Amber Sheppard, Attorney at Law

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Amber Sheppard, Attorney at Law Amber and her service dog Tubbs help LA and MS folx with trademarks/copyrights, stepparent/adult adoptions (including LGBT), and business law.

They travel the nation speaking on the same topics and neurodiversity. This page is her opinion- not employer

Tubbs’ first Buccee’s visit was 6 years to the day from when I had mine. It wasn’t planned; Facebook memories reminded m...
10/02/2026

Tubbs’ first Buccee’s visit was 6 years to the day from when I had mine. It wasn’t planned; Facebook memories reminded me after we left.

As always, she was unimpressed. 🦫 🐕‍🦺

Contrary to what y'all all seem to love doing, you can’t just grab a photo off the internet and post it w***y nilly.Your...
09/22/2026

Contrary to what y'all all seem to love doing, you can’t just grab a photo off the internet and post it w***y nilly.

Your marketing is full of creative work. Photos, songs, videos, graphics, captions, ads, brand deals (you better have AD front and center, baby). You know? Fun stuff.

Copyright law has opinions about all of it. Not fun stuff.

Before you reuse, repost, crop, remix, or lie to yourself with "But I credited them???" ask:

🐕‍🦺Who actually owns this? Yall ever notice I don't use stock photos?
💻Did I get a license or an assignment to use this?
🎖️Can I use it again, or is this a one time only thing?
🌍If someone copies my work, do I have the registration I need to enforce my rights and get damages (aka Cash Money)?
🤖Did AI make this? (Boooooooooooooooo. Hissssssssssssssssssssssss. But it matters for copyright! Check out slide 5)

Paying for content (graphics, photos, videos) does not automatically mean you own it. And giving credit ain't the same as getting permission.

AI is not your magical copyright intern. NIL is its own legal beast.

Basically: negotiate licenses or assignments and don't use things you didn't make.

Need help? Holler at me and Tubbs. One of us will respond.

Find someone who looks at you the way Tubbs looks at my meals 🙄🐕‍🦺⭐️
09/12/2026

Find someone who looks at you the way Tubbs looks at my meals 🙄🐕‍🦺⭐️

As a creative the word “contract” makes you want to bolt out the door. Tubbs and I get it: people typically squeeze all ...
09/10/2026

As a creative the word “contract” makes you want to bolt out the door. Tubbs and I get it: people typically squeeze all they can out of y’all in terrible “contracts”. 🐶

You just want to make your art. But the second you start making money (or working with other people), the business side shows up whether you want it to or not.

Protect yourself and your work. Use contracts to your advantage and GET 👏 THEM 👏 IN 👏 WRITING. If you e-sign, get that signature audit report, too.

This is how you make sure:

™️Nobody steals your work or your band name without ramifications. Trademark your name, copyright the project federally (and potentially worldwide). If you don’t, you can send a million cease and desist letters but never be able to recover. That includes attorneys fees in court.

🙄 Distribution deals, venues, and vendors don’t pull a fast one on you and you never get paid. Always get paid! Contracts help enforce your rights, too.

🐕‍🦺You actually get paid for your Name, Image, & Likeness. That means photos, videos, and voice recordings, too. Put a time limit on that use and how it can (or can’t) be used; this helps protect you from them plastering your face or your art on something that dilutes your brand.

👯Your co-creators, podcast guests, guest authors, etc don’t sue you the second things pop off. Get who owns what in writing.

🤖 It seems cheaper to use AI or an online template you found but trust me- it isn’t worth it. First, using AI makes your trade secret now not so secret. Second, a lawyer can make real time edits and solutions for you.

You bring the vision, Tubbs and I will bring the jokes and razzle dazzle 🪄 🐕‍🦺.



* You can’t ever avoid everything but these are common issues seen a lot. A good written contract and strategic plan may help. Always talk to a lawyer in your state about your issue.

“Guillermo, put it on the poll. Does Amber do too much?” 📻Please enjoy the many faces of Amber, presented by reading ema...
09/08/2026

“Guillermo, put it on the poll. Does Amber do too much?” 📻

Please enjoy the many faces of Amber, presented by reading emails, documents, or questions posed by my wonderful clients and counsel.

And, yes, I do send these to my clients. Not ALL of them, but some have been with me for close to a decade and this is just what keeps things fun.

I respond professionally but I also don’t think everything needs to be so buttoned up in certain circumstances. We are all just humans getting by.

