Attorney profile
Law Offices of Carl Khalil & Sada Sheldon
The short version
Boutique Virginia Beach law firm focused on franchise and trademark law, praised by reviewers for responsive, professional counsel and long-term client relationships.
Strengths
- Boutique focus on franchise and trademark law, with services covering FDDs, state franchise registrations, trademark registration, office actions, renewals, infringement, opposition and cancellation, and UDRP/cybersquatting matters.
- Named legal team includes multiple attorneys plus dedicated franchise and trademark paralegals.
- Reviewers consistently praise prompt communication, responsiveness, and deadline management.
- Many clients describe long-term relationships and repeat work across franchise and trademark needs.
- Several reviewers mention reasonable or fair billing and professional, attentive service.
Considerations
- Khalil & Sheldon clients praise quick replies and reliable follow-up on filings rather than recurring complaints about unanswered communications.
- Franchise clients describe knowledgeable help with disclosure filings, setup, sales, and ongoing counsel, without repeated service disputes.
About Law Offices of Carl Khalil & Sada Sheldon
The Law Offices of Carl Khalil & Sada Sheldon is a Virginia Beach-based boutique law firm focused on franchising and trademark law services. The firm serves franchisors, franchisees, and businesses navigating brand protection, with a legal team that includes attorneys Carl Khalil, Sada Sheldon, and Kristen Kasmai, along with office manager/paralegal Jenny Kopp and franchise/trademark paralegals Oralia Chapa, Crystal Sandow, Jen Ward, and Ashlea Wehle. Its franchise practice covers franchise services, state franchise registrations, franchise disclosure documents, federal franchise laws, and state franchise laws. On the trademark side, the firm handles trademark registration, office actions, renewals, infringement, opposition and cancellation, and cybersquatting and UDRP matters. The website also offers Q&A resources on topics such as FDD disclosure rules, franchising versus licensing, unit franchisees, area developers, area representatives, and franchise advertising rules, plus a Franchise Agreement Calculator.
The firm describes itself as offering quality legal services at competitive rates to help businesses grow, and it notes experience working in-house for major franchisors and with clients across the country in various industries. Reviews consistently reinforce that positioning. Clients frequently mention prompt responses, same-day or next-day communication, and a well-organized practice that meets deadlines. Many reviewers have worked with Carl Khalil, Sada Sheldon, or the firm for multiple years, and several describe ongoing franchise and trademark needs, including annual FDD filings, franchise setup and sales, trademark registration, and trademark disputes. Reviewers also repeatedly highlight professionalism, attentiveness, and clear guidance, with some noting that the firm takes a personal interest in their business and helps them navigate complex franchise and trademark issues. Office staff are described as polite and friendly. Billing is another recurring theme: multiple reviewers call the firm’s rates reasonable or fair and note value relative to other law firms. As a boutique practice, the firm is focused on franchising and trademark law rather than presenting itself as a full-service general practice.
The office is at 1248 Gunn Hall Dr Ste 201, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. The listed telephone number is +1757-263-4596. The practice website is khalilsheldon.com.
Khalil & Sheldon clients praise quick replies and reliable follow-up on filings rather than recurring complaints about unanswered communications. Franchise clients describe knowledgeable help with disclosure filings, setup, sales, and ongoing counsel, without repeated service disputes.
Recurring feedback
What clients consistently mention
- Reviewers frequently highlight prompt responses, quick turnaround, and reliable communication on calls, emails, and filings.
- Clients often praise the firm's franchise law expertise, including FDD filings, franchise setup, franchise sales, and ongoing franchise counsel.
- Reviewers commonly mention trademark registration and dispute support, including handling office actions or issues that arise during registration.
- Many reviewers describe professionalism, attentiveness, and clear guidance from Carl Khalil, Sada Sheldon, and the office staff.
- Several reviewers cite reasonable or fair billing and long-term value when discussing their experience with the firm.
All reviews
5 out of five stars based on 28 reviews.
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