Lee Dickinson focuses his practice on business, corporate, and transactional matters, offering particular expertise in intellectual property and franchising. He has represented and advised diverse business clients, from start-ups and non-profits to established restaurant chains and national retailers. He provides practical, strategic advice and believes that legal counsel should be a trusted teammate in pursuit of the client's business goals, not a gatekeeper or roadblock.

Whether a small, family-owned business or a large, publicly-traded company, clients have come to Mr. Dickinson for assistance in negotiating and drafting contracts, advice in trademark selection and protection, and preparation of all types of necessary legal documents - ranging from business formation to preparation of Franchise Disclosure Documents. In addition, Mr. Dickinson routinely advises clients on regulatory matters, such as antitrust, unfair/deceptive trade practices, social media, data privacy, sweepstakes and promotions, liquor law, product labeling, pricing accuracy/unit pricing, and various other areas of law that affect retail and restaurant businesses.

Previously, Mr. Dickinson was in-house counsel for Dollar General Corporation, a national retailer with over 16,000 locations in the United States. He also was a faculty member at Vanderbilt University Law School, where he taught in both the J.D. program and the LL.M. program for foreign-trained lawyers. He also has taught at the University of Wyoming College of Law.

Dickinson Law, P.C. is also Of Counsel to Hathaway & Kunz, LLP, a prominent and esteemed law firm in Cheyenne. If we are unable to assist you with your particular legal needs, we are happy to arrange an introduction to someone there, or to provide a referral to another attorney who may be able to better assist you.

RELATED EMPLOYMENT
  • Vanderbilt University Law School, Nashville, Tennessee, 2011-15
  • Dollar General Corporation, Goodlettsville, Tennessee, 2006-11
  • Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, Nashville, Tennessee, 2003-06
PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  • Wyoming Chapter, Covenants Against Competition in Franchise Agreements (4th Ed.), American Bar Association, 2022
  • "The General Practitioner's Guide to Trademark Selection and Clearance: Asking the Right Questions," Continuing Legal Education Program, Wyoming State Bar, Annual Bar Conference, September 2020
  • Wyoming Supplement, State Trademark Q&A, Westlaw-Thomson Reuters, November 2019
  • "Client Trademark Selection and Clearance: Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later," Laramie County Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Program, November 2019
  • "Wyo-why Wouldn't You Form a Wyoming LLC?", Wyoming State Bar Annual Conference, Continuing Legal Education Program, September 2018
  • "Interacting with the USPTO," Wyoming State Bar, Continuing Legal Education Program, May 2018
  • "Corporate Governance and Succession Planning," Hands Across the Rockies Meat Processors Convention, Presentation, April 2018
  • "Trademark Selection, Protection and Registration," Wyoming State Bar, Continuing Legal Education Program, November 2017
  • "Crowdfunding Comes to Wyoming," Wyoming Lawyer, August 2017
  • "Top 10 Tips for Young Lawyers," Wyoming Lawyer, April 2017
  • "Franchising 101: How It Works, How It's regulated, and What the General Practitioner Needs to Know," Wyoming State Bar, Continuing Legal Education Program, October 2016
  • Volunteer Editor, Senior Law Handbook, Tennessee Bar Association, 2013
  • Producer, "Legal Writing Never Gets Erased: Best Practices for Complaints, Answers, Motions, Responses and Appellate Briefs," Tennessee Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Program, March 2013
  • Host of the quarterly International Franchise Association Franchise Business Network Luncheon, Nashville, Tennessee, 2003-06
  • "The Basics of Business Law," Tennessee Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Program, June 2006
  • "Franchising Your Business," Nashville Minority Business Center, Nashville, Tennessee, April 2006
  • "Franchise Fundamentals," Nashville Minority Business Center, Nashville, Tennessee, September 2005
  • "Gift Cards May Have Strings Attached," Counsel to Counsel, November 2005
  • "Should You Make an Earnings Claim," Franchising & Business Law Alert, June 2005
  • "Managing Disclosures in Multiple States," 38th Annual International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Washington, DC, May 2005
  • "Drafting and Enforcing Trade Dress Issues," 37th Annual International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Washington, DC, May 2004
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
  • Board Member, Black Dog Animal Rescue (2019-Present); Chair, Policy & Nominations Committee (2020-Present)
  • Recipient of the 2017 Pro Bono Award for Legal Services for Indigent Clients from the Wyoming State Bar and Legal Aid Wyoming
  • Field Agent, Horse Haven of Tennessee, 2013-15
  • Board Member, Volunteer Equine Advocates, 2010-12
  • Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity, 2008-10
  • Board Member, Spay Tennessee, 2007-08
  • National Alumni Board Member, Vanderbilt University Law School, 2003-04)
RESULTS & REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
  • Represents publicly-traded Fortune 150 national retailer with respect to its trademark portfolio
  • Performed franchise due diligence for publicly-traded company acquiring a national franchised concept
  • Regularly negotiates $100 Million+ buy/sell or merchandising agreements for publicly-traded, Fortune 200 retail client
  • Has prepared franchise disclosure documents, franchise agreements, and various related documents for both first-time franchisors and well-established franchisors, including many well-known restaurant concepts
  • For large, national company, has prepared organizational documents, resolutions, and minutes for over thirty domestic and international (China, Hong Kong, India) company subsidiaries
  • Lead counsel for nationwide rollout of beer and wine sales for large retailer for over 10,000 stores in 35+ states
  • Has actively prosecuted and obtained trademark registrations-state, federal, and international-for numerous clients, and has actively managed trademark portfolios for larger clients
  • Co-counsel for seller in acquisition of private healthcare company
  • Negotiated primary sponsorship agreement for large company with NASCAR racing team, as well as sub-licenses for vendors of client
EDUCATION
  • J. D., Vanderbilt University, 2003
  • B. A., summa cum laude, English (Professional Writing), University of Memphis, 2000
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP & LEADERSHIP
  • American Bar Associationl
    • Member, Forum on Franchising
  • Member, Wyoming State Bar
  • Member, Tennessee Bar Association
    • Chair, CLE Committee, Tennessee Bar Association (2015-16); Vice-chair (2014-15); CLE Committee Member (2009-2017)
  • Legal Writing Institute
    • Bar Outreach Committee
  • Member, Laramie County Bar Association