Robert Pinson

Practice Areas

Alcohol &Hospitality; Intersection of Business & Government; Government Relations, State & Local

Career

Rob is a leading member of the Adams & Reese Alcohol & Hospitality practice, representing both local and national clients with their licensing and regulatory needs. Working extensively with distilleries, breweries and wineries on licensing matters, Rob helps his hospitality clients navigate through the complex approvals for manufacturing, self-distribution and other compliance issues at all levels. He provides counsel to alcoholic beverage manufacturers and retailers in transactional matters in which licensing issues play a critical role.

Rob assists businesses across the country with applying for and obtaining initial licensing, maintaining all necessary permits and licenses, and handling on-going regulatory obligations, such as formula and label submissions.

Rob also has a hand on the local entertainment scene, having obtained beer and liquor licenses for nearly all the Tennessee locations of the world’s largest movie theatre chain as well as numerous music venues. His work in these matters included amending city laws to allow such licenses.

Rob helped form and is an associate member of the Tennessee Distillers’ Guild, an organization that works to promote, grow and advocate for the distilling industry in Tennessee. He assists the Guild in planning for and obtaining the licensing for numerous annual whiskey festivals across the state, including coordinating with city officials and other involved businesses. Additionally, he assisted in the formation and development of the new Tennessee Whiskey Trail, a group of approximately 25 distilleries working to promote the whiskey tourism industry in the state.

Professional Memberships

National Conference of State Liquor Administrators; Alliance of Alcohol Industry Attorneys and Consultants, Founding Member; National Association of Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Attorneys; National Association of Licensing and Compliance Professionals; Tennessee Bar Association; Nashville Bar Association; Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys; Tennessee Distillers Guild