And, no, I wouldn’t be embarassed if these were attached as an exhibit somewhere: I have always had an expressive face and folx who know me in and out the courtroom know that (I do keep a poker face when I have to, but the autistic in me does what it does).

It helps most of my clients are creatives or small business turned “big business”. We don’t have airs.

Clearly.

I’ve never been good at staying in a neat little legal box.First, it was service dog and emotional support animal law. H...
09/02/2026

I’ve never been good at staying in a neat little legal box.

First, it was service dog and emotional support animal law. Helping courts, businesses, families, and others lawyers understand an area that was often misunderstood, overlooked, or treated like an afterthought. Tubbs and I walked into a lot of rooms where people were still figuring out what the rules meant in real life. 🐾

🏈Now, that same builder brain is focused on NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), athlete advocacy, agency, licensing, IP, and brand deals.

Since Louisiana’s July new laws went into effect, I can say I'm the first female attorney recognized by the State of Louisiana to handle NIL deals.

But more than that, I’m proud to help build a space where athletes in every sport can understand their rights, protect their name, and create opportunities for not just their present, but their future and their communities.

TL; DR?

🐕‍🦺First: service dog law.
⚖️Now: NIL and agency.
🌍Always: advocacy without arrogance, strategy without the ego, and Tubbs somewhere nearby keeping me humble (and broke).

I’ve been quiet online the last few months because my best friend Tubbs has been sick. In the last month she’s been in a...
09/02/2026

I’ve been quiet online the last few months because my best friend Tubbs has been sick. In the last month she’s been in and out of the doggie ER. She’s doing well now don’t worry ☀️🐕‍🦺

It’s a difficult thing to navigate for any pet owner, but even more so when your pet is also part of your medical tool kit and routine. I had to make adjustments in environment, schedule, and meeting capacity while navigating without her.

We are both getting back into the groove of things. You may see her at less public outings depending on my need and as we transition her.

Our creative and fun posts have been put on the back burner but we see the light at the end of the tunnel and look forward to getting back to it.

Amber & Tubbitha Mildred

I’m serving as this year’s ABA USPTO Trademark Practice & Policy Committee Chair. This is a big honor for a girl from t...
09/02/2026

I’m serving as this year’s ABA USPTO Trademark Practice & Policy Committee Chair. This is a big honor for a girl from the Swamp who didn’t go to an Ivy League school.

A few years ago I took a leap of faith and learned all I could about trademarks and copyrights on my own and writing for a legal company.

Flew myself to the USPTO trademark days conference (only Louisiana lawyer to attend), put myself at tables and in rooms just to learn. Then I joined committees and worked internationally with INTA. I took on volunteer roles, wrote articles, attended the Annual conferences: all on my own dime.

Last year I was honored to be Vice Chair

This year I was chosen by current ABA leaders to Chair. I intend on continuing to pull up chairs and open doors to anyone who wants to learn and give back just like I did no matter where you come from or what your practice area looks like ( obviously you need to do trademarks but you know what I mean).

Be Fierce & Kind®️

Me and Tubbs are joining forces with our peer Marina Wilson to present a NIL CLE on October 21, 2026 for Justia. You can...
09/01/2026

Me and Tubbs are joining forces with our peer Marina Wilson to present a NIL CLE on October 21, 2026 for Justia. You can register for CLE credit at: https://connect.justia.com/webinars/nil-in-college-athletics-whats-going-on-in-2026

If you are local and want an informational session for your folks, email me at [email protected].

I have been very active working with athletes and influencers for years and can help explain legal jargon, rules to pay attention to (hello FTC and advertising), and things to consider to help protect your long-term brand.

New year (mid-year), same us!

Amber and Tubbitha Mildred

07/01/2026

Thank you to the Bar Journal for thinking I was worthy and inspiring enough to be featured as a Member Who Inspires in the ABA Insider this month.

Authenticity matters and it’s what I built my whole life around. I don’t shy away from the hard topics. I think you should leave your community, whether it’s the American Bar, state bar, or your neighborhood, better than how you found it.

Thanks to Larry Pugh and Pugh Accardo for being encouraging and accepting me and Tubbs as we are.

🐕‍🦺 https://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/amber-sheppard-leads-therapy-dog-services-and-education-in-louisiana

Materials copyright of the ABA and article is for ABA member access only. If you’re a lawyer and not a member of the ABA, I implore you to consider joining. There are so many committees that can help you in your career.

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Mandeville, LA
70471

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Tuesday 11am - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 3pm

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+19853261656

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