recognition
Publications:
- Chapter, “Franchise Laws and Cases in Arkansas,” Franchise Desk Book, American Bar Association, 2017 Edition.
- “What Business Sellers Must Tell You,” Opportunity Magazine, July/August 1997, pp. 14-16.
- “Look Forward to an Audit,” National Business Opportunity Bureau Newsletter, February 1997.
- “Cooperative Efforts in Lease Negotiation,” Franchising World, co-authored with Barbara Berschler, March/April 1996, pp. 22-23.
- Chapter, “Franchise Disclosure Laws,” Florida Franchise Law and Practice, The Florida Bar, 1996.
- “Counseling a Prospective Franchisee Under the New UFOC Guidelines,” Florida Bar Journal, March/April 1994, pp. 59-65.
education
- J.D. – University of Baltimore Law School, Baltimore, Maryland, December 1990
- B.S. – Towson State University, Towson, Maryland, May 1985 – Dual majors in Accounting and Economics
leadership
- Served on the Board of Directors of the Southeast Franchise Forum, 2007 to 2008 and 2016 to 2020.
- State Bar of Georgia, Franchise and Distribution Law Committee.
- Chairperson, 2013 to 2014
- Vice Chairperson, 2012 to 2013
- Secretary, 2011 to 2012
- Served on the Task Forces for the 2008, 2007 and 2005 International Franchise Association Legal Symposium.
- Served as the Secretary of the Maryland State Bar Association Franchise Committee (2001- 2002).
memberships
- Maryland Bar, 1991
- Florida Bar (inactive status), 1994
- Georgia Bar, 2009
- Maryland Certified Public Accountant (inactive status), 1987
speaking engagements
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Advanced Topics in Franchise Law”, Franchisor Employer Issues, February 19, 2014, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Advanced Topics in Franchise Law”, Little Brother Wants Your Profit: Ways State Governments are Sneaking Up On You, February 26, 2013, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Franchise Basics”, The Franchise Disclosure Document and Franchisor/Franchisee Relationship Issues, February 28, 2012, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Disclosure Basics: When Discretion Is Not The Better Part Of Valor, May 2011, Washington, D.C.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Judicial Update: Employee Misclassification Cases in Franchising, May 2011, Washington, D.C.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Franchise Law 2011”, Urgent Challenges in Franchise Disclosure and Registration, February 2, 2011, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Exemption Based Franchising, Roundtable, May 2008, Washington, D.C.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Nuts and Bolts of Franchising”, System Wide Standards, August 10, 2007, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association, “Franchise Opportunities for Women, Minorities and Veterans Seminar,” Legal Aspects of Franchising, August 4, 2007, Atlanta, Georgia.
- American Bar Association, Deal or No Deal? Complying With Multi-State Gift Card Regulations , July 25, 2007, Teleseminar.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Complying With Systems Standards, May 2007, Washington, D.C.
- Fifth Annual Hospitality Law Conference, Franchise Law Judicial Update, February 8, 2007, Houston, Texas.
- Eighth Annual Franchise Development & Leadership Conference, Key Franchise Law Challenges for 2007, October 2006, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Tortious Interference Claims, May 2005, Washington, D.C.
- Sixth Annual Franchise Development & Leadership Conference, Franchise Sales Compliance, The Key Legal Issues, October 2004, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Due Diligence in the Franchise Sales Process, Roundtable, May 2004, Washington, D.C.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Alternative Channels of Distribution, May 2002, Washington, D.C.
- Maryland State Bar Association, Franchise Law Committee, E-Sign and Electronic Disclosure, January 2002, Columbia, Maryland.
- Maryland State Bar Association, Franchise Law Committee, Use of Technology and On-Line Services in Vendor Relationships, May 2001, Columbia, Maryland.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Discrimination Issues in Franchise Relationships, May 2000, Washington, D.C.
Partner
Kathryn Rookes
about
I am an experienced attorney practicing franchise and business law and am one of the very few franchise attorneys in the US with experience in a government regulatory practice (Maryland Division of Securities), private practice, and as in-house counsel for both franchisors and a private equity franchisee. This experience, coupled with my undergraduate education in Accounting and Economics, gives me a broad spectrum from which to best represent my clients.
