The full-service business law firm Buchalter announced the launch of Wine, Beer & Spirits Industry Group. The group is dedicated to serving clients across the alcoholic beverage industry.

With ties to California’s wine country and a growing national platform, the group provides strategic counsel across all stages of business, it says, including formation and regulatory compliance to brand protection, litigation and complex transactions.

Buchalter’s launch of the Wine, Beer & Spirits Industry Group is co-chaired by Oren Bitan and Trina Falace, who led a cross-disciplinary team of attorneys experienced in regulatory, transactional, litigation and land use matter specific to the beverage sector.

“Clients in this space face everything from complex labeling requirements and distributor relationships to water access rights and vineyard land use disputes,” Bitan said in a statement. “Our team brings together the right mix of legal capabilities and industry knowledge to help clients solve problems and seize opportunities.”

In a statement, Falace noted that Buchalter has long-supported clients in this space. She said that the formation of the group allows Buchalter to deliver a more tailored and integrated approach.

“Whether a client is launching a new brand, securing financing for expansion or navigating a use permit appeal, our team is positioned to support every stage of their business,” Falace said. “We are proud to work with some of the most respected names in the industry and are excited to continue expanding our service in the space.”

The Wine, Beer & Spirits Industry Group offers a full range of services, it says, including the following:

• Regulatory compliance with TTB, ABC and other federal state agencies.
• Corporation and transactional counsel for licensing, M&A and business planning.
• Banking and finance related to acquisitions, crop lines and operational funding.
• Real estate and land use for vineyards, tasting rooms and production facilities.
• Intellectual property protection for brands, trademarks and proprietary processes.
• Labor and employment support tailored to industry-specific workforce issues.
• Insolvency and financial solutions for distressed assets or restructuring needs.
• Litigation involving distribution disputes, product claims and IP issues.

The group shares that notable representative successes include securing an $8 million jury verdict in a distribution dispute for Breakthru Beverage California, defending Pabst Brewing Co. in a Ninth Circuit labeling class action, as well as winning a quiet title and jury trial victory for Duckhorn Vineyards in a contested water easement matter. Wine, Beer & Spirits Industry Group also will advise on high-value winery transactions, vineyard leases, influencer partnerships and celebrity brand launches.