Biography Photo of Rachel Lawson

Rachel Schaffer Lawson

Rachel Lawson has fifteen years of experience in serving clients in a variety of industries with a focus on the alcohol and hospitality sectors. She offers a range of legal services including Business Formation, Trademark Search and Registration, Contracts and Agreements, Beverage Licensing, and Franchise Law. With an educational background in entrepreneurship, marketing, and law, Rachel has dedicated her practice to advocate for clients while carving out a specific niche in hospitality and alcohol law.

What clients are saying:

– 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!

– 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.

Education & Credentials

Education

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

J.D., 2010

Northeastern University

B.S., Business Administration, Music Industry, 2001

Bar Admission

  • New York
  • Tennessee

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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