Kitt Shipe Email & Phone Number

Atlanta, Georgia

Greater Atlanta Area

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Solo practioner specializing in transactional corporate work including commercial contracts, buying and selling businesses and all things franchise.

Atlanta, Georgia

Provided general counsel services for large international master franchise system including developing risk management strategies, policies, processes and programs; ensure compliance with franchise regulations including disclosure and registration, relationship; manage deal process for master franchise agreements (both domestic and international), renewals and transfers; manage and assess all litigation, assisting in litigation strategies and drafting settlements as appropriate; review and manage vendor and other commercial contracts; oversee master franchisee compliance; and manage large domestic and international portfolio of trademarks.

Norcross, Georgia

Managed and supervised Atlanta legal team of a company that owned several franchise brands including Great American Cookie, Pretzel Time, Pretzel Maker, Maggie Moe's Icecream, Marble Slab Ice Cream, Shoe Box New York and The Athlete's Foot during and post-acquisition. Team lead in charge of franchise disclosure and compliance with state and federal franchise laws; post-acquisition integration of franchisor brands; defaults and terminations, dispute resolution, and other franchisee relationship matters; vendor and other commercial contracts; and general risk management of a quickly growing and rapidly evolving multi-brand franchisor.

Atlanta, Georgia

Rejoined trademark and intellectual property team of the firm to specialize in franchise, licensing and distribution transactions.

Chicago, Illinois

Worked as part of a 40 member General Counsel department in Chicago, Illinois supporting Audit, Business Advisory and Investment Banking function divisions of Arthur Andersen. Handled joint ventures, strategic alliances, negotiation of client contracts including audit and AICPA issues, M&A and negotiation of multi-million dollar software implementations.

Mergers and acquisitions, including acquisitions involving $100M plus across several industries; securities laws compliance including preparation of initial registration documents for public offerings, private placement memos, and annual reports for numerous publicly held companies; commercial contracting; employment agreements and employee stock option plans; franchise and distribution law, including Franchise Disclosure Document preparation and updates for start-up and publicly traded franchisors, preparation of ancillary documentation and management of annual state franchise registrations process for several nationally known franchise brands.

Juris Doctor (J.D.), With Honors

Activities and Societies: Articles Editor for the UNC Law - International Law Journal, Secretary of the Student Bar Association

Bachelor’S Degree, East Asian Studies

Activities and Societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Staff Writer for The Daily Tarheel, UNC Art Gallery Committee Organizer

East Asian Studies

Activities and Societies: Kappa Alpha Theta

High School, High School/Secondary Diplomas And Certificates, 12Th