ShawneeDispatch.com

The newest business to downtown has taken up residence in the area's newest building.

Chapin Law Firm, owned by Shawnee residents Brett Chapin and wife Kristen Shelley, has taken up residence in the space on the ground level of the new Lino building, 11212 Johnson Dr. With a wide variety of legal services, the couple hopes their business will become a fixture in downtown Shawnee.

Shelley grew up just south of Des Moines, and after graduating from Iowa's Central College, she attended law school at the University of Kansas. That was where she met Chapin, a Minnesota native who also came to Kansas to attend KU.

Chapin had already received his undergraduate degree and worked in Kansas City as a Certified Public Accountant for several years, returning to KU for a law degree. After graduating and marrying in 2001, the couple soon found a home in Shawnee.

At first, Chapin worked in tax and business law for a couple of different law firms, while Shelley worked for Kansas Legal Services and then for the Johnson County District Attorney. But Chapin soon realized that he would rather work for himself, so he created his own law firm.

With an office in Overland Park, Shelley decided to join her husband at the Chapin Law Firm in September of last year. With their unique backgrounds, Chapin Law provides a variety of services in different areas of law.

Shelley works in criminal, traffic, juvenile and family law, while Chapin provides estate planning services, as well as tax and bankruptcy legal services. He said not many lawyers in the area have a CPA background, and his accounting knowledge is a big benefit to many businesses.

"Being able to get business and legal services in one spot is very convenient for my clients," Chapin said. "They can run things by me rather than having to go to a multitude of other professionals."

But the couple said they soon decided they wanted a shorter commute.

"Ever since we've moved to Shawnee, we've loved Shawnee and all that's going on here," Chapin said. "We've always wanted to have an office in the old downtown."

Chapin said they also hoped to buy an office space rather than lease it, so when they drove by the new building on Johnson Drive, with 2,000 square feet for sale on the ground level, it seemed perfect.

The firm began moving in March 1, opening for their first day on the fifth.

"We still have some unpacking to do, but it's coming together," Shelley said.

Currently, Chapin and Shelley serve as the firm's attorneys, with paralegal Sheila Fanning and legal intern Jamie Weese. But there is room to grow. Shelley said they may rent out the extra offices for now, but they plan to add two more paralegals and a receptionist to the office in the future.

"I think we'll be able to be here for a long time," Shelley said.

Chapin Law Firm can be reached at (913) 385-0600.