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I am a big fan of Walt Disney's mantra: "It's kind of fun to do the impossible." 

Primary Practice:

Chambers LogoWill Cheek is ranked Band 4 Nationwide in Food & Beverage: Alcohol by Chambers USA.

Often referenced as the go-to liquor lawyer in Tennessee, Will leads the Tennessee Retail Team of Adams and Reese's Alcohol and Hospitality practice. He counsels both local and national clients on licensing and regulatory compliance under Tennessee state and local liquor and beer laws.

Will counsels distilleries, wineries, breweries and contract manufacturers on production, distribution and marketing, including complex federal and state tied house issues.

Will represents clients before the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission and local beer boards in licensing, enforcement actions and administrative hearings. Working in concert with Adams and Reese's Government Relations team, he drafts state and local liquor legislation and represents clients in state court actions challenging existing ordinances and statutes and regulations. 

Will is a trusted legal adviser to startup businesses and emerging companies within a wide range of industries. As "on-call general counsel," Will plays a critical role in helping mom-and-pop and closely held companies accomplish growth and success. This representation ranges from Tailgate Brewery, a Nashville-based brewery adding taprooms across the state, to Kraft CPAs, one of Tennessee's largest independent accounting firms.

Will has been ranked by Best Lawyers in America in Food and Beverage Law, as well as Nonprofit/Charities Law, for 11 and 9 consecutive years, respectively.

Will is a founding member of the Alliance of Alcohol Industry Attorneys and Consultants, and he serves as an advisory board member and legal counsel for the National Association of Licensing and Compliance Professionals.

JD Supra Readers Choice Top Author 2023

Will regularly posts articles covering Tennessee-related alcohol, restaurant and hospitality news in his blog Last Call. Will received a 2023 JD Supra Readers’ Choice Award as a top author in the "Food & Beverage" category.

Will's paralegals may be reached at jennie.williams@arlaw.com and wendy.ahlstrand@arlaw.com.

Education

  • Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 1991
  • Columbia University, B.A., 1986

Bar Admissions

  • Tennessee

Court Admissions

  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Community Involvement

  • Tennessee State Fair Association, Board of Directors
  • Tennessee History for Kids, Board of Directors
  • Conexion Americas, Legal Counsel
  • Family Council at Cheekwood, Founding Member
  • Leadership Music, Legal Counsel
  • Leadership Nashville, Class of 2007
  • Nashville Originals, Legal Counsel
  • Nashville Pride, Legal Counsel
  • Belcourt Theatre, Legal Counsel; Former Chair and Founding Member, Board of Directors
  • Non-Profit Management, Legal Counsel; Former Board Chair
  • Children’s House of Nashville, Former Board of Directors
  • Community Resource Center, Former Board President
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Areas of Practice

Acknowledgements

  • Chambers USA – Recognized Practitioner in Food & Beverages: Alcohol (Southeastern United States, 2020-2022) (Nationwide, 2019-2024)
  • Best Lawyers® - Food and Beverage Law, 2011-2024, Nonprofit/Charities Law, 2013-2024
  • Best of the Bar, Nashville Business Journal, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • In Charge, Food Category, Nashville Post, 2019-2023
  • JD Supra Readers Choice Award, Food & Beverage, 2023, 2024

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

  • National Conference of State Liquor Administrators
  • Alliance of Alcohol Industry Attorneys and Consultants, Founding Member
  • Lawyers Association for Women, Frequent Programming Co-Chair
  • National Association of Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Attorneys
  • National Association of Licensing and Compliance Professionals, Advisory Board Member and Legal Counsel
  • National Cannabis Bar Association
  • Tennessee Bar Association
  • Nashville Bar Association
  • Belmont University Center for Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic, Co-Founder
  • The Entrepreneur Center, Founding Angel Partner

Last Call

News

  • Worked with a hospitality management company to license the sale of alcoholic beverages within a Tennessee university’s athletic facilities following a change in policies by the Southeastern Conference.
  • Assisted a retail delivery service with filing for the first food store delivery license.
  • Worked with a special event catering company to obtain liquor licensing for a long-running country music festival, which is held in Nashville annually and brings attendees from all over the world.
  • Assisted a large restaurant management company with structuring the licensing for a food hall with over 24 stalls, plus distillery and brewery, located at the Fifth + Broadway project in Nashville.
  • Assisted an international airport in conceptualizing, drafting, advocating, and implementing new administrative rules that allows the airport to serve alcoholic beverages hours before normal alcohol service hours.
  • Assisted with the licensing for an expansion of a Tennessee-based distillery’s premises to include an open field for a concert series, where guests can enjoy whiskey and beer tastings.
  • Led the licensing efforts to allow a unique retail shopping destination to serve wine and beer to customers throughout its design gallery.
  • Crafted a new licensing structure to meet the unique business needs of a 100,000-square-foot food hall in Nashville, lobbied for special legislation, and licensed over a dozen separate points of sale. Guests can move freely with alcohol purchases throughout the facility, which boasts multiple eateries that have central ordering, delivery and storage, among other amenities.