Industry Ink: Ritholz Levy Fields, NATD, CMA

Ritholz Levy Fields Expands Nashville Offices, Adds Senior Associate

Jenna Harris

Entertainment law firm Ritholz Levy Fields has expanded its offices in Germantown, and has hired senior associate Jenna Harris to join the firm’s growing litigation and fashion practices.

Harris brings a broad-based litigation practice to the firm’s Nashville office, with a primary focus on intellectual property and commercial litigation and experience in complex disputes relating to entertainment, copyright, trademark, and trade secrets. Harris also assists clients with business-minded counseling and transactional matters in the music, media, entertainment, fashion, technology, e-commerce and consumer products industries.

Adam Ritholz, founder and managing partner of Ritholz Levy Fields, says: “We are very pleased and fortunate to have Jenna join us. She brings a unique blend of expertise and talents to our practice and we look forward to what we are sure will be a long and successful association.”

“I am thrilled to take the next step in my career with Ritholz Levy Fields. Joining a firm with a strong national presence and broad entertainment practice will give me the opportunity to represent a wide range of clients with litigation and trademark needs,” says Harris. “Ritholz Levy Field’s sophisticated fashion practice is something I especially look forward to expanding in Nashville, as that industry has developed rapidly in our city over the last few years and continues to do so.”

CMT’s Leslie Fram, Radio Disney’s Phil Guerini and Opry Entertainment’s Jordan Pettit to Participate in NATD Speaker Series Panel

The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) will host the next installment of their Breaking Artists Speaker Series, focusing on new artist pathways through strategic partners including CMT, Opry Entertainment and Radio Disney.

Leslie Fram, SVP of Music Strategy and Talent for CMT; Phil Guerini, VP Music Strategy Disney Channels Worldwide and GM, Radio Disney Networks and Jordan Pettit, Director of Artist Relations & Programming Strategy for Opry Entertainment Group, will speak on a panel to NATD members and guests on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the CMA Event Space, Level One. Cassetty Entertainment’s Todd Cassetty will moderate the discussion. This event is free for NATD members (membership can be renewed for 2019 here); all other attendees can purchase tickets for $10 here.

Carrie Underwood Surprises Elementary School Choir During CMA Fest

Carrie Underwood gave students from Old Hickory, Tennessee’s Andrew Jackson Elementary School the surprise of a lifetime. The superstar stopped by the school’s Eagle Honor Choir’s rehearsal days before they were set to perform Underwood’s hit “The Champion” at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest in June.

Under the direction of music specialist Franklin Willis, the students released a music video for “The Champion” in May, which caught Underwood’s attention. Watch the music video here. The school, which is part of Metro Nashville Public Schools, is a grantee of the Country Music Association’s nonprofit arm, the CMA Foundation, which works to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music education. CMA Fest is a one-of-a-kind festival with artists donating their time to perform so ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music programs across the country through the CMA Foundation. Willis is also a three-time CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence, an honor bestowed to selected music educators around the country for their exemplary work. For more information about the CMA Foundation, visit CMAfoundation.org.

Carrie Underwood appears as part of “CMA Fest” this Sunday (Aug. 4) at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network.