Sada Sheldon

Sada Sheldon has been franchise and trademark attorney for over 15 years.  She handles our firm’s trademark services, including new trademark registrations, trademark infringement issues, and other trademark matters.  She also prepares Franchise Disclosure Documents (“FDDs”), updates to the FDD, and state registration and renewal filings. 

Prior to starting her own law firm Sada worked in-house for an international franchisor handling trademark infringement matters and franchise disputes. 

Sada is a member of the California and State Bar  and has been sworn into the Supreme Court of the United States.  

Franchise Litigation

• The defeat of a $1.9M franchise lawsuit for allegedly wrongful termination and recovery of $338,000 on the franchisor’s counterclaim.  Sherman St. Assocs., LLC v. JTH Tax, Inc., No. 3:03-cv-1875 (CFD), 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97073, at *1 (D. Conn. Aug. 30, 2011)
• Defeated a former franchisee’s claim for breach of contract (failure to support) by showing the extensive support offered by the franchisor.
• Secured preliminary injunction to stop former franchisees from breaching post-termination duties. JTH Tax, Inc. v. Clark, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 164031

Trademark Litigation

• Obtained a preliminary injunction to stop a competitor from using a confusingly similar costume trademark to the mark owned by the client.
• Obtained order for domain transfer in a UDRP Domain Dispute involving cybersquatting.  
  
  

CASE RESULTS DEPEND UPON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE AND PRIOR CASE RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE UNDERTAKEN BY US.

Bar Admissions

• Virginia
• California

Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of the United States
• Virginia Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court for the E.D. of Virginia
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, E.D. of Virginia 

Memberships

• ABA, Forum on Franchising

• Presenter, 2017 Orlando Franchise Show, “FDD Review and Analysis: Is this Franchise a Good Match?”
• Presenter, 2014 Houston and New York Franchise Expos, “Keep it Simple- 11 Cost-Saving Tips for the Start-Up Franchisor”
• Co-Author, “Is It Time To Franchise Your Business” Inside Business (July 1, 2014)
• Co-Author, “How a Franchisor Can Use Outside Counsel To Save Legal Fees,” Franchise Update Sales Report (July 1, 2014)
• Presenter, 2013 California Franchise Expo, “Trademark Registration and Protection: Cornerstones of Franchising”
• Presenter, 2013 New York International Franchise Expo; Franchising as a Unit Franchise Owner, Multi-Unit Owner, or Area Developer- How to Decide?
• Co-Author, “When Starting A Franchise Brand, Keep It Simple,” Franchise Times (September 2013)
• Presenter, 2012 Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association Seminar, “Franchise Law”
• Co-Author, “From Franchisee to Franchisor,” Franchising USA (December 2012).
• Co-Author, “Choosing Between Franchising as a Unit Franchise Owner versus an Area Developer or Master Franchise,” Franchising USA (November 2012).

California Western School of Law, J.D., 2008

• Magna Cum Laude
• Associate Writer, California Western Law Review

University of Central Florida, BA 2001/ MA 2003

Prior to starting her own firm, Sada served as Corporate Counsel to Liberty Tax Service, an international franchisor, for almost three years.

While at Liberty she handled litigation matters involving breach of contract, breach of non-compete, and trademark infringement.

Her work included researching and writing briefs filed in jurisdictions as diverse as California, Connecticut, New York, and Virginia.

Additionally, she worked on many facets of franchise law including the filing of FDDs.

Prior to law school Sada obtained her Master’s Degree in Applied Sociology form the University of Central Florida where she worked as a graduate teaching assistance and adjunct professor.