As an in-house counsel, I represented several multi-brand franchise organizations, counseling 20 different franchised brands. My in-house experience includes the hotel industry, restaurant industry, cleaning industry, co-working space, swim schools, children’s activity center, pet boarding and health care industries. I also was in-house counsel to a multi-brand, multi-unit private equity franchisee. My franchise experience includes responsibility for all franchise regulatory matters, compliance with disclosure, registration and relationship laws, preparation of disclosure documents, franchise agreements and related documents, and preparation of financial performance representations. I have extensive experience in franchisor/franchisee/developer relationships, compliance with franchise agreements and operating standards, and drafting impact and other policies. My international experience includes complying with international disclosure laws, preparing disclosure documents, development agreements, franchise agreements and related documents, and negotiating development agreements in more than 35 countries.
I have successfully managed “bet the company” litigation in multiple states and have handled acquisitions and divestitures from negotiation and due diligence through integration. I also have prepared, reviewed and negotiated a multitude of general corporate contracts that are necessary for the day-to-day operations of a company, including areas such as product distribution, approved vendor relationships, marketing, licensing, protection of intellectual property, convention, consulting, franchise broker, and many other areas.
I am an avid supporter of using plain English in all documents, believing that agreements that are easy to understand support the business process by reducing delays in the negotiation and signing process. I also have extensive experience in the franchise administration area and excel at using technology to streamline and improve document preparation and retention.
For fun, I live on a farm that is home to horses, miniature horses, a donkey, a goat, 5 chickens, two cats and two dogs. I enjoy showing my miniature horses around the eastern and midwestern US and a couple have earned National Championships.
E-Mail: kathryn@shipedosiklaw.com
about
E-Mail: kathryn@shipedosiklaw.com
education
- J.D. – University of Baltimore Law School, Baltimore, Maryland, December 1990
- B.S. – Towson State University, Towson, Maryland, May 1985 – Dual majors in Accounting and Economics
leadership
- Served on the Board of Directors of the Southeast Franchise Forum, 2007 to 2008 and 2016 to 2020.
- State Bar of Georgia, Franchise and Distribution Law Committee.
- Chairperson, 2013 to 2014
- Vice Chairperson, 2012 to 2013
- Secretary, 2011 to 2012
- Served on the Task Forces for the 2008, 2007 and 2005 International Franchise Association Legal Symposium.
- Served as the Secretary of the Maryland State Bar Association Franchise Committee (2001- 2002).
memberships
- Maryland Bar, 1991
- Florida Bar (inactive status), 1994
- Georgia Bar, 2009
- Maryland Certified Public Accountant (inactive status), 1987
speaking engagements
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Advanced Topics in Franchise Law”, Franchisor Employer Issues, February 19, 2014, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Advanced Topics in Franchise Law”, Little Brother Wants Your Profit: Ways State Governments are Sneaking Up On You, February 26, 2013, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Franchise Basics”, The Franchise Disclosure Document and Franchisor/Franchisee Relationship Issues, February 28, 2012, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Disclosure Basics: When Discretion Is Not The Better Part Of Valor, May 2011, Washington, D.C.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Judicial Update: Employee Misclassification Cases in Franchising, May 2011, Washington, D.C.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Franchise Law 2011”, Urgent Challenges in Franchise Disclosure and Registration, February 2, 2011, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Exemption Based Franchising, Roundtable, May 2008, Washington, D.C.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Nuts and Bolts of Franchising”, System Wide Standards, August 10, 2007, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association, “Franchise Opportunities for Women, Minorities and Veterans Seminar,” Legal Aspects of Franchising, August 4, 2007, Atlanta, Georgia.
- American Bar Association, Deal or No Deal? Complying With Multi-State Gift Card Regulations , July 25, 2007, Teleseminar.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Complying With Systems Standards, May 2007, Washington, D.C.
- Fifth Annual Hospitality Law Conference, Franchise Law Judicial Update, February 8, 2007, Houston, Texas.
