Trainer or Touter? The Deception That Can Be Training

    Clay Brewer is an associate attorney at Thompson Burton PLLC. His practice area focuses primarily on serving young, direct selling companies. He assists Kevin Thompson in providing exceptional legal support for companies ranging from early-stage startups to well-established entities.

    Courage: Emotional strengths that involve the exercise of will to accomplish goals in the face of opposition, external or internal; examples include bravery, perseverance, and authenticity (honesty). – How to be a Stoic, Massimo Pigliucci  The presence of trainers and motivational speakers in the world of network marketing is nothing new. From the most experienced network […]

    The Truth Beneath the Pyramid: A Deep Dive of FTC v. Noland

      Clay Brewer is an associate attorney at Thompson Burton PLLC. His practice area focuses primarily on serving young, direct selling companies. He assists Kevin Thompson in providing exceptional legal support for companies ranging from early-stage startups to well-established entities.

      On May 11, 2023, the United States District Court for the District of Arizona announced the long-awaited decision in Federal Trade Commission v. James D. Noland, Jr., et al regarding the future of the network marketing company known as Success By Health (“SBH”). Unlike many both within and without the network marketing industry, I like […]

      An economist’s assessment of Noland and the criteria used to assess a pyramid scheme, by Jovanovic and Bozzone

        Kevin Thompson is an MLM attorney, proud husband, father of four and a founding member of Thompson Burton PLLC. Named as one of the top 25 most influential people in direct sales, Kevin Thompson has extensive experience to help entrepreneurs launch their businesses on secure legal footing. Recently featured on Bloomberg TV and several national publications, Thompson is a thought-leader in the industry.

        This is an excellent article prepared by Branko Jovanovic and Lia Bozzone, two economists at The Brattle Group. I’m sharing it in full, with permission. ————– While the direct selling world was awaiting U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn’s decision in Federal Trade Commission v. Neora LLC, in which the FTC alleged that Neora operated an […]

        Back to the Basics

          Clay Brewer is an associate attorney at Thompson Burton PLLC. His practice area focuses primarily on serving young, direct selling companies. He assists Kevin Thompson in providing exceptional legal support for companies ranging from early-stage startups to well-established entities.

          Whenever I sit down to write an article, I find myself trying to come up with some obscure, groundbreaking topic to discuss. Sadly, I do not have these monumental epiphanies as frequently as I would like. But the truth of the matter is that why should we discuss such grand topics, when the industry of […]

          You Can’t Regulate Human Nature

            Clay Brewer is an associate attorney at Thompson Burton PLLC. His practice area focuses primarily on serving young, direct selling companies. He assists Kevin Thompson in providing exceptional legal support for companies ranging from early-stage startups to well-established entities.

            The human mind is miraculous. The capacity for what we can achieve is without limits. Despite our great gifts, there’s one thing that will likely never change: our primal nature to seek immediate pleasure over pain. This results in us being stuck on the Hedonic treadmill, mostly contrary to our own best interests. Stated another […]

            The FTC Should Not Be Trusted – Letter to 3 Members of Congress

              Kevin Thompson is an MLM attorney, proud husband, father of four and a founding member of Thompson Burton PLLC. Named as one of the top 25 most influential people in direct sales, Kevin Thompson has extensive experience to help entrepreneurs launch their businesses on secure legal footing. Recently featured on Bloomberg TV and several national publications, Thompson is a thought-leader in the industry.

              I wrote a letter to my representatives in Congress in August of 2021. See below for the contents. The letter was sent to clearly oppose the FTC’s efforts to expand their power via Congress. This is how a democracy works…the agencies seek consent from the governed by way of our elected leaders. I made my […]