The world of music is ever-growing and evolving, and we’re not just talking about sound trends. With the introduction of new revenue streams and distribution channels, the opportunity for profit grows—but so does the complexity. We take pride in clearly explaining and navigating the often-foggy landscape of entertainment law and its relationship to music industry professionals of all types. We help our clients draft and negotiate contracts relating to recording, publishing, licensing and distribution, and sponsorship and merchandising.

When it comes to our athlete, agent, and coach clients, we seek to ensure they achieve the goals they’re so driven to reach. As with entertainment, arts, or hospitality law, sports law generally refers to the target industry rather than a separate body of law, although there are a few unique legal issues only to be faced by professional sports leagues. Common sports law issues include labor law, contract issues, unfair competition, antitrust law, and torts.

Whether you run a theater, recording studio, or an eCommerce website, every business needs to minimize its legal liability and risk. Our lawyers will assess the structure of your operation, such as its physical or digital space, the types of products you sell, who your consumers are, what type of company you have filed under (LLC, Inc, etc.), and so on. From there, we will tailor the right risk plan—complete with permit applications, insurance policies, and more—so that you can worry less about liabilities and concentrate on growing your business.

Whether you own a vast estate containing multiple properties and businesses, or a home and some personal items, your estate plan can be designed effectively for you. Should you prepare a simple Last Will and Testament, or do you need something that is more customized, like a trust? We pride ourselves in taking the time to design a blueprint that protects your individual assets. Additionally, if your loved one has passed, we can guide you through the probate process to ensure that your loved one’s wishes are honored. Contact us today to see how we can help design the blueprint for your legacy.

Times are changing, and so are the laws around cannabis and industrial hemp. We focus our knowledge on understanding the regulations regarding the recently emerging market. Let us guide you through the steps necessary to obtain licenses and then plan the proper steps to enter this new and ever-evolving industry.

Fashion law is a little bit like the Wild West: there’s lots of potential, but the path to getting there can be long and arduous. That’s because the rules in this industry are convoluted and vague at best. Protecting a brand or even a single design involves intellectual property, copyrights, trademarks, and patents. A successful case requires both creativity and flexibility. We protect our client’s products against copycats—large and small—and guide them through manufacturing ethics and labeling laws.

Our team at Shute Law is well-versed in federal and state policy and has a successful track record in advising clients on how to effectively interpret, navigate, and impact federal and state policy. Whether your needs are focused on creating state and federal public policy agendas, drafting legislation, lobbying the Tennessee General Assembly or Congress, navigating complex federal and state regulations, or staying abreast of state and federal political matters, Shute Law provides companies of any size with strategic advice and strong representation at all levels of government.

The internet, software, and technology are so pervasive that we can’t remember having ever lived without them. In some ways they make our lives simpler, but behind the curtain are fluctuating challenges in protection and monetization—all challenges that our firm stays two steps ahead of. We’ve helped engineers, inventors, gaming startups, and entrepreneurs develop, license, sell, and maintain ownership over their creations. We’ve also negotiated purchasing and partnership agreements for larger investment companies looking for their unicorn.

The way we consume entertainment is constantly in flux, so the laws must adapt quickly. Shute Law strives to anticipate these changes so you can focus more on creating the performance of a lifetime. Among our clients are actors, directors, unions, agencies, writers, animators, and many other industry talents. We draft and negotiate development, production, financing, and sales and distribution agreements. By tailoring each contract according to a project’s scope, size, and budget, we secure the appropriate creative rights for all talents involved.

Being charged with a criminal offense is a serious matter that requires both diligence and attention to detail. Shute Law provides effective defense strategies and zealous, persevering advocacy for our clients. You should know that the time to act is now—never wait and hope something will blow ever, only to find yourself in greater trouble than you were at the onset of the charge. We take pride in exhausting every measure to see your charge reduced or flat-out dismissed.

Demystifying art law is a creative practice in and of itself. It requires finesse, strategic structuring, and, in many ways, empathy. At the end of the day, evaluating art—and its worth—is profoundly personal. In such matters, mediation or arbitration almost always yields the most fulfilling results. However, should the occasion arise, our lawyers are more than prepared to move into litigation. From artists, agents, and dealers to galleries, museums, and auction houses, our clients have always walked away from their disputes or deals knowing that their core interests were preserved.