Franchise Legal Players: Kathryn B. Shipe of Shipe Dosik Law LLC
1851 Interviews the Highest Profile Attorneys in Franchising for the 2018 Franchise Legal Player Awards
Name: Kathryn B. Shipe
Firm: Shipe Dosik Law LLC
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kittshipe/
About Your Firm: Shipe Dosik Law is a boutique franchise and business-focused law firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. We have helped dozens of businesses launch successful franchise programs throughout the United States and internationally, and dozens of single and multi-unit franchisees purchase new and established franchises. We also act as general counsel to a handful of franchisors, helping them to manage their day-to-day legal affairs including intellectual property, financing, litigation and dispute management, employment, leasing and commercial contracts.
Website: www.shipedosiklaw.com
What makes your firm stand out as a resource for the franchise industry? Our attorneys have years of experience at top law firms and as in-house counsel to several large franchisors. Our in-house experience means we are uniquely situated to better understand the practical needs of business owners and franchisors. Our goal is to deliver stream-lined documents and value-oriented solutions to legal problems, without compromising quality.
What is the No. 1 thing a franchisor/franchisee should look for when identifying the right franchise attorney? The first thing is to find someone whose main practice area is franchising. It is truly a specialty, and a franchisor/franchisee needs a true franchise lawyer. A good question to ask of any lawyer you are interviewing is “what percentage of your time do you spend on franchise-related work?” If it’s less than 80 to 90%, it is probably better to keep looking. After that, talk to several people who have worked with that attorney and ask them questions like: “Is the lawyer knowledgeable?“, “Is he or she responsive?”, “Did you get clear answers to your questions?”, “Did you get good value for what you paid?” Ask the attorney you are interviewing for referrals if you need to. Also, attorneys can be a great resource for information on other attorneys.
When it comes to your work, what makes you happiest? As I’ve become a more senior attorney, I’ve really come to enjoy the counseling aspect of my job. I have many teachers in my family, and I’ve come to realize that good lawyers are really good teachers in many ways, helping people understand the law in the context of a variety of situations. Also, franchising is wonderful because it enables people to go out on their own and support their families through their own independent business. Through franchising, a person can gain greater autonomy, flexibility and personal wealth. I enjoy watching the American dream play itself out, over and over again, and being a part of the process.
What are your top concerns for the franchise industry in the next year? When the U.S. economy is vibrant and financing is readily accessible, as it has been, franchising thrives. There has been a great deal of talk in recent months about our economy slowing down and interest rates raising. An economic decline, coupled with increased interest rates and costs due to changes in U.S. international trade policies, could negatively impact our economy.
What are you most optimistic about in the franchise industry in the next year? The number of calls we’ve received in recent months for potential start-up franchisors and franchisees wishing to purchase new or existing units leads us to believe that people’s confidence in the U.S. economy is unshaken, and that is something to be optimistic about.