Dallas Law Firm Finds Second Home in Music City

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- A prominent Texas law firm is announcing a new Nashville office after joining forces with attorneys from one of Music City's most venerated entertainment law firms. Beginning Jan. 1, Shackelford, Zumwalt & Hayes will be the Nashville office of Shackelford, Melton & McKinley, also with offices in Dallas and Austin.

The agreement creates the nation's only law firm with offices in Nashville, Dallas and Austin, bringing together more than 45 accomplished attorneys with decades of experience in business, technology, media and entertainment law. In addition to a wide variety of business clients, the combined firm represents artists, songwriters, music publishers and record companies, as well as providing extensive expertise in the film, television and book publishing industries.

"We're very excited to be working with the top entertainment lawyers in the city," says firm founder John C. Shackelford. "From contracts to global licensing deals to helping navigate the intersection of music and technology, we provide a level of service you just don't find at many law firms."

Jim Zumwalt and Craig Hayes and the lawyers at their firm represent some of the country's leading entertainers, including Faith Hill, Creed, Aaron Neville, Lifehouse, Tanya Tucker and The Bar-Kays. The firm is most known for launching recording careers by advancing deals for such artists as Toby Keith, Paramore, Alter Bridge, Skillet, Shinedown, Saliva, Cage the Elephant, Brian McKnight, Take 6, The Neville Brothers, Jason & The Scorchers, The Kentucky HeadHunters, Jackyl, The Georgia Satellites, Jars of Clay, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Vertical Horizon, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Sonny Landreth. The firm also is known for having represented high-profile estates, including Otis Redding, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Kurt Cobain, Rich Mullins and Ben Keith.

"John Shackelford and his team bring significant capabilities to our firm," Mr. Zumwalt says. "By combining our global entertainment expertise from Nashville with the business and technology capabilities in Dallas and Austin, I believe we've put together a group of legal talent that's second to none."

Mr. Zumwalt was one of the first attorneys in the nation to utilize the South by Southwest conference in Austin as a signing platform for new artists. His notable Texas clients have included Dallas' Little Sister and Jackopierce, Austin's Omar & the Howlers, and radio personality Redbeard. Mr. Zumwalt also provides strategic legal and business affairs services for New West Records, which began in Austin, Texas. New West maintains offices in Austin, Houston, Beverly Hills, and Athens, Georgia and distributes popular television show "Austin City Limits" through CD, DVD and international broadcast rights. Mr. Zumwalt also represents the popular Chicago-based television show "Soundstage."

Mr. Hayes' Texas clients include legendary Beaumont recording artist, producer (Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, U2) and "Outlaw Country" radio jock, Cowboy Jack Clement, as well as Dallas pop rock rising stars Jokersdeck and country rising star Katie Armiger of Houston and her label, Cold River Records. He also represents Dallas-based label Carved Records, Dallas' Native American-owned Rich-Heape Films, Bishop T.D. Jakes' Dallas-based Dexterity Sounds label, and Austin-based Ivan Neville and Cyril Neville.

Shackelford, Melton & McKinley is a business and entertainment law firm representing financial institutions, recording artists, real estate owners and developers, automobile dealerships, record labels, and other businesses in legal matters across the country. Learn more about the firm at http://www.shacklaw.net.

For more information, contact Bruce Vincent at 800-559-4534 or [email protected].

SOURCE Shackelford, Zumwalt & Hayes