VIP Volunteers Negotiate Settlement for Black-Owned Beauty Studio

VIP volunteer lawyers Desmond D. Connall, Jr. and Damaris Walker of Ballard Spahr represented our client Candace, owner of Arts & Class Beauty Studio, in a dispute with her small business’s landlord. Their representation saved Candace thousands of dollars in unfair late fees and allowed her to move her business into a better space.

A Step Back, Not a Setback

Candace opened Arts & Class Beauty Studio to bring her passion out of the digital world and into her neighborhood. A onetime beauty blogger, she used her own savings to move into the Northeast Philly space that became Arts & Class’s first home. But when questionable late fees started to pile up, Candace turned to VIP volunteers to decipher her lease and keep her business afloat.

Arts & Class grew out of Candace’s desire to help others. “I started my blog to show people how to do makeup on their own terms,” she said. “I’m a darker-skinned Black woman and there weren’t always shades in my range. I had to finesse a lot of it on my own. That’s when I started teaching people.” She got her aesthetician’s license and opened Arts & Class in hopes of reaching clients in her own city.

“Everything was fine with my first landlord. Things changed after about a year when a New York-based landlord bought the property. My utilities, insurance, and rent increased. I started seeing astronomical late fees on my monthly bills.”

“I scoured my lease to understand how the fees were calculated, but nothing made sense. I couldn’t make a dent.”

Candace contacted VIP for a one-hour consultation and was matched with Ballard Spahr volunteers Desmond D. Connall, Jr. and Damaris Walker. Desmond and Damaris reviewed the lease and Candace’s invoices and decided to take her on as a pro bono client.

“Desmond and Damaris gave me great advice. Once they heard my story, they felt I was being taken advantage of, and they agreed to negotiate with my landlord,” Candace said. After a few months, Candace’s volunteers helped her settle her late fees and move out of the space early.

“Moving out was a blessing in disguise. There were many nights when I doubted if it was smart to ever open the business, but I’m in a much better space in Fishtown now,” Candace said.

“I’m so grateful for the representation I got. I view the whole thing as a step back, not a setback. I just re-opened in December, and I’m very proud to say I’ve paid my first month’s rent.”

Philadelphia VIP is a nonprofit that recruits legal volunteers to represent Philadelphians who need a lawyer but cannot afford one. To view our available pro bono cases, click here.