- Eighth Annual Franchise Development & Leadership Conference, Key Franchise Law Challenges for 2007, October 2006, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Tortious Interference Claims, May 2005, Washington, D.C.
- Sixth Annual Franchise Development & Leadership Conference, Franchise Sales Compliance, The Key Legal Issues, October 2004, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Due Diligence in the Franchise Sales Process, Roundtable, May 2004, Washington, D.C.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Alternative Channels of Distribution, May 2002, Washington, D.C.
- Maryland State Bar Association, Franchise Law Committee, E-Sign and Electronic Disclosure, January 2002, Columbia, Maryland.
- Maryland State Bar Association, Franchise Law Committee, Use of Technology and On-Line Services in Vendor Relationships, May 2001, Columbia, Maryland.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Discrimination Issues in Franchise Relationships, May 2000, Washington, D.C.
Partner
Kathryn Rookes
profile
E-Mail: kathryn@shipedosiklaw.com
education
- J.D. – University of Baltimore Law School, Baltimore, Maryland, December 1990
- B.S. – Towson State University, Towson, Maryland, May 1985 – Dual majors in Accounting and Economics
leadership
- Served on the Board of Directors of the Southeast Franchise Forum, 2007 to 2008 and 2016 to 2020.
- State Bar of Georgia, Franchise and Distribution Law Committee.
- Chairperson, 2013 to 2014
- Vice Chairperson, 2012 to 2013
- Secretary, 2011 to 2012
- Served on the Task Forces for the 2008, 2007 and 2005 International Franchise Association Legal Symposium.
- Served as the Secretary of the Maryland State Bar Association Franchise Committee (2001- 2002).
memberships
- Maryland Bar, 1991
- Florida Bar (inactive status), 1994
- Georgia Bar, 2009
- Maryland Certified Public Accountant (inactive status), 1987
speaking engagements
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Advanced Topics in Franchise Law”, Franchisor Employer Issues, February 19, 2014, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Advanced Topics in Franchise Law”, Little Brother Wants Your Profit: Ways State Governments are Sneaking Up On You, February 26, 2013, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Franchise Basics”, The Franchise Disclosure Document and Franchisor/Franchisee Relationship Issues, February 28, 2012, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Disclosure Basics: When Discretion Is Not The Better Part Of Valor, May 2011, Washington, D.C.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Judicial Update: Employee Misclassification Cases in Franchising, May 2011, Washington, D.C.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Franchise Law 2011”, Urgent Challenges in Franchise Disclosure and Registration, February 2, 2011, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Exemption Based Franchising, Roundtable, May 2008, Washington, D.C.
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, “Nuts and Bolts of Franchising”, System Wide Standards, August 10, 2007, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association, “Franchise Opportunities for Women, Minorities and Veterans Seminar,” Legal Aspects of Franchising, August 4, 2007, Atlanta, Georgia.
- American Bar Association, Deal or No Deal? Complying With Multi-State Gift Card Regulations , July 25, 2007, Teleseminar.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Complying With Systems Standards, May 2007, Washington, D.C.
- Fifth Annual Hospitality Law Conference, Franchise Law Judicial Update, February 8, 2007, Houston, Texas.
- Eighth Annual Franchise Development & Leadership Conference, Key Franchise Law Challenges for 2007, October 2006, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Tortious Interference Claims, May 2005, Washington, D.C.
- Sixth Annual Franchise Development & Leadership Conference, Franchise Sales Compliance, The Key Legal Issues, October 2004, Atlanta, Georgia.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Due Diligence in the Franchise Sales Process, Roundtable, May 2004, Washington, D.C.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Alternative Channels of Distribution, May 2002, Washington, D.C.
- Maryland State Bar Association, Franchise Law Committee, E-Sign and Electronic Disclosure, January 2002, Columbia, Maryland.
- Maryland State Bar Association, Franchise Law Committee, Use of Technology and On-Line Services in Vendor Relationships, May 2001, Columbia, Maryland.
- International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Discrimination Issues in Franchise Relationships, May 2000, Washington, D.C.