2025's Top Franchise Legal Players: Kitt Shipe

Kitt Shipe’s path into franchise law began under the mentorship of one of the industry’s most respected leaders. Early in her career as a corporate attorney at a large Atlanta-based firm, Shipe was invited to join the Franchise Team led by Rupert Barkoff. Barkoff’s passion for franchise law was “infectious,” and Shipe quickly discovered the excitement of working directly with entrepreneurs to help them build independence and financial security through franchising.

Over the years, Shipe has found his work deeply rewarding — not only in guiding businesses but also in building lasting friendships with clients along the way.

Today, as a partner at Shipe Dosik Law, Shipe leverages both technical franchise expertise and in-house experience to help brands navigate compliance, growth and enforcement with practical, business-minded solutions.

1851 Franchise reached out to Shipe to learn how franchisors can protect their brand and avoid legal mistakes. Check out her insights below.

1851 Franchise: How did you fall into franchising?

Kitt Shipe: I began my career working as a corporate attorney at a large Atlanta-based firm when I was asked to join the firm’s Franchise Team under Rupert Barkoff, one of the great leaders of the Franchise Bar. His passion for franchise law was infectious, and he was a great teacher — that is when my career as a franchise attorney started. I also quickly discovered that it was exciting to work directly with clients who had founded successful businesses and hear their stories.

Since then, I have found it incredibly rewarding to help individuals build independence and financial security through franchising, and I have gained many friends in the process.

1851: What do you see as the most important things franchisors should do to protect their brand?

Shipe: In addition to trademark registration, performing a good trademark search and getting advice on the strength of the trademark (before registering) is an essential and often overlooked foundation for a franchise system. In addition, franchisors should have a well-drafted franchise agreement and up-to-date and comprehensive operations manual that together clearly articulate quality expectations for franchisees. Throughout the relationship, franchisors should constantly look for opportunities for regular communications with their franchisees on brand standards through additional training programs, franchisee mentorship programs, meetings, inspections and written materials.”

1851: How important is the information in Item 19?

Shipe: A well-drafted and comprehensive Item 19 is probably the most important part of the franchise offering. Without it, franchisors cannot provide any information (at all) when asked by a prospective franchisee “how much will I make” — which for most franchisees is the single most important question. In my experience, unless there is a very strong business or legal reason to not include an Item 19, franchisors are well-advised to include an Item 19.

More and more prospective franchisees are requiring transparency regarding financial performance, and not including an Item 19 raises a red flag and may hinder growth.

1851: What is the single largest legal mistake brands make?

Shipe: Many franchisors rush into franchising and may not spend enough time developing well-drafted franchise documents that have been customized for their business and unique risk profile. Franchising is highly regulated and, unfortunately, there is no one size that fits all. Material inaccuracies or omissions in the FDD have resulted in lawsuits, fines and enforcement actions for franchisors. Without well-drafted agreements, franchisors lose control over brand standards and may face challenges to enforcement.

1851: How does Shipe Dosik Law stand out as a franchise law firm?

Shipe: Shipe Dosik Law focuses almost exclusively on franchising and offers technical strength in franchise law and many related areas of the law, such as trademark, patent, technology, M&A and litigation. Pete Dosik and I have both been in-house attorneys and on the executive team of several larger brands where compliance, unit growth, enforcement were day-to-day realities. Because of our in-house experience, we are uniquely positioned to offer solutions that are legally solid and operationally feasible.

In addition to our technical strength, as a smaller, more specialized firm, we offer high value, agility and client responsiveness.”

1851: What is the best business advice you have received in your career?

Shipe: As a young lawyer, I was often told that good lawyers develop an in-depth understanding of the client’s business. To me, this means that a good lawyer must be a good listener and ask many questions, always seeking to understand strategic goals and potential for risk. Technical expertise in crafting FDDs, franchise agreements and other contracts are only tools; the real value is aligning those tools with the client’s objectives and unique risk profile.

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