Experience. Relationships. Strategy.

About Berkley Schwarz

More than 25 years in government affairs, law, politics and public policy.

Berkley Schwarz is the managing principal of Pier Strategies. She has more than 25 years of experience in government affairs, law, politics and public policy at the federal and state levels.

Berkley began her government affairs career in Washington, D.C., as a legislative assistant to U.S. Congressman Mac Collins of Georgia. She later served as counsel to the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution for two years and as an Attorney Advisor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legislative Affairs, where she worked with Congress on intellectual property, computer crime and telecommunications issues.

In 2005, Berkley helped open the Washington office of the National Music Publishers’ Association, serving as senior vice president and counsel for nearly six years. She also served on the boards of the Copyright Alliance and the National Music Council.

After returning to Tennessee, Berkley served as Attorney and Athlete Agent Registrar for the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Division of Business Services. She later led government affairs and public policy for the Tennessee Bar Association for six years and continues to represent the association through Pier Strategies. She also manages LAWPAC, the association’s political action committee, and co-hosts the TBA’s weekly Legislative Update podcast and video series.

Berkley’s experience inside Congress, the U.S. Department of Justice, Tennessee state government and major professional and industry associations gives her a distinctive understanding of how public policy is shaped and how organizations can effectively influence the process.

She earned her law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she served as Associate Notes and Comments Editor of the Mississippi Law Journal. She graduated cum laude from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

Berkley is licensed to practice law in Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. She received the Tennessee Bar Association President’s Award in 2021 and 2025 and the TBA Young Lawyers Division Star of the Quarter Award in 2019.

Career

• NashvillePier Strategies LLC

  Managing Principal. Represents businesses, associations and coalitions before the Tennessee General Assembly, the Governor's administration and state agencies. Continues to represent the Tennessee Bar Association, manages LAWPAC and co-hosts the TBA's weekly Legislative Update podcast and video series.

• NashvilleTennessee Bar Association (TBA)

  Director of Public Policy & Government Affairs.

• NashvilleTennessee Secretary of State

  Attorney and Athlete Agent Registrar, Division of Business Services.

• Washington, D.C.National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA)

  Helped open the Washington office in 2005; Senior Vice President and Counsel for nearly six years.

• Washington, D.C.U.S. Department of Justice

  Attorney Advisor, Office of Legislative Affairs — worked with Congress on intellectual property, computer crime and telecommunications issues.

• Washington, D.C.U.S. House of Representatives

  Legislative Assistant to Congressman Mac Collins of Georgia; counsel to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution.