Detail Oriented.  Forward Thinking.  Strong Negotiator.  These are just a few of the skills associate Ashley B. Veltman developed as in-house counsel and brings to her representation of corporate clients. 

Her experience entails a wide variety of business and legal matters including contracts, secured transactions, real estate, M&A, intellectual property, employment policies, franchise disclosures and legal compliance.  At Eastman & Smith Ms. Veltman’s practice encompasses:

• Counseling franchisors in the sale of franchises, including drafting/reviewing of franchise disclosure documents, franchise agreements and state registrations.
• Guiding franchisees through the acquisition or sale of a franchised business.
• Advising on business entity selection, formation and corporate governance.
• Establishing data privacy legal compliance programs for businesses.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts and other legal documents.
• Advising companies on mergers, acquisitions and corporate reorganizations.
• Managing real estate lease, purchase and sales transactions.
• Preparing and reviewing secured transactions and corporate financing.
• Counseling clients on trademark protection, including protection of brands via federal registration in the US Patent and Trademark Office. 
• Counseling clients on trademark infringement and unfair competition litigation. 

She is part of the Firm’s Business Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Intellectual Property and Real Estate Law Practice Groups.

While studying for her law degree, Ms. Veltman was employed as a full-time paralegal for four years by a large franchisor company, managing many activities in their legal department. Following her graduation from law school, where she finished first in her class, and admission to the Ohio Bar, she assumed the additional responsibilities of corporate counsel for that company. 

In addition to her employment and studies, Ms. Veltman was executive editor of the University of Toledo Law Review and a student attorney for the Toledo Tax Controversy Clinic.

Ms. Veltman resides in Perrysburg, Ohio.   An avid musician, she spends time playing piano, violin and harp, and loves to catch a symphony concert whenever she can.

Experience

Experience

Specific examples of Ms. Veltman’s experience include:

• Preparation, structure and initial offering of franchises for restaurant brand.
• Sale of group of fitness franchise locations.
• Sale of landscaping company and associated real estate.
• In-house legal advisor to national franchisor, including negotiation of supply chain, technology, and other contracts, purchase/sale of numerous franchise locations, and regulatory compliance.
• Merger and legal re-organization of restaurant group company.
• Successfully represented complainant in a domain name dispute proceeding where domain name was held hostage.

Community/Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association Forum on Franchising
• Ohio State Bar Association (Corporate Counsel Section)
• Toledo Bar Association (Finance Committee, 2021 - Present)
• Toledo GROWs (member, board of directors)

Honors & Awards

• Named to the 2023 Franchise Times Legal Eagles®
• First Place, Ohio State Bar Association Law Student Writing Competition, 2019
• Ranked first in law school graduating class.
• 99^th percentile on Ohio bar exam
• Order of the Coif

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