Honors & Recognition

• , a leading industry magazine published by Crain's, has again named Carmen to its annual list of “High Flying Legal Eagles” in 2009.   Carmen has received this honor in every year (except one) since 2000.

• Named an Illinois Leading Lawyer by ’LEADING LAWYER, a rating service of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, in 2009, and again for 2010, and in every year since 2006, in both franchising and commercial litigation.

• Member, Advisory Board of LEADING LAWYERS – in 2009 and 2010 and in every year since 2006.

• Named an Illinois SUPER LAWYER, a publication of Illinois Super Lawyers magazine and Law & Politics, for business litigation, in 2009 and 2010 in every year (but one) since 2005.

• Named to "Who's Who Legal Illinois," published by the International Bar Association in 2008 and 2009.

• AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell (the highest rating available for both the quality of legal services and ethical reputation) in every year for more than 20 years.   Named in 2002 to the prestigious Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers while formerly practicing as Carmen D. Caruso, P.C.

• Peer recognition from the American Bar Association (Forum on Franchising), the nation’s premier body of franchise law attorneys:

  • Frequently invited to write and speak on a variety of franchise law/litigation topics (see Articles & Presentations).

  • Served as the Illinois editor for the recent updates of the Forum’s Desk Book on Franchise Law.

  • Served on the Forum’s Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution (L.A.D.R.) committee.

  • Served on the Forum’s nominating committee.

• Industry recognition from the American Association of Franchisees & Dealers 

  • Frequently invited to write and speak on legal topics of interest to franchising clients.

  • Past Chair of AAFD Amicus Committee, in which he authored the association's brief in support of a franchisee's petition for certiorari to the Unioted States Supreme Court on the issue of whether a rental car franchisee at a West Coast airport enjoyed protection from local regulations under the Commerce Clause to the United States Constitution.

  • Past program Chair of the AAFD’s Annual Meeting (2002) in Chicago and past co-chair (2003-2004) in Atlanta and Philadelphia.

  • Past member, AAFD Board of Directors (2003-2006).
    

• Industry recognition from the Asian American Hotel Owners Association,

  • Member of AAHOA’s panel of recommended attorneys

  • Invited to speak at AAHOA’s annual meetings in each year from 2006 to 2008 and at Regional Meetings from 2005 to 2009.  Most recently, in January 2009 Carmen spoke at AAHOA's summit of Franchise Advisory Councils and in April 2009, Carmen served as Moderator of the Fair Franchising Update panel at AAHOA's annual meeting at National Harbour in Maryland.   Representatives of five of America's largest hotel companies served on Carmen's panel.

  • Frequently published in AAHOA magazine on franchise law topics.

• Frequent speaker and author on franchise and litigation topics before other professional organizations including:

  • The International Franchise Association

  • The American Franchisee Association

  • The National Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

  • The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (formerly “ATLA”, now known as the Association For Justice)