Barry Neil Shrum & Dennis Disney Launch New Music Row Law Firm

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Pictured (L-R): Dennis Disney, Barry Shrum and Doug Smith. Photo: Callie Disney

Industry veterans Barry Neil Shrum and Dennis Disney have joined forces to form the new Music Row law firm, Shrum Disney & Associates, providing both transactional and litigation services.

Located at 54 Music Square East, the boutique firm practices in the areas of entertainment, intellectual property, business/commercial law, endorsements, licensing, new ventures and start-ups.

“Collectively, we represent some of the most amazing talent—creators and business leaders—in music and entertainment,” says Shrum, Founder & CEO. “Whether they are seen frequently on national television, topping radio or consumption charts, touring a hundred plus shows a year to standing-room-only crowds, launching and growing influential businesses or just starting out in the entertainment or music industries, we provide personalized legal services uniquely tailored to each client.”

Shrum has been practicing law for over 30 years, starting in Philadelphia as a lawyer in the litigation department of a mid-sized Center City firm and then going in-house as counsel to a Fortune 50 conglomerate, all the while honing his legal skills to fulfill his goal of defending the rights of under-represented musicians, songwriters and artists. In 1996, he decided to return to his home in Tennessee, to build a practice on Music Row. Since 2009, Shrum has served as a professor at Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, teaching Entertainment Law & Licensing, Copyright Law, Cyber Law, Music Publishing and Legal Issues in the Entertainment Industry. He received his Juris Doctorate from Delaware Law School at Widener University, and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Lipscomb University.

“We’re a boutique firm by design, which means we’re able to be nimble, strategic, creative and effective,” adds Disney. “We strive to provide legal services using unique pricing models, making legal support affordable to almost any client. Because of our combined experiences, we’re comfortable handling just about any legal matter, from structuring and closing complex deals to managing and protecting the assets and intellectual property rights of creators, businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Disney is a 39-year veteran of the music and entertainment industry, having started as a studio engineer while completing his undergraduate degree. Over the course of his career, Disney has held executive positions at various entertainment companies, including record labels, artist management firms, book publishers and his own marketing agency. Prior to starting Shrum Disney & Associates, he was Chief Operating Officer at Maximum Artist Group, where he oversaw company operations, business and legal affairs and strategic planning for each of the firm’s clients. From August 2009 through May 2018, Disney was an adjunct professor at the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business and taught Entertainment Distribution and Promotion. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in music business from Belmont University and a Juris Doctorate from Nashville School of Law.

Additionally, Shrum Disney & Associates has tapped Doug Smith, Jr. as Director of Paralegal Services. Smith’s duties include overseeing all paralegal, law clerk and administration services.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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