Beer, Wine & SpiritsOverviewIn recent years, there has been rapid growth in the craft brewing, spirit distilling, and viticulture industries, with new and growing businesses joining the ranks of established operations. This exciting time presents both opportunities and challenges as new products and brands are brought to market. Michael Best’s Beer, Wine & Spirits team helps clients navigate the operational and regulatory aspects of your business so that you can focus on your craft. Our team’s professionals are experienced legal advisors and business partners. We share your enthusiasm because we are home brewers, wine connoisseurs, and purveyors of craft distilleries. We appreciate the local, craft, and community-focused approach to quality and growth, and we are actively involved with industry groups and trade associations alike to help you remain competitive and compliant in these increasingly-aggressive markets.
Service Areas
We provide a complete range of legal services and understand the unique issues affecting businesses in the beer, wine, and spirits industries.
Corporate
We counsel clients through the full business life cycle, providing strategic guidance on entity formation, contracts, strategy and planning, financing, governance, tax, and the full spectrum of corporate and commercial issues. Through our Venture Best® practice group, we help new, high-growth companies find financial backing and grow their businesses.
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Environmental & Natural Resources
Breweries, distilleries, and wineries face a variety of environmental issues in the course of their operations, from waste and air emission to energy consumption. Our attorneys provide guidance on federal and state environmental compliance, while helping clients achieve their business needs. Additionally, our dedicated Water industry group helps clients manage the complex regulatory and legal frameworks governing water use and water quality, an essential component to many industry businesses.
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Government Relations, Political Law & Public Policy
Michael Best Strategies LLC (Strategies), our dedicated business consulting, government relations, and public affairs affiliate, is experienced with the alcoholic beverage laws, regulations, policies, and people that shape these industries. Additionally, our FDA attorneys are experienced with regulatory matters impacting wineries and breweries, such as labeling, advertising claims, and ingredient issues, among others.
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Intellectual Property
Protecting your brand is an important part of growing and maintaining your business. Michael Best’s IP attorneys help clients develop, manage, and protect their intellectual assets by providing strategic counsel in the areas of trademark, patent, and copyright law, including prosecution, portfolio management, enforcement, clearance, defense, and litigation.
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Labor & Employment
Whether your employee team is small and growing or you have an established workforce, we provide strategic counsel on the full spectrum of employee benefits, management, labor, and HR services your business needs. From health plans and compensation to employee handbooks and policies, our attorneys help clients make employment-related decisions and plan for the future. We also team with our HR affiliate, Best Workplace Solutions, to provide cost-effective HR advice and consulting.
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Real Estate
Our Real Estate attorneys guide clients through the land use, zoning, acquisition, leasing, construction, and project development issues that come with establishing and maintaining breweries, distilleries, and wineries. We provide comprehensive counsel in every aspect of finding, building, and creating the home for your business’ operations.
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Workplace Safety & Health
We help businesses design, implement, and maintain an effective safety program that protects your workers and your company. We represent clients in OSHA matters involving process safety management, pipe breaking and lockout safety, grain handling and combustible dust safety; government inspections; safety, risk, and prevention plans; compliance programs; risk management practice audits; and other safety matters.
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Related People Preview Attorney's BiographyAlex represents clients in a variety of litigation matters. His experience includes work in the areas of contracts, labor and employment, and tort under federal and state law, as well as cybersecurity and patent validity.  Preview Attorney's BiographyDave is a skilled and entrepreneurial-minded attorney who focuses on helping start-up and early growth companies with all of their business needs.  Preview Attorney's BiographyBen is an experienced labor & employment attorney who brings a winning combination of big-picture strategies, attention to detail, and a responsive, collegial approach to his work representing employers of all sizes. Ben has particular expertise working with food, beverage, and agribusiness clients, and leads the firm’s Beer, Wine & Spirits group. In addition, he works extensively with many of the firm’s higher education clients.p>  Preview Attorney's BiographyJorge is skilled at successfully managing and staffing the full service benefit and compensation needs of clients ranging from small operations to large multinational companies. Clients have entrusted Jorge and his team to oversee the design and administration of their health and welfare programs, executive compensation arrangements, and retirement plans.  Preview Attorney's BiographyPlymouth is known for his attention to detail and unflagging commitment to his clients’ business goals. He approaches each project with the mindset of a business partner to expand the IP value of the product or product line while also closely working with engineers and staff to understand the nuts and bolts of the client’s technology. These qualities make him particularly successful in drafting and prosecuting patent applications directed to such items as compressors, pumps, electric motors, agricultural equipment, automotive fuel, and more.  Preview Attorney's BiographyIn his role as partner in Michael Best Strategies’ Washington, D.C. office, Tom utilizes his expertise in legislative and executive processes to advance client interests through development and implementation of political, legislative, and public affairs strategies. Thomas B. Schreibel* *Names that appear with an asterisk indicate a Michael Best professional not admitted to practice law.  Preview Attorney's BiographyStephanie draws on her extensive experience in government relations and strong ties to the Illinois political community to help clients meet their business goals. Clients turn to her for advice and representation in lawmaking and regulatory processes, knowing that the continuing success of their businesses can often hinge on such issues. A registered lobbyist with an outstanding legislative success record, Stephanie has built strong relationships on both sides of the aisle with policy maker ...
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