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Rachel Schaffer Lawson has over ten years of experience in serving more than 300 businesses in a wide scope of industries including the alcohol and hospitality sectors offering a range of legal services including Business Formation, Litigation, Trademark Search and Registration, Contracts and Agreements, and Beer and Liquor Licensing. With an educational background in entrepreneurship, marketing, and law, Rachel has dedicated her practice to advocating for businesses and carving out a specific niche in hospitality and alcohol law.
What clients are saying:
–We had no idea what we were doing or what all was entailed in opening retail/bar business, but Rachel and her team made it effortless. She was so knowledgeable and guided us through all of the things we didn’t know would need to be done.
–I talked with six attorneys before finding Rachel, and I am thankful every day that we were lucky enough to find such a perfect fit. She understands our vision as well as short and long-term strategies. If you are an entrepreneur, do yourself a favor and call her.
–Rachel and team are the epitome of advocacy. Everything they do proves they have their clients’ best interest in mind. They fight for you to get the best possible outcome in your situation. They’re extremely responsive and great at taking a stressful situation and making it easy to understand and navigate. You want to add this team to yours!
–I have been working with Rachel for four years now on my two Nashville-based businesses, and they have always been beyond reliable, fairly priced, and consummate professionals. They are exceptional in many areas but for those in hospitality, it is second to none. The team is always prompt and thorough in their communication. I know I can call or email them anytime for anything, whether it is a small inquiry or a larger issue.
–As first-time small business owners, we were in dire need of someone who knew the ins and outs of creating an LLC, business licenses, trademark filing, beer permits, and liquor licenses, and navigating the necessary steps through city codes and council requirements… We are open and operating, and we could not, literally, have done it, without the cheerful guidance, patience, and knowledge of Rachel.
–I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you. From day one you have been super responsive, available and very thorough. In a nutshell, I think you’re awesome! Thank you again!
Education & Credentials
Education
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
J.D., 2010Northeastern University
B.S., Business Administration, Music Industry, 2001Bar Admission
Acknowledgements
- Recipient of Business Leader Women Extraordinaire Award, 2012
Prominent Assignments
- Representing an international brewery to assist with their Federal TTB Brewers permit.
- Serves as lead counsel to nationally distributed brand of creamed whiskey regarding COLA labelling requirements, distribution agreements nationwide, trademark issues and liquor compliance
- Serves as lead counsel for various breweries in Tennessee regarding beer and liquor license compliance, corporate governance, trademarks and contracts
- Serves as lead counsel for bars, restaurants, hotels, transpotainment companies, breweries, distilleries, meaderies and wineries regarding corporate governance and structure, trademarks, beer and liquor licensing and compliance
- Assists in the acquisition and sale of various hospitality businesses
- Serves as lead counsel for museum of whiskey located in Nashville, TN regarding 501(c) nonprofit compliance
- Serves as lead counsel to manufacturer of guitar strings in Nashville, TN
- Represents new and emerging brands of alcoholic beverages regarding corporate structure and governance, alcohol licensing and compliance and trademarks.
Professional Involvement
- Nashville Bar Association, Member
- Tennessee Bar Association, Member
- Tennessee Bar Association’s Women in the Profession Committee
- Lawyer’s Association for Women, Member
- National Association of Liquor Compliance Professionals, Member
- Brewers Association, Member
- Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild, Industry Member
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Agriculture Department Fermentation Sciences Program, Professor
Community Involvement
- Board of Advisors of Pathway Women’s Business Center
- Greater Memphis Chamber
- Nashville LGBT Chamber
- SCORE Nashville
- L’Evate Member
Court Admissions
- Federal Court, Middle District of Tennessee
Publications/Presentations
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Co-Author, “Suspicious Minds: Protecting Tennessee Artists from Generative AI,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, June 2024
- Co-Author, “Keep Your Server Permit: No Drinking on the Job,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, April 2024
- Co-Author, “Tennessee Sues Six Online Alcohol Retailers,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, Jul 2023
- Author, “Is alcohol shipping from Amazon in our future?”, Craft Brewing Business, February 2023
- Author, "TTB Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: The Next Step of Executive Order 14036,” Dickinson Wright Gaming and Hospitality Blog, January 2023
- Author, "Branded Alcohol to Chase My Blues Away”, Dickinson Wright Gaming and Hospitality Blog, October 2022
- Author, "Road Booze: When and How Food Trucks Can Serve Alcohol in Tennessee,” Dickinson Wright Gaming and Hospitality Blog, September 2022
- Author, "Starting and Running a Food Truck Business,” Dickinson Wright Gaming and Hospitality Blog, September 2022
- Interview, "Alcohol Law Attorney Rachel Lawson On Direct To Consumer Shipping Laws," The Whiskey Wash, April 2022
- Speaker, "Tasting Notes with Alcoholic Beverage Attorney Rachel Lawson," Hops & Spirits: Bar Conversations Podcast, March 2022
- Marriage Without the Sex: An Uncommon Approach to Business Relationships
- Nashville Bar Journal Feature Article, Food Truck Nashville: Navigating the Speed Bumps of Mobile Vendor Regulations, October/November 2018
- Three-part webinar series dedicated to helping brewery owners understand the legal and financial aspects of starting, growing and leaving a business.
- Speaker, Southern Brewers Conference, 2016