Shardé’s passion for the music industry took root at Columbia University, where she spent her college years immersed in the business behind the music interning at the iconic Def Jam Recordings and within the Copyright Department at Sony Music. Those early experiences laid the foundation for a career defined by both legal precision and deep creative understanding. After graduating a year ahead of schedule, Shardé joined Jay-Z’s groundbreaking entertainment conglomerate, Roc Nation, in 2008 as one of its very first employees. Over the course of nearly a decade, she rose steadily through the ranks; beginning as an executive assistant and advancing through A&R Administration before ultimately landing in Business and Legal Affairs. In that role, she negotiated complex agreements, registered master recordings, and managed high-profile sponsorship partnerships, gaining a rare, 360-degree view of the entertainment business from the inside out. She went on to serve as V.P. of Operations at DreamChasers, Meek Mill’s joint venture label, where she oversaw day-to-day operations and further sharpened her expertise in artist-driven business ventures and independent label infrastructure. Today, Shardé is the founder of The Simpson Group, PLLC (TSG), a boutique entertainment law firm where she brings strategic dealmaking, creative advocacy, and unmatched industry insight to a distinguished client roster that includes record labels and Grammy-winning artists. Her practice is built on the belief that artists deserve counsel who truly understands the industry they’re navigating. She is also the founder of Hello Wilma, an innovative legal tech platform designed to make music contracts accessible and understandable for independent artists who have historically lacked access to quality legal resources. A Billboard-recognized Top Music Lawyer, Shardé Simpson remains deeply committed to protecting artists at every level, at every stage, and at every turn of their careers.