Kristen Techel, an alcohol law expert, sits with a client at a meeting in a winery in California

Legal Services for Alcohol Beverage Businesses

Partnering with you to manage the complexity of alcohol law in your business

A white woman wearing a pink shirt pours white wine into a stemmed wine glass at a winery in California

Launch & Expansion Strategies

Set your business up for success with smart, practical strategies to ensure you're legal & protected from risk.

  • You have a great new business idea involving alcohol beverages. I'll help you ensure you're set to move forward by reviewing feasibility, structuring and risk management related to alcohol law.

  • Whether you're looking to expand into new territories or new product lines, I can help you make it a success. I'll guide you in securing licenses, setting up distribution systems, and addressing state-specific restrictions and regulations.

  • There are so many options for innovating in the alcohol beverage industry, but innovation often bumps up against alcohol regulations. I can walk you through the process for securing the right licenses and agreements to protect your business when launching new commodities or working with third parties (e.g., alternating proprietorships, custom crush, importation and distribution, third-party service providers, marketers, delivery apps, etc.).

The torso of a woman meeting with a client at a winery

M&A Counsel

Benefit from an alcohol-specific expert who can spot issues and help you fix them for smooth integrations.

  • Don't get surprised by regulatory issues or business challenges when you seek to acquire a company or brand in the alcohol beverage industry. So many problems can be avoided by having an alcohol regulatory expert involved in due diligence.  I work with buyers and their legal teams to assess the asset's value & risks, spot any regulatory issues, structure the deal and develop a post-acquisition transition plan – allowing you to operate smoothly on day one of the newly merged business.

  • Ensure your business or brand is ready for sale. I have successfully guided companies through mergers and acquisitions, helping sellers put their best foot forward by cleaning up compliance shortcomings in advance of the sale, collecting organized regulatory information for data rooms, giving advice on deal structure, and planning for the transition post-acquisition.

  • Alcohol-specific compliance timelines and restrictions ALWAYS impact post-close integration.  I can help you plan for the necessary licensing, wholesale notifications, DtC transitions, workflows and transitional service agreements.

The hands of a woman paging through the California alcoholic beverage law regulations book

Strategic Problem-Solving

Partner with us to develop solutions for when things go sideways, regulators contact you, or you are struggling to find a path to feasibility.

  • Maybe you mislabeled a product, shipped it improperly, or had an over-eager employee host a marketing event without properly clearing it. Whether you've already received a call from a regulator or are anticipating one, I can help you tackle the problems, work with regulators, and set up systems to get you back on track and avoid future issues.

  • With 50 different sets of laws and regulations, staying up-to-date on every rule change is tough. As your alcohol law specialist counsel, I can help you plan for and address any regulatory or legal challenges.

  • Sometimes you're already far down the path with a new business venture before you realize an alcohol regulation threatens to destroy your plans. If the three-tier system or some other alcohol regulatory blocker is fatal to your plans, I’ll tell it to you straight. But if there is a path to permissibility, I'll work with you to identify feasibility options and offer guidance for addressing legal challenges.

Four bottles and one can of boutique wine and spirits standing in front of a small plant and laptop on a table at a winery

Marketing & Promotions

Empower your marketing & sales team with an expert to help them promote your products within legal regulations.

  • The rules in the alcohol beverage industry can be challenging when it comes to how your business can market and promote products. With my expertise, your marketing & sales team can ensure their amazing ideas won't get your business in trouble with regulators.

  • Ensure your marketing & sales team understands the basics of alcohol beverage law with one-time or ongoing compliance training. We'll cover the greatest hits, including events, social media, trade practices, sweepstakes, coupons, promotions and marketing. 

  • Alcohol beverage licensees can’t sign a boilerplate click-through contract the way a business in a lesser-regulated industry can. I can help you review agreements for common pitfalls, assist you in drafting whatever you need, and offer guidance on implementing systems so your team stays on course.

Need help navigating alcohol beverage law?

I can help you protect & minimize risk in your business with practical strategies and smart legal advice.