Fifth Anniversary Issue!!

22-May-2006

EDITORS NOTE: After practicing law in the employ of others for eight (8) years, in May of 1989 your Erstwhile Editor and one staff member began practicing real estate and intellectual property law out of two (2) cardboard boxes in John Pellegrin's law library in Gallatin, Tennessee. Five (5) years later we managed to beat the statistics on start up businesses and are surviving and thriving now with two attorneys, eight legal assistants, three offices, and enough computers to make NASA and IBM proud...and we're having fun!

A Letter To Our Clients,

Friends, and Readers:

To the extent the firm has met my personal goals, I must acknowledge that we (and particularly me) did not accomplish them alone. None of this would have occurred, obviously, without the support and help of our staff, clients, friends and families. To each of you I offer my heartfelt thanks for giving me the opportunity to do what I truly love in life-practicing intellectual property and real estate law.

The last five years have been full of hard work, challenges, laughs, and tears. I have had the privilege of assembling the finest group of support staff and attorneys I have ever worked with, as well as the ultimate privilege of serving a vast array of very creative and productive clients.

We have served: songwriters, music publishers, magazine publishers, recording artists, record labels, recording studios, radio syndicators, feed stores, machine shops, computer software programmers, software publishers, novelists, wildlife artists, choreographers, screen playwriters, video game manufacturers, video production companies, special effects companies, entrepreneurs of every persuasion, luggage designers, merchandise licensees and licensors, real estate brokers and affiliate brokers, mortgage companies, banks, title insurance companies, contractors, developers, physicians, client satisfaction consultants, and non-profit professional and service groups.

To say there has never been a dull moment would be an understatement.

My philosophy of practicing law has been adopted wholeheartedly by the staff. We strive to deliver the best service available and provide the highest quality work product we are capable of producing. Occasionally we make mistakes, but our goal is to face them openly and correct them as expediently as possible.

The first weekend of May will be our fifth anniversary birthday party and staff awards where we honor our staff and vendors for jobs well done and recognize exceptional performance during the past year. But it is you, our valued clients, friends, families and readers who will be honored at this years birthday party. Without you, we wouldn't be here.

This issue of The Smith Report will focus on the firm so that you can get to know a little bit more about the exceptional people who work here.

With warmest personal regards, I remain

Your Erstwhile Editor,

Brian L. Smith