimination cases tried to juries and judges in Detroit, Cleveland (two cases), and New York since August of 2001
- Representing a franchisor in defending a class action antitrust challenge and subsequent arbitrations involving the franchisor's product supply practices
- Winning a defense verdict for a client in Ohio after an eight-day jury trial in which the plaintiff sought $5.4 million on a race discrimination claim, July 2004
- Arguing for and winning affirmance in the Michigan Court of Appeals and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second and Eighth Circuits after obtaining victories in the lower courts, 2003-2006
- Enforcing and defending copyright, trademark, and termination rights of several franchisors and suppliers in litigation across the U.S.
- Representing defendants in class action cases
- Using presuit negotiation and mediation to avoid or minimize cost of dispute resolution for clients
- Advising numerous clients on antitrust issues in product distribution, franchising, and other areas, including advice and employee training on pricing issues and other practices
Publications
- “Franchising, Arbitration, and the Future of the Class Action,” coauthored with Christopher R. Drahozal, Entrepreneurial Business Law Journal, July 2009
- The GPMemorandum, containing updates on franchise and distribution law developments, editor, 1997-2003 and 2007-present
- "Can Franchisors Control Franchisee Prices?" coauthored with Jeremy Johnson, Franchise Law Journal, Vol. 28, No. 4, Spring 2009
- "Is There a Flight from Arbitration," coauthored with Christopher R. Drahozal, Hofstra Law Review, February 2009; featured in online edition of The Wall Street Journal, June 1, 2009
- As task force cochair, authored section regarding post-term covenants not to compete, as published in "Comments of the Section of Antitrust Law, American Bar Association, Regarding Proposed Federal and State Legislation Regulating Franchising," January 7, 1999
Presentations
- “Antitrust and Refusals to Deal,” 2010 Business Law Institute, May 10, 2010
- “Should There Be a Flight from Arbitration?” ABA Forum on Franchising, October 14-17, 2009
- “Navigating Through Rocky Distribution Channels – Antitrust Concerns & Solutions for Product Distribution,” Gray Plant Mooty Litigation Forum, September 17, 2009
- “Hot Spots for Distribution Litigation,” Gray Plant Mooty Litigation Forum, September 17, 2009
- “Bet the System Litigation: What are the Fundamental, System-wide Practices that Get Challenged and What Can be Done to Survive if a case is Filed?” International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, May 18, 2009
- "Should Businesses Include Arbitration Clauses in Their Contracts?" 2009 Business Law Institute, May 4, 2009
- “Control of Resale Prices after Leegin,” 2008 Business Law Institute, April 28, 2008
- “Best Practices for Working with Franchisees on Territories,” International Franchise Association 48th Annual Franchise Convention, February 12, 2008
- “Understanding and Managing Litigation, Arbitration, and Mediation,” Gray Plant Mooty Employment Law Seminar, September 15, 2005
- “Noncompetes in a Competitive World,” Gray Plant Mooty Employment Law Seminar, September 26, 2003
- “What is Left of the Doctrine of Good Faith and Fair Dealing?,” International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, May 12-13, 2003
- “Litigation as a Way of Resolving Franchise Disputes,” IFA Legal Symposium, May 7-8, 2001
- “In-Term and Post-Termination Covenants Against Competition,” IFA Roundtable, April 29, 1999
Education
- University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., with high distinction, 1986
Iowa Law Review, managing editor, 1985-1986 - Buena Vista University, undergraduate degree majoring in mass communications, summa cum laude, 1981
Bar Admissions
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association, Antitrust Section Distribution & Franchising Committee Advisory Board
- Mediation Skills Training, 2008
- American Bar Association, Forum Committee on Franchising, Antitrust Law and Litigation sections
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Law clerk for Chief Judge Donald P. Lay
U.S. Court of Appeals, 1987
Honors and Distinctions
- "Legal Eagle," Franchise Times, 2007-2010
- Robert E. Barnhart Humanitarian Service Award, Minnesota Chapter of Federal Bar Association, 1995
Community Involvement
- Buena Vista University, Board of Trustees, 2009-present
- Women Venture, Franchise Advisory Board, 2008-present
- Redeemer Lutheran Church, president, 1991-1992 and 2003-2007