Todd G. Cole

Licensed for 13 years, Todd Cole focuses his practice on the following Areas of Law:

Business Immigration
Employment Immigration
Family Immigration Law
Business Law
Business Combinations
Business Development
Business Enterprises
Business Fraud
Business Mediation
Business Planning
Business Start-Ups
Business Torts
Emerging Business Law
Entrepreneurial Business Law
Buying and Selling of Businesses
Family Business Law
International Business Law
Small Business Law
Business Acquisitions

Call (615) 490-6020 today to schedule your initial consultation.

Ashtin N. Henninger

Tallahassee Attorney

(Licensed in Florida)

Ashtin's passion for the law stems from her desire to help individuals and families in Tallahassee and the surrounding area who are going through difficult personal issues. She recognizes that every case is different and that each client has his/her own unique challenges and objectives. She takes pride in offering attentive, responsive service that addresses client concerns and answers their questions. After giving clients an honest assessment of their situation, she will discuss strategy options, the likely outcome of any course of action, and the time commitment necessary to achieve their goals. While she strongly believes in the amicable resolution of disputes, she is prepared to zealously advocate for her clients in and out of the courtroom.

Ashtin received her Juris Doctorate from the Florida State University College of Law in Tallahassee, Florida. Prior to entering law school, she earned her Associate of Science degree from Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel, Illinois, and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Syracuse University School of Arts and Sciences in Syracuse, New York. At both institutions she received honors for excellent academic performance, including membership in Phi Gamma Mu Honor Society and inclusion in Who's Who Among College Students. Ashtin is a licensed realtor, a member of the Tallahassee Board of Realtors, and is currently pursuing an LL.M in Real Estate Development from the University of Miami, School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Florida, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, and in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida.

Ashtin is committed to serving her community outside the practice of law by providing distinguished pro bono service to low-income families and by acting as a licensed Guardian ad Litem volunteer. She has also volunteered at Legal Services of North Florida where she performed work in the areas of family law, estate planning, bankruptcy and real estate. In addition, Ashtin is a member of the national Animal Legal Defense Fund and works with the Florida Bar Animal Law Committee researching animal-related issues.

Areas of Law

Family Law
Civil Litigation
Personal Injury
General Counsel Services

Education

J.D., Florida State University College of Law
B.A. in Political Science, Syracuse University
A.S., Wabash Valley College
LL.M, University of Miami School of Law (pending 2017)

Organizations

The Florida Bar
Tallahassee Bar Association (tentative - waiting for approval)
TBA Young Lawyer's Division (tentative - waiting for approval)
Phi Alpha Delta
Animal Legal Defense Fund
Animal Law Committee of The Florida Bar

Admissions

Florida
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida

201 S. Monroe Street,
Suite 300
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 329-2030
Fax: (850) 270-9316

Wayne R. Halper

Wayne Halper is a music industry veteran and active member of the Nashville recording and arts community. He was the first in-house attorney at a major record label in Nashville, Tennessee, and ultimately rose to the position of General Manager for DreamWorks Records. While in private practice, Wayne has provided clients with business and career advice, helped promote their creative endeavors and protected their personal and business interests. In addition to providing legal and business development services, he counsels artists, songwriters, actors, painters, illustrators, and authors in all areas of entertainment industry awareness including networking, branding, positioning, recording, performing, public relations, and the media. He additionally acts as personal manager, business manager, and/or project manager for individuals seeking to market, promote, and exploit their intellectual property.

Music has played an important role in Wayne's life. At the age of six, he was the featured soloist in a piano recital at Carnegie Hall. His first involvement with entertainment law began in New York City, where he served as attorney for performers and businesses such as The Oak Ridge Boys, The Halsey Company, Grace Jones, Teena Marie, and Rick James. In the 1970's, he gravitated toward country music. Wayne moved to Nashville in 1984 to serve as manager for The Oak Ridge Boys. He subsequently formed Halper and Associates, a business management firm, where his first clients were Steve Earle and James Stroud.

From 1983 to 1989, Wayne served as Chief Operating Officer for Praxis Management where he was part of the team to help guide the careers of Jason and the Scorchers, The Georgia Satellites, Steve Forbert, and John Hiatt.

Wayne joined Capitol Nashville Records in 1989, rose to Senior Vice-President of Business Affairs, and worked with such stars as Garth Brooks, Tanya Tucker, and Suzy Bogguss.

In 1997, Halper became General Manager/Head of Label Operations for DreamWorks Records Nashville, a division of DreamWorks SKG, the entertainment studio launched in 1994 by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. While at DreamWorks, he supervised the day-to-day activities of the label, oversaw business affairs, business development, legal, financial, and administrative functions, and coordinated efforts of the sales, marketing, media, promotion, and video departments.

At Cole Law Group, Wayne focuses on representing artists with regard to literary or songwriting publication, copyright / trademark protection, licensing creative properties, licensing infringement, pursuing claims for the non-payment of royalties, and residuals, and other entertainment related administrative and business law. His contract negotiation and drafting experience includes, but is not limited to:

Music songwriting/publishing agreements
Production agreements
Artist management agreements
Merchandising agreements
Endorsement agreements
Performance agreements
Studio agreements
Distribution agreements
Record label agreements

In addition to entertainment and intellectual property law, Wayne focuses on business formation, business development, and successful business practices. He consults with start-up and existing organizations to develop and update administrative, financial, and reporting systems, reviews budgets, administers complex contracts, analyzes existing business plans, and suggests ancillary revenue opportunities.

Over the years, Halper's leadership roles in the industry have been noteworthy: former Trustee/Secretary-Treasurer for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, former Treasurer for the Country Music Hall of Fame, former Chair of the Finance Committee for the Country Music Association, and former President of Leadership Music. From 1992 to 2005, he served on the Recording Industry Association of America's Legal Affairs Committee. He will be the first to tell you, however, that his proudest achievement is being selected as a "Father of the Year 2004" by the Father's Day Council of Nashville.

Areas of Law

Entertainment & Music Law
Intellectual Property
Entertainment Litigation
Contract Drafting/Negotiation
Music, Publishing, Television and Film Representation
Business Formation & Development
Licensing & Compliance
Debt Collection

Education

Juris Doctor, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology/Communications, Cum Laude, State University of New York, Albany, NY

Leadership: Past

National Treasurer, The Recording Academy (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/The Grammys)
Treasurer, Country Music Association
Treasurer/Board Member, Country Music Hall of Fame and Foundation
Chairman and Founder, Country Music Retirement Center Initiative
President, Leadership Music
Trustee, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Board Member, Alliance of Artists and Record Companies (A.A.R.C.)
Member Legal Affairs Committee, Recording Industry Association of Americ